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Full text of "Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; genealogy--family history--biography; containing historical sketches of old families and of representative and prominent citizens, past and present"

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SCHUYLKILL 
COUNTY 

PENNSYLVANIA 

Gehealogy  — Family  History  — Biography 


Containing  Historical  Sketches  of  Old  Families  and  of 

Representative  and  Prominent  Citizens 

Past  and  Present 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES 


ILLUSTRATED 


VOLUME  II 


CHICAGO 

J.  H.  BEERS  &  COMPANY 

1916 


i 


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•  :     !  :. 


»  .  ;   *    ••    • 

••   •••   •    •   "• 

*     •  •  •  •  t    • 


Li 


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INDEX 


Achenbach  Family 759 

Aehenjbach,  Gregory    759 

Acker,  Mrs.  Esther  A 931 

Acker  Family   930 

Acker,  William  8 930 

Adam    (Adams)   Families 

104,  221,  983,  1192 

Adam,  Oeorffe  B 983 

Adams  Family   104,  221 

Adams,  Frank .1192 

Adams,  George 105 

Adams,  John  H 107 

Adams,  Bobert  W 107 

AdamsoD  Family   247 

Adamson,  William  B 247 

Albright  Families   96,  731,  806 

Albright,  Hiester  S 96 

Allen,  Charles  F 268 

Allen,  Lucian  H 268 

Alspach,  Charles  P 317 

Alspach  Family 317 

Andreas  FamHy  393 

Andreas,  Owen  A 393 

Angst  Family  251 

Angst,  John  H 251 

Annimciation  Church,  Shenandoah 1151 

Archbald  Family   35 

Archbald,  Col.  James,  Jr 35 

Aregood,  Isaiah   592 

Aregood,  Ossman  J 593 

Aregood,   Samuel  C 592 

Amdt  Family  415 

Artz,  Elmer  E 1032 

Artz  Family  1032 

Atkins,  Charles  M 1 

Auchmuty,  J.  E.,  M.  D 452 

Bachert,  Elias   475 

Bachert  Families 438,  475,  659,  818 

Bachert,  William  1 658 

Bachman  Family   456 

Bachman,  Samuel  456 

Baer  (Barr)  Families 565,  990,  1011 

Baer,  Reuben 517 

Bailey  Family 383 

Bailey,  Samuel  S 383 

Bair,  Cyrus  W 665 

Baldinger,  Albert  690 

Balliet  Family   354 

Balliet,   Tilghman   S 354 

Bannan,  B^jamin   163 

Bannan,  Francis  B 609 

Bannan,  John   609 


Bannan,  Miss  Martha  B. 610 

Bannan,  Thomas  B 610 

Bare  Family  565 

Barket,  Solomon  A 719 

Barlow,  Ephraim  552 

Barlow,  Nathan   552 

Barr,  Edward  1011 

Barr  (Baer)  Families 990,  1011 

Barr,  Milton  990 

/  Basler,  Mrs.  Mary  C 566 

Basler,  William  566 

Bast  Family   496 

Bast,  Jeremiah  F 496 

Bast,  Oliver  0 498 

Batten,  George 1171 

Batten,  Shadrach 1171 

Baum,  Earl  D 821 

Baum  Family   821 

Bauscher,  David 409 

BauBcher  Family  410 

Bausum  Family   633 

Bausum,  Frank  W 633 

Bayer  Family  381 

Baver,  Franklin  D 381 

Beatty,  George  H 869 

Bechtel,  Edgar  W 188 

Bechtel  Family   2,  188 

Beehtel,  Francis  W 188 

Bechtel,  Judge  O.  P 2 

Beck,  C.  Lester 1092 

Beck,  Edward  F 1087 

Beck  Families 

100,  466,  1087,  1092,  1141,  1162 

Beck,  George   1076 

Beck,  Isaac  G 100 

Becker  Family   326 

Becker,  Irwin  H 326 

Becker,  William   999 

Behler,  Anthony   828 

Behler  Family    904 

Behler,  Samuel  B 904 

Behney  Family  635 

Behney,  Prof.  George  A 635 

Bell  Family 533 

Bell,  James  J 533 

Bendrick,  Mrs.  Helen 573 

Bendrick,  Joseph    572 

Ben-Salem   Church    (Reformed) 426 

Bensinger,  Charles  S 516 

Bensinger  Families 404,  516,   730,  937 

Bensinger,  Frank  L 730 

Bensinger,  William   F 937 

Bergan,  William    973 

••• 

111 


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IV 


SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Berger   Family    58,  777 

Berger,  John   D 57 

Berger,  William   538 

Berk  Familv   636 

\  Berkj  John  K.,  M.  D 636 

Berkheiser  Family   544 

Berkheiser,  Arthur  J.,  M.  D 544 

Bemey,,  Timothy  F 683 

Berrett,  George  899 

Betz,  Peter   671 

Bevan,  John   1019 

Beyeridge,  David  1027 

Bicht,  William  F 1099 

•Bierstein  (Birston),  Pius  W 1169 

Billig,   William   827 

BiUman' Family    888 

Birch,  Mrs.  Margaret  D 63 

Birston  (Bierstein),  Pius  W 1169 

Bischoff ,  Conrad 357 

Bischo£f,  William  C 358 

Bittle,  Charles  H 473 

Bittle   Families 234, 

318,  329,  473,  525,  588 

Bittle,  Isaac  C 588 

Bittle,  John  C 233 

Bittle,  Marcus   318 

Bittle,  Oliver  A 525 

Bittle,  Mrs.  Rosa 320 

Bittle,  Samuel  B 329 

Bittner  Family 906 

Bixler,  Irvin  H 1055 

Bleiler  Family    995 

Bleiler,  Thomas  F 995 

Bobbin,  John  J 861 

Boczkowski,   William   D 348 

Boden  Family   89 

Boe,  Joseph  E 691 

Robch  Families 411,  618,  851 

Bolich,  Herman  A 852 

Bolich,   Louis  C 851 

Bolton,  George  W 900 

Boltz  Family 548 

Boltz,  Jacob    548 

Bond,  Miss  Emily 764 

Bond,  George   763 

Boner,  Mrs.  Alice  M 1198 

Boner,  Ambrose  1197 

Boner  Family   1197 

Borbach,  Charles  C 494 

Borlace  Family 1134 

Bosch,  Joseph  C 1214 

Bosche,  Frank   1084 

Boughter,   Ezra   J 1038 

Bowen,  Charles  K 695 

Bowen  Families  695,  1066 

Bowers,  Walter  G.,  M.  D 639 

Bowman  Families 194,  1178 

Bowman,  George  F 1178 

Bowman,  Peter   195 

Boyer  Families 176,  421,  725,  1047 

Boyer,  John  O.  J 725 

Brachman  Famdies   797,  1034 

Brachman,  Frederick  W 796 

Brachman,  Harry  J 1033 

Brady,  Michael  J 413 


Braun   (Brown)   Families 768, 

1072,   1096,   1103 

Braun,  Robert  C 768 

Breen,  Joseph  1069 

Breen,  Patrick  1069 

Breisch  Families  803,  1160 

Brennan,  Hon.  James  E 568 

Brennan,  Michael  R 1025 

Brobst,  Edward  C 230 

Brobst  Family  230 

Brode  Family   254 

Brode,  Samuel   254 

Brode,  William  256 

Brommer  Family   698 

Brommer,  Manuel  W 698 

Brown,  Adam  J 1103 

Brown,  Charles  T 768 

Brown,  Edwin    152 

Brown   (Braun)   Families 62, 

405,  768,  875,  1096,  1103 

Brown,  Frank 152 

Brown,  George  W 62 

Brown,  Harper  *H .1071 

Brown,  Jacob  F 1000 

Brown,  John  C 405 

Brown,  John  K 63 

Brown,  Walter  E 1096 

Brown,  Warren  G 875 

Brown,  WiUiam  J .1121 

Brown,  William  W ,540 

Brownmiller  Family  726 

Brumm,  Hon.  Charles  N 168 

Bruner  Family   - 115 

Bryant,  Willis  L 162 

Bubeck,  Charles  H 561 

Bubeck,  CJlayton  W 561 

Bubeck,  John  E 560 

Buchsbice,  Mrs.  Dorothy 1028 

Buchsbice,  GottUeb    1028 

Buckley  Family 799 

Buckley,  William  R.,  M.  D 799 

Buck  Run  CoUiery 866 

Buehler,   Francis  J 1020 

Buehler,  Peter   519 

Buehler,  Samuel   519 

BuU,  Jonathan,  Sr 770 

Bull,  Robs  770 

Burke  Brothers    350 

Burke,  Edward  J 184 

Burke  Family   184 

Burke,  James  V 350 

Burke,  Martin  M 182 

Burke,  Patrick  H 183 

Burkhardt,  James    1078 

Burkhart  Family    947 

Burkhart,   Karl  W 947 

Bumham,  Joseph  950 

Bumham,  William  J 950 

Butz  Family   281 

Butz,  George  W 280 

Canfield  Family    847 

Canfleld,  Prof.  Patrick  S 846 

Cardin   Family    1210 

Carl,  Abraham  638 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Carl,  Mrs.  EUen  M 639 

Carl  Families  95,  837 

Ckri,  Frederick 837 

Carl,  Harry  B 95 

Garmitchell  Family  954 

Carmitchell,  George  B 954 

CfarroU,  Prof.  Charlee 257 

Christeson,  Capt.  Hans  C 689 

Christeson,  Mrs.  Lonisa 689 

Clappier,  Christian  G 342 

Clappier,  Peter  342 

Clauser  Families   749,  898 

Clauser,  Jacob  W 749 

Clay  (Henry)  Monument 610 

Clayton,  Nelson    296 

Clayton,  B.  Bruce 296 

Cleaver,  Jamee  B 77 

Cochran,  Andrew  B 116 

Cochran,  William  A 117 

Coldren,  Darius  D 146 

Coldren  Family   146 

Collins,  James  B 303 

Collins,  Patrick 303 

Conrad,  John  L 344 

Conville  Family   534 

Cook  Family   841 

Coombe,  John  M .- 852 

Coombe  Family  258 

Coombe,  Bichard  258 

Cooper  Family   896 

Cooper,  Prof.  Jonathan  W 896 

Corbe,  August   829 

Crawford,  Mrs.  Alona  B 285 

Crawford,  Andrew  J 284 

Crawford,  Samuel  G 285 

Crosby,  Neil   ^ 838 

CuUen,  John  J 1211 

Cummings,  Pierce  855 

Cummings,  Thomas  J 855 

Curran,  James   , 779 

Daley  Family   823 

Daley,  William  J 822 

Dampman  Family  995 

Dampman,  William  M 994 

Daniel,  Arthur  H 1080 

Danner,  Henry 809 

Darkwater  Colliery   866 

Daubert  Family 601 

Daubert,  William  H 601 

Davis,  E.  F.  C 43 

Davis  Family 585 

Davis,  Mrs.  Ida  H 290 

Davis,  John  H 288 

Davis,  Thomas  D 585 

Davis,  Thomas  J 153 

Dechert,  Daniel,  M.  D 464 

Dechert    Family 464 

Deebel,  John  F 556 

Deebel,  Samuel  555 

Degler  Family    901 

Degler,  Joel  8.. 901 

Deibert,   Allen  J 747 

Deibert,  Charles  V.  B 834 

Deibert,  Daniel   869 


Deibert,  Daniel  D 570 

Deibert  Families  ^ 213, 

576,  663,  677,  747,  834,  869,  1004 

Deibert,  George  B 213 

Deibert,   James  677 

Deibert,  Samuel  J 663 

Deibert,  William  F 1004 

Deisher  Family  426 

Deisher,  John  H 426 

Delaney  Family 858 

Dengler  Family    1048 

Denglef,  Howard   1048 

Derr,  Elias  570 

Derr  Families  570,  670 

Derr,  Gabriel  B 669 

DeSilva,  Mrs.  EUa  B 380 

DeSilva,  John  S 380 

Detweiler  Family   23 

Detwiler  Dr.  Peter  C 23 

Dewald  Families   437,  1029 

Dewald,  Irwin   1029 

Dewald,  Samuel  i 437 

Dewey  Family 961 

Dewey,  Michael  G.,  M.  D 961 

Dief enderf er  Family   535 

Diefenderfer,  Guy  H 536 

Dief  enderf  er,  William  H 535 

Dietrich,  Frank  D 1064 

Dillman  Family  80 

Dillman,  Daniel  D 83 

Dillman,   Daniel   K 82 

Dillman,  D.  Walker 84 

Dinunerling  Family 1062 

Dimmerling,  George  F 1062 

Dinger  Family   667 

Dinger,  Joel  A 735 

Dinger,  Wilson  B 667 

Dirschedl,  Henry  A.,  M.  D 295 

Dirschedl,  Joseph   295 

Ditchey,  Charles  F 1119 

Ditehey,  Jacob  W.. 1119 

Dochney,  William  F 358 

Dodson,  Weston  &  Co 860 

Doebler,  Mrs.  M 490 

Doebler,  William  G 489 

Doherty,  Edward  A 1156 

Doherty  Families 627,  1166 

Doherty,  WiUiam  F 527 

Dohner,  Henry  J 310 

Dolbin  Family   765 

Dolbin,  John  B 765 

Donahoe  Brothers    907 

Donahoe  Families   574,  908 

Donahoe,  Hon.  J.  Wilfred 574 

Donahoe,  Bichard  A 909 

Donahoe,  Thomas  C 908 

Donmoyer  Family  1084 

Donmoyer,  John  W 1084 

Donne,  Daniel 1056 

Donne  Family  1056 

Donohue,  Martin    317 

Donohue,  Michael  M 317 

Dormer,  Martin    964 

Dormer,  Mrs.  Mary 965 

Dombach,  Henry  H 543 


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VI 


SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Douglass,  Dr.  George 37 

Douglass,  Miss  Baehd  M 37 

Doyle  Family 240 

Doyle,  W.  Francis,  M.  D 240 

Dresher  Family  .623 

Drumheller  Family 512 

Drumheller,  Bert  E 512 

Dumcius,  Bev.  John 300 

Ebbert  Family  505 

Eberly  Family   1102 

Eberly,  William  1101 

Ebert  Families  1037,  1077 

Ebert,  George  W 1077 

Eberts,  Joseph   356 

Ebling  Families  948,  974 

Ebling,  Irvin  A 974 

Ebling,  John  M 948 

Eckert,   Abraham  L 297 

Ehrhart  Family   433 

Ehrhart,  Mrs.  Julia  0 436 

Ehrhart,  William  N^  A.M:,  Ph.D 432 

Eifert  Family 1031 

Eifert,  William  P 1031 

Eiler,  Elwood  T 702 

Filer  Fftmily  884 

Eiler,  Frank  703 

Filer,  John   703 

Eisenhauer,  Samuel  ...» 557 

Eisinger,  Charles  W 816 

Eisinger  Family 816 

Elison,  Alois  1091 

Elison  Family 1109 

Elison,  Peter   1091 

Elliott,  William   174 

Emerich,  Elijah  222 

Emerich  Families 223,  445,  714,  957 

Emerich,  Irvin  W 714 

Emrick  Family 957 

Emrick,  Jonathan  B 957 

English,  EUis  J 1100 

Esterly,  Walter  F 1071 

Evans,  Miss  Annie  S 746 

Evans,  Charles  B 746 

Evans,  Clarence  H 1014 

Evans,  Bev.  David  1 1131 

Evans  Families 86,  801,  978,  1014 

Evans,  Nathan   746 

Evans,  Samuel  J 977 

Evans,  William  D 1191 

Fahl  Families  590,  950 

Fahl,  John  H 590 

Farquhar,  George  W 4 

Farquhar,  Guy  E 4 

Farquhar,  Otto  E 8 

Farrell  Family  775 

Farrell,  Thomas  A 775 

Faust,  Andrew  B 1126 

Faust,  Charles  W 927 

Faust,  Mrs.  Dora  T 309 

Faust  Families. 565,  627,  775,  899,  927, 1126 

Faust,  Mrs.  Bebeeca  B 1127 

Faust,  William  G 308 

Fayhey,  John  B 1190 


Feger,  Jacob    642 

Fegley  Families  298,  807 

Fegley,  Perry  W 298 

Feller,  Levi    1095 

Felty  Famines 1020,  1037 

Fel^,  Ferdinand  1037 

Felty,  John  H 1020 

Fenkner  Family 915 

Fenton  Family  684 

Fenton,  Ivor  D.,  M.  D 684 

Ferguson,  Anthony   980 

Ferguson,  Christopher  P 57 

Ferguson,  Daniel  J 56 

Ferguson  Families 50,  980 

Ferguson,  Patrick  J 50 

Fertig  Family  396 

Fertig,  John    396 

Fesig,  Samuel  M 850^ 

Fessler   Families 351,  708 

Fessler,  Harry  G 351 

Fessler,  Jeremiah  708 

Fetterolf  Family  826 

Fetterolf,  Peter  826 

Fidler  Family  445 

Filbert  FamiUes 11,  177,  248 

Filbert,  John  Harry 248 

Filbert,  Maj.  Peter  A 177 

Filbert,  Peter  K.,  D.  D.  S 11 

Filer,  Elisha,  Jr 760 

Fisher,  C.  Arthur 291 

Fisher  Family 291 

Fister  Family 600 

Fister,  James  H 695 

Fleming,  William  C 1106 

Flexer  Family   392 

Flynn  Family  389 

Flynn,  John  J 389 

Foley,  James 1211 

Ford,  Edwin   889 

Foster,  Thomas  165 

Foyle,  Martin  E 1204 

Frack,  Daniel  77 

Franey,  James  J 1146 

Franey,  Martin 1146 

Frantz,  Christian 1180 

Freeman  Family  709 

Freeman,  John  W 709 

Freese,  William  F 945 

Freudenberger,  Fred  D , . . .  399 

Fritz,  Martin   773 

Fryer,  Daniel  C 1081 

Fuhrman  Family   622 

Fuhrman,  William  F 621 

Gabbert,  Christ  F 980 

Gable  Families .1033,  1056 

Gable,  Harry  P 1055 

Gable,  Henry  E...'. 1033 

Gane,  Uriah   450 

Gane,  William  U 450 

Gangloff  Family 878 

Gangloff,  Bev.  William 877 

Garis,   Thomas    925 

Garrett  Family    963 

Gazdzik,  Father  Joseph 495 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Vll 


Gehrig,  B.  Frank 1194 

Gehrig  Families 712,  1194 

(Jehrig,   J.   Franklin .712 

Geiger,  Miss  Augusta 891 

Geiger  Family  562 

Geiger,  Jeremiah  D 562 

Geiger,  William 891 

Geist,  A.  Ftank , 664 

Geist  Family  664 

Gensemer  Family  235 

Gensemer,  Daniel  J 235 

Gerber  Families 378,  461,  493,  649 

Gerber,  William  H 493 

Gerhard,  Charles  99 

Gerhard  Families 443,  485,  717,  903 

Gerhard,  Frank   443 

Gerhard,  Prof.  Frederic 99 

Gerhard,  Henry  Y -. 485 

Gerhard,  William  F 717 

Gibbons  Family   1123 

Gilgour,  George  309 

Ginther,  George  C 455 

Ginther,  John  B 596 

Glunz,  Bernard 436 

Glunz,  Clement  B 436 

Goho  Family   482 

Golden,  Thomas  B 713 

Gore  Family   412 

Gore,  Mrs.  Mary  E 413 

Gore,   Samuel  H 412 

Gorman,  Joseph  H 125 

Gorman,  Miss  Julia  T 125 

Gorman,  Thomas  124 

Gowen,  Franklin  Benjamin 171 

Gray  Family   272,  341 

Gray,  James  C,  M.  D 272 

Gray,  John  M.,  M.  D 341 

Green,  Thomas   1058 

Greenawald,  Daniel  A 374 

Greenawald   (Greenawalt)   Families.... 

374,  597 

Greenawalt,  Moses  S 597 

Gregory,  John 800 

GrieflP,  Elmer  D 506 

Grieff  Families  313,  506 

Grieff,  William  A 313 

Grosser,  Edward  W 375 

Grosser,  George  375 

Grosskettler,  Eberhard  C. 1183 

Grosskettler  Family.  .1139,  1181,  1183,  1204 

Grosskettler,  John 1204 

Grosskettler,  Joseph 1139 

Grube,  Charles  W 981 

Grube,  Ernest 750 

Gnibe  Families 751,  817,  981 

Grube,  Lewis  J 817 

Grumm,  Frederick  L 885 

Haber,  WilHam  356 

Haeseler,  Dr.  Charles  H 532 

Haeseler  Family  531 

Haeseler,  Frederick  155 

Hafer  Family  794 

Hafer,  Jared 794 

Hagner,  William   488 


Hamilton,  WilUam  T 220 

Hand  Families 856,  1059,  1063 

Hand,  Ira  W 1059 

Hand,  James  Monroe 856 

Hand,  John  F 1063 

Hand,  William  E 856 

Hanney,  Edward  J 779 

Hanney,  John  F 778 

Hannum,  Mrs.  A.  J 285 

Hannum,  John  T 285 

Harlor,  Thomas    1067 

Harris  Family   262 

Harris,  John  M 261 

Harris,  Bobert 262 

Harron,  Eobert 784 

Hartenstein,  Peter  340 

Hartman,  Simon   763 

Hartung  Family   407 

Hartung,  Thomas 952 

Hause  Family  154 

Hause,  Frederick  H 1^ 

Haverty,  Peter  F 1153 

Hawkins,  Claude  H 499 

Hawkins  Family   499 

Header,  Monroe   1025 

Heberling,  John  F 1201 

Hede  Family  811 

Hede,  John  J 811 

Hehn,   Alfred    722 

Hehn  FamUy  72^ 

Heim   (Hime)  Families.  .228,  408,  522,  748 

Heim,  Lyman  D.^.  D 228 

Heine,  Francis  W j  683 

Heine,  Michael  H 537 

Heine,  Solomon    538,  583 

Heiser  Family 926 

Henry  Family 414 

Henry,  Wilson   414 

Hensyl  Family   407 

Hensyl,  George  8.,  M.  D 407 

Hepler  Family    753 

Hepler,  -Bev.  Henry 753 

Herbein,  H.  J.,  D.  D.  S 624 

Hermany,  Phaon,  M.  D 610 

Hess,  Adam 825 

Hess,  Jacob  A 1107 

Hess,  Lambert  463 

Hessinger  Family   1008 

Hessinger,  Howard  W 1008 

Higgins,  Patrick  T 1195 

Hikes  Family  848 

Hikes,  Morris  W 848 

Hill,  David  K 893 

HUl  Family 893 

Hillanbrand,  Charles  L 608 

Hime  (Heim)  Families. .. 228,  408,  522,  748 

Hime,  Jacob  F 522 

Hinkel  Family  472 

Hinkel,  WUliam  H.,  M.  D 471 

Hoak,  Peter   1109 

Hobart,  John  Potts 44 

Hobart,  Nathaniel  P 45 

Hock,  Conrad,  Sr 605 

Hock,  Conrad  K 605 

Hoch  Family   1054 


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Hoch,  Harry  B 1054 

Hoepstine  Family  505 

Hoepstine,  James  W 505 

Hoff  Family ^ 252 

Hoff,  William.  Jr 252 

Hoffman  Family 521 

Hoffman,  Miss  Maud  E 814 

Hoffman,  Peter  L 813 

Hoffman,  Eobert  J 520 

Holderman,  Mrs.  A 721 

Holderman,  Carl  F 720 

Holland,  David  A.,  M.  D 595 

Holshue,  Josiah 570 

Holtgreve,  Rev.  Francis  P 1193 

Holy  Family  Church,  Shenandoah 1193 

Honsberger,  Jacob  S 1085 

Honsberger,  William  H 1085 

Hooper,  Mrs.  Mary  J 782 

Hooper,  Robert  W.  C 782 

Hopkins,  Richard  W 1022 

Hoppes,  Charles  H 934 

Hoppes  Families  467,  934 

Hoppes,  Joseph  S 467 

Horn   Families    641,  805 

Horn,  George  B.  McClellan 805 

Horn,  Mrs.  Hattie 806 

Horn,   William  • 641 

Houser,  Daniel 740,  741 

Houser  Family 809 

Houtz  Families 422,  425,  1193 

Houtz,  Rev.  Harry  D.,  A.  M 421 

Hoy  Families  201,  389 

Hoy,  Pancoast  T 201 

Huber,  Andrew  W 776 

Huber  Family 776,  1049 

Huber,  lorman  A 1049 

Hubler  Family   84 

Hughes,  David  C 1026 

Hughes,  David  G 987 

Hughes,  Francis  Wade 41 

Huling,  J.  W 1201 

HuUihan,  John   * . . .  1199 

Hummel,  Engelhart  753 

Hummel,  Frank  J 752 

Hunter,  Alexander  1050 

Huntsinger  Family    1039 

Huntsinger,  John  E 1039 

Iffert,  John    772 

Imschweiler,    Lorenz 275 

James,  Benjamin  F 736 

James  Family    736 

Jenkins,  Frederick  C 176 

Jenkins,  Gething 514 

Jones,  David  1104 

Kaier,  Charles  D 165 

Kaier,  Charles  F 168 

Kalbach  Family   638 

Kaminsky,  Rev.  A.  V 927 

Kane,  John   1068 

Kane,  John  F 1068 

Kanter,  Franklin   484 

Kauffman  Family  867 


Kaufman,  Alexander 731 

Kaufman,  Charles  M 186 

Kaufman  Families  186,  731 

Kaup  Family  676 

Kaup,  William  W 676 

Kear,  Albert  8 138 

Kear,  Charles  R 137 

Kear,  Edward  G 138 

Kear  Family  134 

Kear,  Frank  G 139 

Kear,  Harrison  A 139 

Kear,  Mrs.  Mary  B 138 

Kear,  Mrs.  Sarah 137 

Kear,  William   136 

Keefer,  Andrew   ^  286 

Keefer  FamUy   1154 

Keefer,  Harry 1154 

Kehler  Family    655 

Kehler,  Henry  C 655 

Keilman  Family  764 

Keilman,  John  H 764 

Keith,  Elvin  W.,  M.  D 698 

Keiser,  G.  M 213 

Keiser,  William 1188 

Keiter,  Samuel   206 

Kemner,  Matthias   347 

Kepner  Family 352 

Kepner,  Mrs.  Ellnora 354 

Kepner,  W.  Clinton 352 

Kerkeslager  Family   149 

Kershner  Family   593 

Kershner,  John  U 593 

Kilgus,  Jacob   537 

Killian,  Joseph  883 

Killian  Family   883 

Kimmel,  Andrew  S 270 

Kimmel  Family 271 

Kistler,  Albert  S 458 

Kistler,  Alvin   646 

Kistler,  Charles  S 1141 

Kistler  Families. .  .458,  646,  936,  1095,  1141 

Klase,  Edward   755 

Kleber  Family   732 

Kleckner  Family    994 

Kleckner,  Samuel   994 

Kline,  Adolph 1120 

Kline,  Mrs.  Caroline 829 

Kline,  G.  Edgar 710 

Kline  Families 711,  941 

Kline,  Harry  P 941 

Kline,  Rev.  Jacob 270 

Kli^e,  Jeremiah  269 

Kline,  Robert  E 828 

Klingaman  Family  471 

Klinger   Family    1036 

Klinger,  Lewis  A 1036 

Knapp,  Alanson   452 

Knapp,  Charles  L 1199 

Knapp  Families 452,  1199 

Knapp,  Joseph  P 1199 

Knauber,    Henry    1022 

Knecht,  William  F 607 

Knepper  Family 887 

Knepper,  Harry   887 

Knipe,  Oscar   252 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


IX 


KnitUe,  George  F 976 

Knoedler,  Gottfried 1006 

Koch,  Albert  G 891 

Koch  FamUies. .  .16,  419,  617,  891,  917,  976 

Koch,  Jacob  M 419 

Koch,  Hon.  Bichard  H 16 

Koch,  Salem  W 617 

Koch,  Walter  M 917 

Koenig  Family  971 

Koenig,  Samuel   971 

Koerper,  Harry  H 222 

Kolbe,  Henry • 539 

Kopp  Family   652 

Kopp,  John  G.,  Sr 652 

Kramer  Family  ^ .  382 

Krammes,  Charles  H 700 

Krammes  Family    701 

Krapf,  Richard 1213 

Kraus  Family 667 

Kraus,  Henry  W 667 

Kraus^  Family   788 

KrausSy  Kev.  Howard  H 787 

Krebs  Family   282 

Kreis,  Henry  C 766 

Krell,  John   1060 

Krell,  George  822 

Krell,  P.  Philip 822 

Kressley,  Rev.  Clement  D.,  A.  M 586 

Kressley  Family 586 

Kreitzer,  George  D 1114 

Kripplebaur,  Peter  886 

Kuebler,  Henry  Z 845 

KuU,  C.  Fred ^ 334 

Kunkel  Families   744,  965  • 

Kunkel,  Jonas  965 

Lally,  Anthony  B 591 

Lally  Family   591 

Lamberson,  Amos  B 756 

Landemann,  Henry   ^ 785 

Landenberger,  Harold  L 1216 

Lattimore  Family  657 

Lattimore,  Harry  D 657 

Laubenstein  Family    612 

Laubenstein,  Frank  J 612 

Laubenstein  Mfg.  Co 613 

Laudeman,  Jacob 909 

Laudig  Families   563,  679 

Laudig,  Joseph  H 679 

Laudig,  William  F 563 

Lautenbacher,  Charles   142,  693 

Lautenbacher,  Irvin  L 693 

Lautenbacher,  Jeremiah  C 142 

Lcaman,  Mrs.  Ida  L.  W 267 

Lebo,  John   841 

Lecher  Family    960 

Lecher,  William  E 960 

Lehr,  John    1045 

Leibig,  Benjamin  F 1017 

Leibig  Family  1017 

Leiby  Families   442,  660 

Leiser  Family 973 

Lengel  Family  715 

Lengel,  John  H 715 

Leonard,  John 321 


Leonard,  Mrs.  Mary  A 322 

Leonhardt,  Henry  756 

Lesher  Families 243,  1042 

Lesher,  Felix  H 1042 

Levan  Family  79 

Levan,.  Richard  K 79 

Lime,  John  H 462 

Lindenmuth  Families 

483,  622,  843,  1124,  1168 

Lindenmuth,  George  Clarence 843 

Linder,  Burd  B ', 373 

Linder,  E.  Baymond 373 

Linder  Family   372 

Lindermuth  Families 501,  1124 

Lindermuth,  Horace  D 1126 

Lindermuth,  Joseph  . . . . : 1124 

Loch,  Daniel   727 

Loch  Family   727 

Looser,  Christopher,  Esq 632 

Lomas,  Benjamin 1203 

Long,  Charles  F 716 

Lorah  Family 625,  1130 

Lorah,  James  625 

Lord,  Henry  687 

Losch,  Hon.  Samuel  Alfred 128 

Loy  &  Minnig 559 

Loy,  Harry  F 560 

Lucas,  Edwin  918 

Lucas  Family   918 

Lutz,  Bobert  J 359 

Lynch,  Abraham   226 

Lynch,  John  H 877 

Lynch,  John  W 226 

Lytle,  L.  C 1207 

McAndrew,  Thomas  C 600 

McOure,  George  W 227 

McCool,  Rev.  Joseph 98 

McGuire  Family  1019 

McKnight,  J.  J 850 

McNoldy,  Henry 1051 

Machamer,  Oliver   1000 

Madara  Families 526,  1118 

Madara,  Zaccur  P 526 

Madenford  Family  518 

Madenf ord,  Jeremiah 517 

Mader,  Christian   1082 

Maher,  John  P. 857 

Maher,  Mrs.  Mary  A 857 

Malarkey,  E.  C 692 

Handler,  August   952 

Handler  Family   952 

Manhart,   Henry    890 

Hanhart,  John  M 890 

Hardis,  WiUiam   709 

Harshall,  Charles  H 640 

Hartin  Families 486,  868,  1107 

Hartin,  John  H llW 

Hartin,  Thomas  J 868 

Martin,  William  W 486 

Haster,  Harry  E 1187 

Haster,  Hilton  H 1187 

Hatz,  William    220 

Maurer,  Elmer  H.,  M.  D 277 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Maurer  FamOies 277, 1088, 1105,  1159 

Maurer,  James  A 1088 

Maurer,  Solomon   1105 

Maurer,  William  B 1182 

May,  Charles  H 761 

Meek  Families  199,  1030 

Meek,  Walter  F 199 

Meisgeier,  August   979 

Mellej,  Eev.  Dennis  J 653 

Mengel  Family  895 

Mengel,  Nathan   895 

Mengle  Family  309 

Mentzer,   John    340 

Mercantile    Club,    MinersviUe 1101 

Meredith,    Mrs.    Leonora 78 

Meredith,   John  S 78 

Merkle  Family   476 

Merrick,    Edwin    E 736 

Messersmith,  Abram  C 833 

Meyers,  Charles   631 

Michael  Family    815 

Michael,  Harry  M 814 

Miller,  Alfred  M   304 

MUler,   Mrs.   Annie 782 

Miller,  Charles  B 446 

Miller,  Charles  D.,  M.  D 102 

Miller,  Edwin  J 276 

Miller  Families 

260,  304,  345,  446,  948,  1139,  1215 

Miller,  George  G 1052 

Miller,  Dr.  George  M 103 

Miller,  Henry  L.   628 

Miller,  Homer  F 948 

Miller,  Jacob    431 

Miller,  John  Frederick  628 

Miller,  John  J ,1215 

Miller,  Levi    645 

Miller,  Milton  H 345 

Miller,  Oliver    805 

Miller,  Bichard  E.,  Sr ' 260 

Miller,  Robert   P 1052 

Minnig,  Floyd  H 560 

Minnig,  Bev.  George  179 

Minogue,    J.    F 691 

Mohl  Family  742 

Moll,  George  B 206 

Moll,  Henry   886 

Moll,  Mrs.  Mary  K 206 

Molony,  Edward  W 785 

Molony,  Joseph  F 784 

Monaghan,  Charles  J 1028 

Monaghan  Family  1209 

Monaghan,  James   B 1027 

Monaghan,  Peter  J 1208 

Moore,  Cyrus    549 

Moore,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M 550 

Moore  Families   306,  492,  549,  57^ 

Moore,  George  H.,  M.  D 305 

Moore,  Harry  C 573 

Moore,  John  J.,  M.  D 492 

Moore,  SamuPl    778 

Morea  Colliery   860 

Morgan,   George   W 1215 

Morgan,  Morgan    1003 

Morrison  Family    * 501 


Morrison,  Nathaniel  C 501 

Morscher,  Jacob  62 

Mortimer    Family    150 

Mortimer,  F.  P.,   Sr 150 

Mortimer,  F.   Pierce,    Jr 151 

Moser,   Albert  L 773 

Moser  Family   773 

Moyer,   Charles  E 9*2 

Moyer  Families    

.31,  274,  314,  584,  915,  932 

Moyer,  Huston  Bobison   349 

Moyer,  Isaac    32,  274 

Moyer,  Joseph  W 314 

Moyer,  William   F 915 

Murphy,  Dr.  Dennis  J 577 

Murphy  Family    1064 

Murphy,  Michael 1064 

Murphy,  John    273 

Naffin,  Paul  B 718 

Nagle,   Col.   DanieJ 64 

Nagle  Family   ...  1 64 

Nagle,  Gen.  James    66 

Neidlinger,   Christian    651 

Neidlinger    Family    651 

Neiswender,  Edwin  B 723 

Neiswender  Family   723 

Nesbitt,  Mrs.  Kate   1068 

Nesbitt,  Bobert  J 1068 

Nester,  Aaron    881 

Nester,  Daniel    931 

Nester  Families   881,  922,  931 

Nester,  Salem  B 922 

Noecker  Family   173 

Noecker,    James    A 173 

Noel  Family   946 

Noel,   Stephen  E 946 

Norton,  Bev.  Lemuel  B 1147 

O'Brien,  Michael  J 962 

O'Connor,   Thomas   C 253 

O'Donnell,  Joseph  204 

Oerther,  John   647 

Ohl,   Samuel    690 

O'Leary,  David    1164 

Oliver,  George   416 

Oliver,  William    416 

O'NeiU,  Charles   1035 

O'Neill,  George  B 985 

Oren,  James 727 

Oren,  John  M 727 

Orwig,  Peter 179 

Osenbach  Family   796 

Ossman,  Aaron    859 

Ossman,  Philip    859 

Ost,  August  W 479 

Ost,  Charles  F 478 

Oswald  Families 775,  882 

Owens,  Maj.  John  F 697 

Parker  Family    38 

Parker,    Hiram,    Jr 37 

Parrott,  Benjamin  F 1135 

Patten  FamiUes 831,  985 

Patten,  Thomas    985 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


XI 


Patten,  William  T )83i 

Patterson,  Frank  B 1113 

Patterson,  Hon.  George  R 70 

Patterson,  Mrs.  Mary  A 76 

Paul  Family    997 

Paul,  John  J 1035 

Paul,  Thomas  W 997 

Peale,  Charles  Willson 8 

Peale  Family    10 

Peale,  Rubens  H 8 

Peifer  Families 839, 1132 

Peifer,    John 839 

Peifer,  Hiram 1132 

Pelechovych,   Rev.   Joseph.  / 973 

Perry,  Rourindine    1065 

Pershing,  Judge  Cyrus  L 181 

Peter   Family    894 

Petery  Family    302 

Petery,  Oscar  D 301 

Petry   Family    332 

Petry,  Harvey  D 332 

Pf eiffer,  John 620 

Phoenix  Hose  Company,  Shenandoah. .  .1162 

Pleasants,  Gen.   Henry 172 

Pollard,  John  H 256 

Portland,  Charles  A 1171 

Portz,  Frederick,  Jr 191 

Portz,  Frederick,  Sr 191,  203 

Portz,  Harry   K 203 

Pott    (Potts)    Families 44,    170,243 

Pott,  John,   Sr 170 

Prevost,  John   47 

Price,  John  W 1108 

Pugh,  WilUam  S 176 

Purcell,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann 1153 

Purcell,  Michael 1154 

Quail,  Charles  Edward,  M.  D 117 

Quail,  Mrs.   Emma   C 118 

Quandel,   Charles    696 

Quick,    Samuel    772 

Quigel   Family    672 

Quigel,    Valentine    W 672 

Quinn,  Terence  J 912 

RandaU,  David  V 290 

Rarich   Family    431 

Ranch  Family  335 

Ranch,  George  B 335 

Raykowski,  Waldysluw 1044 

Reber  Family   244 

Reber,  George  W 207 

Reber,  Harry   A 207 

Reber,  Horace  F 244 

Reddy,  Christopher  C 951 

Reed,   Albert   L 328 

Reed,  Charles  0 1046 

Reed,  Elias    109 

Reed  FamUies.292,  328,  333,  692,  1046,  1207 

Reed,  Frederick  B 333 

Reed,  Harry  D 692 

Reed,  Jacob  D 109 

Reed,  Samuel    292 

Reed,  Sherman  H 1207 


Reese   Families    287,  786 

Reese,  Frank  C 368 

Reese,  John    368 

Reese,  John   W 287 

Reese,  Stephen    786 

Reichard,    Joseph    398 

Reichwein,    Henry    1021 

Reick,  Frederick   431 

Reick,  William  H 432 

Reid,   Robert   A 325 

Reilly,   Bernard    14 

Reilly,  James  B 14 

Reiner   Family    1041 

Reinert,  Daniel  260 

Reinhart  Family j 429 

Reinhart,  Henry   429 

Reinoehl,  Levi  E 1089 

Reiseg,  Elmer  G 1017 

Reisig,  Frederick   567 

Remaly,  Lewis  F 832 

Renner  Family   1061 

Renner,  William   1061 

Renninger  Family    970 

Renninger,  John   970 

Rentschler  Family 614 

Rentschler,  Henry  D.,  M.  D 614 

Rice,   Aaron   L 1082 

Rice  Family 1082 

Richards,  William  C 569 

Richenderfer,  John  H 1137 

Rickert  Family  39 

Rickert,  Col.  Thomas  H 39 

Ridgway,  Thomas  S 610 

Riegel  Family  542 

^Riegel,    Samuel   A.... 542 

Riland   (Ryland)   Family 852 

Rissinger,  Abraham  F 1188 

Rissinger,  Jacob  J 1190 

Robinhold   Family    490 

Robinhold,  Lewis  C,  M.  D 491 

Robinhold,    William    L 491 

Rockwell,   W.   B 180 

Robinson,  Moncure 180 

Robinson,  William  H.,  M.  D 108 

Romberger,  James  M 1048 

Romberger,  Jesse  M 1047 

Romig   Family    649 

Rooney,  Christ  J 1111 

Rooney   Family    1111 

Rosenberger,  Clemens    M 367 

Rosenberger   Family    367 

Rubright,  Charles  H 825 

Rubright   Families    825,  939 

Rumbel  Families 616,  1157 

Rumbel,  Richard  T 1159 

Rumbel.  Trenton  W 1157 

Rump  Family    1098 

Rump,  William   1098 

Ryan,    Martin    F 1061 

Ryland    (Riland)    FamUy 852 

Ryland,  William  H 852 

Ryon,   George   W 190 

Ryon,    Judge   James 190 

Ryon,  John  Percy 190 

Ryon,  Hon.  John  W 190 


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Xll 


SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Sabaloski,   Mat 1113 

Sabold,  William  H.,  Sr. 1182 

Sachs  Family   801 

Sachs,   Henry    801 

Sassaman  Family  457 

Saterleo,  Britton  W 720 

Schablein,   Joseph    283 

Schablein,  Michael  283 

^Schaefer,   Charles  T 830 

VSchaefer   Family    830 

X  Schaeffer  Families   442,  462 

XSchaeffer,  George  M 462 

/  Schaffer  Families   807,  1010 

y  Schaflfer,  Salem  B 807 

Schalck,  Adolph  W 528 

Schalck,  Mrs.  Emma  R 531 

Schalck,  George    528 

Schaller  Family    1008 

Schappell    (Shappell)    Families    

541,  682,  733,  988,'  1006 

Schappell,   George  W 988 

Scharadin   (Sharadin)   Families 

211,  308,  312 

Scharadin,   Harry  F 312 

Scharadin,   Jacob   A 307 

>Scheaffer,  Joseph  1013 
Scheaffer,  Sebastian  1013 
Scheele   Brothers    398 

Scheele,  Carl   398 

Schenck,    Fred    940 

Schief,    Charles   F 1110 

Schief,  Mrs.  Sofie 1110 

Schilling  Family    671      — *^.  ^^^    

Schilling,  John  C 671  >    Sheaier,  Lesley  G 

Schlaseman,  Elmer  F 514  y  Sheaf er,  Paul 


Scott,  George 264 

Scott,  John  A 707 

Scott,  John  G 265 

Scott,  Bobert  S.  . , 265 

Scott,  Walter  W 707 

Seiberling  Family    387 

Seitzinger,  Miss  Emma .'....  240 

Seitzinger  Family.  .19,  239,  783,  986,  1036 

Seitzinger,    Henry   M 1036 

Seitzinger,  Jeremiah    783 

Seitzinger,  James  M 986 

Seitnnger,  CoL  Nicholas 19 

Seitzinger,  Judge  Nicholas   239 

Seligman,  Abraham  Pott,  M.  D 242 

Seligman  Family   242 

Seltzer,   Albert  W 110 

Seltzer,   Conrad    ; 110 

Seltzer  Families   619,  942,  962 

Seltzer,  Francis  B 962 

Seltzer,  Frank   P 942 

Seltzer,  Miss    E.    W 963 

Seltzer,  Wesley    A 619 

Shannon,  Benjamin  Franklin,  M.  D. . .   162 

Shannon,  Samuel  H.,  M.  D 160 

Shappell,  Andrew  J 683 

Shappell,  Benjamin  * 733 

Shappell,  Daniel    683 

Shappell,  Elias  F 541 

Shappell  Families.. 541,  682,  733,  988,  1006 

Sharadin,  Edward   211 

Sharadin    (Scharadin)    Families 

211,  308,  312 

Shaw,  John    413 

25 

1176 


Schlaseman,  Jacob  A 515  y  Sheafer,  Peter  W. 


Schlear,  Alfred  925 

Schlear  Family  925 

Schlegel  Family  553 

Schlegel,    James   D 653 

Schmeltzer   Family    1043 

Schmeltzer,   Frank  A 1043 

Schmidt,    Christian    336 

Schmidt,  Philip    336 

Schneider,  Mrs.  Catherine 524 

Schneider,   Mrs.  Elizabeth 700 

Schneider  Families   90,  706 

Schneider,  John  F 700 

Schneider,  Peter  J.    (deceased) 524 

Schneider,  Peter   J.    (Locustdale) 762 

Schneider,  Theodore  D 706 

Schoch   (Schock)   Family 954 

Schoeneman,   Michael    1102 

Schrepple,    Gottlieb    E 650 

Schrope,  Charles  A 674 

Schrope  Family    674 

Schulz,  Jacob  R 929 

Schulze,    Harry   F 1075 

Schuyler,   Joseph   M 20 

Schuyler,  Miss  Mary  1 20 

Schwalm  FamiUes 754,  992,  1217 

Schwalra,   George   M 992 

Schwalm,  Ralph  A 1217 

Schwartz,  Joseph   331 

Scott,  Alexander    263 


25 

y^Sheafer,  Walter  S 1175 

Sheafer,  William  L 24 

Shearer,  Robert  C 343 

Shellhamer   Family    755 

Shellhamer,   Jackson   M 755 

Shellhammer,  Benjamin  F 1001 

Shellhammer  Families ..  686,  755,  982,  1001 

Shellhammer,   James   M 686 

Sherry   Family    921 

Shirey  Family 1112 

Shirey,    John    1112 

Shissler,  Mrs.    Clara    K 867 

Shissler,  Edward   L 866 

Shoemaker  Families   737,  913 

Shoemaker,  James  A 913 

Shoemaker,  John  H 737 

Shoener,  Edward    780 

Shoener,    Mrs.   Emma 744 

Shoener  Families 279,  743,   780,  910 

Shoener,  John    910 

Shoener,  Hon.  John  T 278 

Shoener,  Joseph    743 

Siefert,  Williara  H 748 

Silliman,  Mrs.  Catharine    62 

Silliman,  Edward  S 67 

Silliman    (Sillyman)    Families 

: 60,  68,  120,  208 

Silliman,    H.    1 20S 

Silliman,   James  K 60 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


xui 


Silljman    (Silliman)    Families 

60,    68,    120,208 

Sillyman,  Samuel   120 

^       Sillyman,  Miss  Sosan  J 122 

Simmons,  Thomas   1075 

Sittler,   Calvin  E 361 

SittJer    (Sitler)    Families . 361,  470 

Slater,  Mrs.   Clara  K 401 

Slater,   George  W 400 

Slater,  Henry  P 400 

Smith,  Charles  E 1172 

Smith,  Charles  H 1074 

Smith,  David  G 227 

Smith  Famines 388,  477,  1074,  1172 

Smith,  Jeremiah    388 

Smith,  Joseph  G 1176 

Smith,  William  E 108 

Smith,  William  S 476 

Snyder,  Charles  A 144 

Snyder  Family   48S 

Snyder,   Frank    316 

Snyder,  B^ben    316 

Spayd,  Prof.  H.  H 126 

Speacht,  Mrs.  Dorothy 393 

Speacht  Family 392,  401 

Speacht,   Frederick    392 

Spencer,  Mrs.  Amelia  J 47 

Spencer,  George    45 

Spencer/  William    45 

Spitzner,  Valentine  1070 

Spohn,  Moncure  B... 1023 

St.  Clair  Family 1024 

St  Clair,  Oscar 1024 

St  Peter's  Chnrch  (Reformed) 426 

St  Mary's  Church,  Tremont 653 

Stamm  Family   879 

Starr,  David    761 

Starr  Families    88,  761,  1012 

Starr,  William  A 1012 

Staudt  (Stoudt,  Stout)  Families 

447,   509,   729 

Staudt,   John  F 447 

Staudt,   John   S 509 

Stauffer,  Arttiur  Elliott 482 

Stauff er,  Elias  K 480 

Stauflfer  FamiUes 480,  845,  1115,  1165 

SUuffer,  John  M 1115 

Stauffer,  Norman  M 1165 

Stauffer,  William  E 1166 

Steigerwalt,   Albert  H 376 

Steigerwalt  Families    376,  395  ^ 

Stein,  Danid   324 

Stein  Families   140,  418 

Stein,  Jonathan  Frank 417 

Stein,  Franklin  M 142 

Stein,  Moses  S 140 

Steiner  Family   .' 424 

Stephens,   Albert    lO'il 

Sterner  Family  919 

Sterner,    Frank   R 919 

Stewart,  Harry  H^  M.  D 581 

Stichter,   George  H 625 

Stief  Family  758 

Stief,   John   A 758 

Stiles  Famfly 1015 


Stiles,  Michael  V 1015 

Stine    Family    v ^32 

Stine,  William  N 632 

Stitzer   Family    503,  687 

Stitzer,   William   F 503 

Stitzer,   William   G 687 

Stoker  Family    934 

Stoudt  (Staudt,  Stout)  Families 

447,   509,   729 

Strauch '  Family    450 

Strauch,   Robert   D 450 

Strause  (Strauss,  Strouse)  Family....  215 

Strause,  Samuel 215 

Striegel,  John  G.,  M.  D 520 

Strubhar,   Aaron    767 

Strubhar  Family    767 

Stutzman  Family  836 

Stutzman,  Raymond  H.,  M.  D 835 

Super  Family  433 

Swoyer  Family  997 

Tallman,  Henry 1177 

Tallman,  Mrs.  Mary  A 1177 

Tasker,  Reese  238 

Taylor,    William    T 827 

Thomas  Family    192 

Thomas,  Thomas  L 193 

Thomas,  Mrs.  Thomas  L 84,  194,  196 

Thompson,  Alexander   668 

Thompson,  Hon.  Alexander 669 

Thompson,  Charles  D 906 

Thompson  Families.. 32,  112,  114,  907,  1053 

Thompson,  Heber  H 35 

Thompson,  Maj.  Heber  S 32 

Thompson,    Isaac    B 669 

Thompson,   Lewis   C 113 

Thompson,   Oliver   C 1053 

Thompson,  Ool.  William 112 

Tielman,    William    1110 

Toole,  John 1114 

Toomey,    John    829 

Toomey,  Michael 829 

Trachte,  William   494 

Tregea  Family   1004 

Trexler   Family    967 

Turner  Family    921 

Tyson  Family  742 

J 

Underkoffler,  Charles  M 772 

Unger,   Albert  A 495 

Updegrave    Families    439,  681 

Updegrave,    Morris    680 

Updegrave,   Philip   H 439 

Updegrove    Family    661 

Updegrove,  Walter  E 661 

Van  Horn  Family 644 

Veith,  John 209,  1201 

Veith,   John,   Jr 211 

Vetter,  David    704 

Vetter  Family   704,  977 

Wachter,  George  A 943 

Wachter,  Rudolph    944 

Wadlinger,  Mrs.  Margaret  D 50 


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XIV 


SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


Wadiinger,  Francis   48 

Wadlinger,  Judge  Qeorge  J 48 

'   Wagner,  Alfred  B 1016 

Wagner,  Charles  C 545 

Wagner,  Charles  G 508 

Wagner   Families    219, 

508,  545,  558,  781,  824,  886,  1014,  1016 

Wagner,   Franklin    781 

.Wagner,  Frederick  R.,  D.  D.  S 558 

Wagner,  Henry  A 547 

Wagner,  Mrs.  Mary  A 571 

Wagner,  Philip 823 

Wagner,   Samuel   C 571 

Wagner,  William   M 219 

Walbom  Families. . ./ 156,  1087 

Walbom,  Ira  Guy 157 

Walbom,   Jonathan   H 156 

Walbom,  Joseph  A 158 

Walbom,  Maurice  D 157 

Wallauer,  Jacob  379 

Walter  Families    677,  793 

Walter,  George  W 793 

Walters,   Henry    92 

Walters,   William   H 92 

Warne,  Joseph  L.,  M.  D 1175 

Watson  Families 1175,  1186 

Watson,  George  M 1186 

Weaklim,    William    T 63 

Weaver    (Weber)    Family 912 

Weber    (Weaver)    Family 912 

Weber,   Louis 327 

Weber,  William  F \ 327 

Weidman  Family   864 

Weidman,   Samuel    864 

Weiser,  Conrad 158 

Weishampel  Family 119 

Weissinger   Family    27 

Weissinger,  George    29 

Weissinger,  Harry   30 

Weissinger,  Leonard  W 27 

Weldon,   Michael    1100 

Weldy,   Charles  H 95 

Weldy,  Henry  A 93 

Wellendorf ,  Joseph   1080 

Wertley  Family    266 

Wertley,    Walter    266 

Wertley,    Wellington    A 267 

Wertman    Family    820 

Wessner  Family   431 

Whalen,  Edward  J 1160 

Whalen  Family 1160 

White  Families   978,  1090 

White,  J.  S 1090 

White,  Maj.  J.  aaude 320 

White,  Joseph  R 978 

Whitfield,    Joseph    928 

Whitfield,  Mrs.  Lottie  E 929 

Whitfield,  Rowland    928 

Wiesner,  Dr.  Edwin  E 384 

Wiesner  Family   384 

Wiest  Family 478 


Wilhelm,  William  224 

Williams,  Mrs.  Annie 1050 

Williams,  William   1050 

Wingert,   Adam    884 

Wingert  Family   884 

Wintersteen,  Mrs.  John 1172 

Withelder  Families 1079,  1083 

Withelder,    Frederick    1083 

Withelder,  John  H 1079 

Wittich,    Henry    W 1077 

Wittmer,   Martin    999 

Wittmer,  Mrs.  Mary 999 

Wolfgang   Family    771 

Wolfgang,  Paul    771 

Womer   (Woomer)    Family 390,440 

Womer,  Monroe   390 

Wonders,  Newton  M 714 

Woolcock,   John    145 

Woomer,   Elmer    440 

Woomer   (Womer)   Family 390,  440 

Yarnall  Families   472,  666 

Yamall,    Ephraim    666 

Yeager,  Alfred  A 819 

Yeager  Family  819 

Yeingst,  Prof.  WUbur  M 360 

Yerger  Family   701 

Yerger,  Henry    701 

Yoder  Family 582 

Yoder,  Irvin  U 582 

Yorkville   Fire   Company 456 

Yost,  Benjamin  J 797 

Yost  Families.  .322,  402,  446,  660,  798,  924 

Yost,    Israel    924 

Yost,  James  A 402 

Yost,   Jonathan    1 322 

Young,  George   821 

Zapf,  Charles  A 578 

Zapf,  William   E 578 

Zehner  Families   739,  740,  984 

Zehner,   Lewis   A 740 

Zerbe  Family    579 

Zerbe,   William    E 579 

Zettlemoyer  Family 1093 

Zettlemoyer,  Frank    .' 1093 

Zimmerman,  Alfred   955 

Zimmerman,    Edward    1093 

Zimmerman   Families    

550,  558,  811,  955,  1093,  1205 

Zimmerman,  George  K 811 

Zimmerman,   Robert  J 550 

Zimmerman,  William  H 1205 

Zion  's   Lutheran    Church 789 

Zion  's   Reformed   Church 426 

Zulich,  Mrs.  E.  R 233 

Zulich    Family    232 

Zulich,  Henry  B 232 

Zulick  Family   603 

Zulick,    John    S 604 

Zulick,  Thomas  H.  B 603 


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Genealogy— Family  History 
Biography 


JOHN  BANNAN,  deceased,  was  in  his  time  a  lawyer  of  the  first  rank  in 
his  State.  He  was  truly  said  by  a  writer  of  his  time  to  have  been  a  self-made 
man,  but  well  made.  He  was  bom  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  Sept.  19,  1796,  and  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  became  an  orphan,  entirely  dependent  upon  his  own  efforts 
for  making  a  success  in  the  struggle  of  life.  He  attended  the  subscription 
schools  of  the  early  times,  the  terms  of  which  were  only  three  months  in  the 
year,  and  in  the  interim  was  cared  for  by  an  uncle  who  lived  on  a  farm.  But 
he  had  the  ambition  for  better  things,  and  for  years  thereafter  labored  to 
increase  his  store  of  knowledge,  so  that  he  might  be  better  equipped  for  the 
coming  years.  He  began  his  career  as  an  engineer  under  Phillip  Wemwag, 
who  lived  at  Douglassville,  where  his  parents  are  buried ;  studied  law  at  Read- 
ing under  Charles  Evans,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  181 8,  and  began  practice  in 
Orwigsburg.  Later,  when  the  seat  of  justice  was  removed  to  Pottsville,  he 
removed  to  that  city,  to  remain  until  death  brought  a  close  to  his  labors.  When 
the  war  of  18 12  occurred  he  entered  the  ist  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers,  locally  known  as  the  "Washington  Bluest  serving  as  a  private 
soldier  under  Capt.  D.  B.  Keim  until  the  end  of  the  war.  So  patriotic  was 
Mr.  Bannan  that  when  the  Civil  war  occurred  he  offered  his  services  at  once, 
but  the  age  of  sixty-five  was  the  bar  to  his  enlistment.  However,  he  assisted 
in  the  care  of  the  families  of  those  left  behind  and  contributed  his  time  and 
money  to  the  relief  of  the  soldiers  and  their  widows. 

John  Bannan  was  married  to  Sarah  Ann  Ridgway,  who  was  born  on  the 
last  day  of  the  year  1806,  and  died  at  the  family  home  in  November,  1879. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters:    Zelia  R. ;  Mary 

{oy;  Thomas  R.;  Douglass  R.;  Francis  B.,  and  Martha  Ridgway.  In  1852 
Ir.  Bannan  built  his  beautiful  residence  oh  Sharp  Mountain,  "Cloud  Home," 
the  plans  being  furnished  by  his  wife  (who  displayed  remarkable  talent  for 
this  class  of  work),  directed  by  the  architect. 

At  the  time  of  the  projected  erection  of  the  Henry  Clay  monument  in 
Pottsville,  Mr.  Bannan  gave  a  tract  120  feet  square  for  the  location  of  tfie 
structure,  and  it  was  accepted.  This  tall  and  striking  column,  surmounted  with 
a  colossal  statute  of  the  great  orator  and  statesman,  was  begun  July  28,  1852, 
and  dedicated  July  4,  1855.    It  stands  just  below  the  site  of  "Cloud  Home." 

Francis  B.  Bannan,  son  of  John  Bannan,  was  bom  in  Orwigsburg, 
Schuylkill  county,  Feb.  28,  1833,  and  attended  the  local  schools  and  a  select 
school  at  New  Haven,  Conn.  He  took  up  the  task  of  earning  a  living  by 
entering  the  employ  of  Joel  J.  Bailey  &  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  holding  the  posi- 
tion of  clerk  from  1850  to  18^5.  He  then  went  for  a  short  time  with  Daniel 
Kaiser,  of  the  same  city,  finally  coming  to  Pottsville.  For  a  number  of  years 
VoLH— 1  ,A    , 

609>.-l 


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610  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

he  was  in  partnership  with  Robert  Allison,  under  the  firm  name  of  AlUson  & 
mnmn,  manufacturmg  all  kinds  of  mining  machinery,  drills,  compressors,  etc. 
In  1876  he  closed  out  his  interest,  and  in  1878  he  went  into  the  business  of 
steamheatmg  also  having  a  machine  shop  at  Pottsville.  He  continued  this 
work  until  1889,  when  he  retired  from  active  life. 

T  i-^"/-]^?"*  ''  ^^3*  ^^-  ^^""^"  ^^s  married  to  Mary  T.,  daughter  of  Mrs 
Julia  (Kuethenthal)  Repplier,  and  step-daughter  of  George  S.  Repplier. 
Mrs.  Bannan  died  Dec.  22,  1893.  They  had  children  as  follows:  John  R, 
living  m-Philadelphia;  Imogen  R.,  widow  of  H.  C.  Halberstadt,  formerly  of 
tiie  Pottsville  Supply  Company;  Clara  R.,  wife  of  H.  H.  Lineweaver.  of 
Menon,  Pa. ;  and  Bertha  L.,  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Bannan  was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist,  April  13,  1861,  in  the  "First 
Defenders,"  known  as  the  Washington  Artillery,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
July  31,  186 1.  He  is  a  natural  mechanical  genius,  and  many  specimens  of  his 
handiwork  are  to  be  seen  at  the  old  home  on  the  mountain,  **Cloud'Home." 
H^  has  also  invented  a  unique  method  of  picture-writing  with  tacks,  which  he 
calls  "Taxography."  He  is  a  writer  of  no  mean  capacity,  having  issued  a 
pamphlet,  the  gist  of  which  he  read  before  the  Schuylkill  County  Historical 
Society,  entitled  * 'Reminiscences  of  a  Long  and  Happy  Life  of  Fun,  Frolic  and 
Mischief."  He  has  gotten  together  the  details  of  many  a  childish  escapade 
and  incident  of  his  boyhood  and  maturity,  which  are  not  only  presented  in  an 
interesting  and  colloquial  manner,  but  betray  a  disposition  at  once  humorous 
,  and  ingenuous. 

Thomas  R.  Bannan,  deceased,  son  of  John  Bannan,  was  bom  Oct.  10, 
1827,  in  Orwigsburg,  and  there  began  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Entering  Yale  College,  he  graduated  from  the  law  school,  returned  to  Potts- 
ville, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  practiced 
until  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  most  scholarly,  able  and  gentlemanly 
pleaders  of  his  time.  He  served  for  a  short,  period  in  the  Civil  war  and  then 
returned  to  his  practice.    He  died  in  1878. 

Martha  Ridgway  Bannan,  the  only  surviving  daughter  of  John  Bannan, 
was  bom  in  Orwigsburg,  and  attended  the  private  school  of  Miss  Allen,  in 
Pottsville.  Later  she  continued  her  studies  in  Philadelphia.  Music  and  litera- 
ture have  been  her  chief  interests.  She  has  written  in  verse,  and  translated 
some  of  Goethe's  poems  from  the  German,  which  are  published  in  book  form. 
She  is  now  living  in  her  father  and  mother's  old  home.  **Cloud  Home."  Her 
sister  Zelia  R.  died  Dec.  14,  191 1,  and  Mary  Joy  passed  to  rest  May  17,  1912. 
Miss  Bannan  is  a  member  of  the  Trinity  Episcopal  Church  of  Pottsville. 

Thomas  S.  Ridgway,  father  of  Mrs.  John  Bannan,  was  bom  at  Mount 
Holly,  N.  J.,  and  was  an  architect,  skilled  in  his  profession,  having  drawn 
the  plans  for  many  of  the  finest  homes  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  lived  pre- 
viously to  his  removal  to  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  When  he  came  to  this  county 
he  became  interested  in  coal  lands,  and  he  it  was  who  induced  his  friend 
Stephen  Girard  to  invest  in  the  lands  which  have  since  become  so  enormously 
profitable.  He  married  Mary  Joy,  daughter  of  Daniel  Joy,  who  was  ordnance 
master  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  They  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  ten 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 

PHAON  HERMANY,  M.  D.,  of  Mahanoy  City,  the  oldest  practicing  phy- 
sician in  that  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  has  made  a  distinguished  record  in 
his  long  professional  career,  a  half  century  and  more  of  faithful  service  to 
his  fellow  men.    His  ideals  of  duty  have  been  set  forth  in  practical  illustra- 


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HENRY  CLAY  MONUMENT,  POTTSVILLE 
Cornerstone  Laid  July  28,  1862,  Dedicated  July  4,  1865 

Henry  Clav.  Born  in  Hanover  county,  near  Richmond,  Va.,  April  12.  1777;  died  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  June  29,  1852.  A  celebrated  American  statesman  and  orator.  He  was  United  States  senator 
from  Kentucky.  1806-07  and  1810-11;  was  member  of  Congress  from  Kentucky,  1811-21  and  1828-25 
(serving  as  speaker  1811-14,  1816-20  and  1828-25);  was  peace  commissioner  at  Ghent  in  1814;  was 
candidate  for  the  presidency  in  1824;  was  secretary  of  state.  1825-29;  was  United  States  senator, 
1881-42  and  1849-52:  was  Whig  candidate  for  presidency  in  1882  and  1844;  was  the  chief  designer 
of  the  "Missouri  Compromise"  of  1820.  and  of  the  compromise  of  1850;  and  was  the  author  of  the 
compromise  tariff  of  1888. 


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'i:'.E  r:LW  YjLK 
'UBLIC  LIBRARY 


APTOR,  LENOX 
TM-DKN    FOUNDATIONS 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  611 

tions  throughout  this  extended  period  of  activity,  and  the  sum  of  his  useful 
ness  may  be  best  read  in  the  popularity  he  enjoys  among  his  townsmen. 
Public  spirit  in  those  things  affecting  the  general  welfare,  and  conscientious- 
ness in  his  personal  relations  with  all  whose  lives  have  touched  his  directly, 
have  been  the  surface  indications  of  a  character  whose  depth  has  been  sounded 
by  many  besides  his  close  intimates.  Through  the  medium  of  his  profes- 
sion he  has  no  doubt  had  unusually  good  opportunities  for  observation  and 
first-hand  knowledge  of  many  conditions  in  the  community  calling  for  better- 
ment, and  the  wisdom  of  his  judgment  has  been  proved  in  many  tests. 
Coming  to  Mahanoy  City  in  1863,  the  year  the  borough  was  organized,  he 
has  had  a  part  in  the  making  of  practically  all  her  history.  When  he  came 
here  he  made  his  rounds  on  horseback,  and  no  one  in  this  section  has  had 
more  reason  to  be  gratified  at  the  improvement  in  roads  and  transportation 
facilities. 

Dr.  Hermany  is  of  German  descent,  and  the  family  name  was  originally 
spelled  Hermon.  The  Doctor's  great-grandfather  was  the  emigrant  ancestor, 
coming  to  this  country  in  1756,  and  settling  first  near  Philadelphia,  Pa.  How- 
ever, he  moved  to  Lehigh  county  not  long  afterwards,  and  there  his  son  Philip 
Hermany,  the  Doctor's  grandfather,  who  was  bom  at  sea  while  his  parents 
were  en  route  from  the  Old  to  the  New  World,  grew  to  manhood.  John 
Hermany,  son  of. Philip,  wa^  bom  in  Lehigh  county  in  the  year  1800,  and 
passed  all  his  life  there,  dying  Sept.  3,  1863,  aged  sixty-three  years.  During 
his  earlier  manhood  he  followed  farming,  later  conducting  a  store  and  hotel, 
and  he  was  the  founder  of  the  village  of  Jacksonville,  where  he  served  as 
postmaster  for  twenty  years.  His  religious  faith  was  that  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church.  He  married  Salome  Kistler,  like  himself  a  native  of 
Lehigh  county,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  four  sons  and  six 
daughters,  all  bom  at  the  old  homestead  at  Jacksonville,  of  whom  we  have 
the  following  record:  Didama  (Mrs.  Brobst),  bom  in  1833;  Sallie  (Mrs. 
Crietz),  born  in  1B35,  who  died  in  1862;  Mary  (Mrs.  Wuchter),  bom  in  1837; 
Edwin,  born  in  1838;  Phaon ;  Lydia,  born  in  1842;  John,  Jr.,  born  in  1844; 
and  Martha  M.,  bom  in  1850. 

Phaon  Hermany  was  bom  Sept.  16,  1840,  and  spent  his  boyhood  in  Lehigh 
county,  beginning  his  education  in  the  schools  of  the  home  locality.  Later  he 
attended  an  academy  at  the  Trappe,  in  Montgomery  county,  and  he  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Daniel  Shade,  of  Lehigh  county.  He  took  the 
r^ular  course  at  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  New  York, 
graduating  March  3,  1863,  and  before  long  had  started  practice  at  Mahanoy 
City,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  At  that  time  there  were  but  sixty-three  houses  in 
the  town,  and  he  was  the  third  physician  to  locate  here,  Drs.  Philip  Weber 
and  Brender  having  arrived  a  short  time  before.  With  the  exception  of  four 
years  during  which  he  carried  on  a  dmg  business  he  has  devoted  himself 
entirely  to  practice  since,  and  with  continuous  success,  few  men  in  any  walk 
of  life  being  better  known  in  the  region.  Recognition  of  his  ability  has  come 
from  his  fellow  members  in  the  profession  as  well  as  from  patrons.  More 
than  twenty  years  ago  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  Schuylkill  County  Med- 
ical Society,  and  he  is  also  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Lehigh  County 
Medical  Society,  the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  Society  and  the  American 
Medical  Association.  In  1864  he  was  appointed  surgeon  for  the  Lehigh  Val- 
ley Railway  Company,  during  the  period  when  Hon.  Asa  Packer  was  president 
of  that  company.  His  field  embraced  the  territory  in  and  about  Mahanoy 
City.     Fraternally  Dr.  Hermany  is  a  high  Mason,  belonging  to  Mahanoy  City 


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612  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Lodge,  No.  357,  F.  &  A.  M.  (past  master)  ;  Mizpah  Chapter,  No.  252,  R.  A.  M. 
(past  officer,  and  secretary  continuously  since  1881)  ;  Ivanhoe  Commandery, 
No.  31,  JC  T.  (past  officer);  Philadelphia  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree; 
Lu  Lu  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Philadelphia;  and  the  Northwestern 
Masonic  Aid  Association.  Years  ago  he  joined  Council  No.  162,  Royal 
Arcanum,  of  Mahanoy  City;  Asa  Packer  Lodge,  No.  328,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  and 
Washington  Camp  No.  124,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
first  fire  company  organized  in  the  borough.  Though  he  never  sought  honors 
of  any  kind,  Dr.  Hermany  was  elected  a  member  of  the  local  school  board 
several  times,  serving  on  that  body  seventeen  and  a  half  years,  and  for  a  time 
as  president.  His  interest  in  educational  advancement,  and  foresight  in  pro- 
viding against  the  growing  needs  of  the  community,  made  his  work  in  this 
connection  especially  valuable.  For  many  years  he  acted  as  deputy  coroner  in 
Mahanoy  City  and  vicinity.  Politically  he  has  adhered  loyally  to  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party. 

On  Dec.  6,  1863,  Dr.  Hermany  was  married  in  Mahanoy  City  to  Mary  J. 
Bowman,  of  Bowmanstown,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  David  and  Susan 
(Lentz)  Bowman.  Four  children  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage:  Horace 
David  graduated  from  JeflFerson  Medical  College  in  1891,  for  a  time  prac- 
ticed medicine  and  conducted  a  drug  store  in  Philadelphia,  next  followed 
denti$try,  and  is  now  engaged  in  electrical  work  in  Mahanoy  City ;  Robert  K. 
died  in  1872,  when  four  years  old ;  Susan  L.  B.  is  married  to  William  Dyatt 
and  resides  at  Hazleton,  Pa. ;  Sallie  B.  K.  is  at  honle.  The  familv  are  members 
of  the  English  Lutheran  Church.  They  reside  in  a  beautiful  home  at  No.  56 
South  Main  street,  where  the  Doctor  also  has  his  office. 

FRANK  J.  LAUBENSTEIN,  of  Ashland,  executive  head  of  the  business 
of  the  Laubenstein  Manufacturing  Company,  is  a  representative  of  honored 
stock  of  Schuylkill  county.  The  name  he  bears  has  also  been  prominently 
associated  with  industrial  interests  at  Ashland  from  the  early  seventies,  when 
Jonas  Laubenstein,  his  grandfather,  became  owner  of  the  business  continued 
since  his  day  by  his  son  and  grandsons,  a  manufacturing  concern  whose  pros- 
perity has  contributed  materially  to  that  of  the  borough. 

The  Laubensteins  are  of  Genpan  origin,  and  this  branch  of  the  family  has 
been,  established  in  America  since  1756,  settling  then  in  what  is  now  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.,  where  descendants  of  the  original  ancestors  in  this  country  have 
been  resident  continuously  to  the  present. 

Jonas  Laubenstein,  the  grandfather  of  Frank  J.  Laubenstein,  lived  and  died 
in  Schuylkill  county.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  loyal  Union  supporter 
and  served  in  the  army.  Becoming  profitably  engaged  in  business  as  a  manu- 
facturer of  screens,  he  owned  a  plant  at  Minersville,  and  in  the  early  seventies 
(1875)  erected  a  plant  of  the  same  kind  at  Ashland.  As  previously  stated, 
the  business  has  been  continued  by  the  Laubensteins  ever  since.  Jonas  Lau- 
benstein married  a  Keumer,  and  the  following  children  were  born  to  them: 
Rev.  William,  deceased,  who  was  a  minister  of  the  Lutheran  Church ;  Albert  L. ; 
David  F.,  deceased,  who  was  a  musician ;  Charles  S.,  who  is  engaged  in  busi- 
ness at  Ashland  as  a  manufacturer  of  screens  and  elevator  buckets  (he  is  also 
in  the  State  game  protection  service)  ;  George,  formerly  a  resident  of  Phila- 
delphia and  employed  by  the  Philadelphia  Press;  Jonas,  of  Minersville,  present 
postmaster  of  that  borough ;  and  Katie,  deceased. 

Albert  L.  Laubenstein  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  screen  manufacturing  business  at  Ashland  from  the  time  his 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  613 

father  bought  the  same  to  the  end  of  his  life.  Though  he  attended  to  his  own 
affairs  systematically  and  withr  unremitting  care,  he  was  also  solicitous  for 
local  enterprises  which  affected  the  general  welfare,  and  took  some  part  in 
politics  in  his  borough.     He  was  a  Republican  on  national  issues. 

Mr.  Laubenstein  married  Ida  M.  Roads,  daughter  of  Franklin  Roads,  at 
one  time  a  resident  of  Minersville,  this  county,  and  a  member  of  one  of  Schuyl- 
kill county's  old  families.  Mr.  Roads  was  a  coal  operator  in  this  region  for 
some  time,  and  later  carried  on  a  feed  business.  Of^his  four  children  one  son 
died  young;  Matilda  R.  is  the  widow  of  Jacob  S.  Laurence,  of  Minnesota, 
and  she  resides  at  Ashland,  Pa.;  Purmillea  is, deceased;  Ida  M.  was  the  wife 
of  Albert  L.  Laubenstein. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laubenstein  were  bom  six  children :  Howard  R.  died  in 
1902;  Frank  J.  is  mentioned  below;  Albert  R.  is  manager  of  the  Laubenstein 
Manufacturing  Company,  of  Ashland;  Harry  W.  is  also  a  member  of  that 
company,  as  is  E.  Carl ;  Ida  R.  is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  The  father  died 
in  March,  1909,  the  mother  in  May,  1910. 

Frank  J.  Laubenstein  was  born  Sept.  3,  1878,  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  and  was  brought  up  at  Ashland,  receiving  his  preparatory  education  in 
the  public  schools  Aere.  After  graduating  from  high  school  he  took  a  course 
at  Lehigh  University,  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  and  in  1897  entered  the  Dickinson  Law 
School,  at  Carlisle,  Pa.  He  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1899,  took 
a  post-graduate  course  there  in  1902,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Schuylkill 
county  in  1905.  That  year  he  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Ashland,  and  has 
continued  it  since,  giving  considerable  time  to  his  profession  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  he  has  important  interests  in  the  local  manufacturing  field.  His  l^al 
work  has  attracted  much  favorable  notice,  and  he  has  acquired  a  clientele  rep- 
resentative of  the  best  interests  in  the  community,  the  standing  of  his  patrons 
being  sufficient  comment  on  his  own  reputation.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Law 
Fraternity  and  of  the  American  Bar  Association.  As  president  of  the  Lauben- 
stein Manufacturing  Company  he  has  been  influential  in  shaping  its  present 
policy  and  directing  its  affairs  along  thoroughly  progressive  lines,  continuing 
the  course  for  which  it  has  been  noted  throughout  the  ownership  of  the  Lau- 
bensteins.  Frank  J.  Laubenstein  is  also  doing  effective  work  in  local  politics, 
as  a  member  of  the  Republican  party.  Though  still  a  young  man  he  has  done 
enough  to  show  that  he  possesses  the  qualities  for  which  the  family  name  has 
stood  in  this  region  for  several  generations. 

Mr.  Laubenstein  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks  and  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 
His  religious  connection  is  with  St.  James'  Lutheran  Church. 

The  Laubenstein  Manufacturing  Company  has  occupied  a  place  as  a 
stable  industrial  asset  of  the  town  of  Ashland  for  over  fifty  years.  Started 
by  George  Helfrig,  it  remained  in  his  hands  until  purchased  about  1875  by 
Albert  L.  Laubenstein,  then  the  manager  of  a  similar  plant  at  Ashland.  He 
had  acquired  considerable  experience  as  a  manufacturer  of  screens.  After 
taking  over  the  factory  he  began  to  enlarge  its  facilities  and  the  scope  of  the 
work  as  increasing  trade  demanded,  having  a  keen  appreciation  of  the  calls  of 
the  market  and  foresight  as  to  the  improvement  of  his  product  and  its  adapta- 
bility to  various  uses  not  hitherto  appreciated.  He  carried  on  the  business* 
until  his  death,  following  a  policy  of  liberal  expansion  which  kept  the  Lauben- 
stein Company  among  the  foremost  of  its  kind.  Following  his  death,  in  the 
year  1909,  it  was  carried  on  for  a  year  by  the  estate,  with  his  sons  in  charge. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1910  his  heirs,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  incorporated 
under  the  present  name,  the  Laubenstein  Manufacturing  Company,  the  officers 


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614  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

being  Frank  J.  Laubenstein,  president;  E.  Carl  Lauberistein,  vice  president; 
Albert  R.  Laubenstein,  manager;  Harry  W.  Laubenstein,  secretary.  All  the 
brothers  were  born  and  reared  at  Ashland.  The  product  of  the  plant,  princi- 
pally perforated  plates  and  wire  screens,  has  a  recognized  reputation  in  the 
market.  Modem  machinery  and  new  appliances  have  been  installed  wherever 
necessary,  facilitating  operations  and  bringing  the  equipment  up  to  the  maxi- 
mum of  efficiency.  The  enterprising  spirit  of  the  owners  has  animated  every 
branch  of  the  work,  which  is  going  forward  along  the  most  approved  modem 
lines. 

HENRY  D.  RENTSCHLER,  M.  D.,  of  Ringtown,  Schuylkill  county,  a 
practicing  physician  there  for  over  fifty  years,  has  during  all  that  period  been 
held  in  deserved  esteem  for  his  sincere  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  in  which  he  chose  to  spend  his  life.  His  labors  have  all  been  in 
useful  channels,  contributing  directly  or  incidentally  to  the  general  well- 
being.  As  one  of  the  guardians  of  local  prosperity  he  has  allied  himself  with 
worthy  movements  of  every  character,  whether  their  object  was  the  eleva- 
tion of  social  conditions,  the  widening  of  business  opportunities,  or  the  mate- 
rial improvement  of  his  borough.  With  broad  intelligence  and  far-reaching 
sympathies  he  combines  a  versatility  of  talent  which  not  only  assured  his 
professional  success,  but  made  him  a  valued  cooperator  in  those  enterprises 
which  require  foresight,  clear  judgment  and  executive  capacity.  Brought  into 
close  daily  contact  with  all  classes  of  his  fellow  chizens,  he  made  practical 
use  of  the  knowledge  thus  acquired  regarding  their  vital  needs,  and  never 
withheld  his  services  in  the  promotion  of  such  causes  as  he  felt  were  favorable 
to  supplying  them.  For  many  years  he  was  the  honored  medical  adviser  of 
many  a  family,  and  though  he  has  withdrawn  from  most  of  the  arduous  work 
of  the  profession  he  is  still  in  demand  for  consultation,  and  attends  to  a  large 
office  practice. 

The  Rentschler  family  is  of  German  stock,  and  was  founded  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  about  the  time  of  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  there  being 
three  brothers,  one  of  whom  settled  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  one  near  Sun- 
bury,  Pa.,  and  the  other,  John  George,  in  Bem  (now  Upper  Bem)  township, 
Berks  county.  John  George  Rentschler  was  bom  Oct.  ii,  1755,  lived  for  many 
years  at  Hamburg,  Berks  county,  and  afterwards  followed  farming  and  dis- 
tilling near  that  place.  In  1785  he  married  Catherine  Wagoner,  born  Dec. 
23,  1765,  who  died  Jan.  2,  1847.  They  became  the  parents  of  teni  children, 
six  sons  and  four  daughters,  namely :  Daniel ;  George,  who  settled  out  West ; 
Samuel;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Peter  Phillips;  Jacob;  Mrs.  Christ.  Kauflfman;  Mrs. 
Joseph  Kauff man ;  and  three  others — two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Jacob  Rentschler,  son  of  John  George  and  father  of  Dr.  Henry  D.  Rent- 
schler, was  bom  April  3,  1804,  on  the  old  homestead,  and  was  reared  in  Bem 
township.  He  was  a  farmer  and  also  owned  a  woolen  mill,  which  stood  upon 
his  farm,  the  buildings  being  still  there,  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from 
Upper  Bem  post  office.  He  manufactured  woolen  bedspreads  and  woolen 
goods  from  which  men's  and  women's  clothing  was  made,  and  in  his  time 
was  known  as  an  energetic,  hard-working  man.  In  about  middle  life  he  be- 
came paralyzed,  and  during  the  rest  of  his  life  he  was  lame.  He  died  at  Bem- 
ville  Jan.  28,  1874.  Mr.  Rentschler  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Sarah  Fegley,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  namely:  Charles  F.,  Fietta, 
Matilda  and  Frank.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah  Diehl,  who  died  in  1845, 
and  by  this  union  there  were  two  children :  Henry  D. ;  and  Lewis,  who  died 
in  1898,  in  his  forty-fifth  year. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  615 

Henry  D.  Rentschler  was  bom  May  S,  1841,  in  Upper  Bern  township, 
Berks  county,  and  there  acquired  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
schools,  which  he  attended  up  to  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  Then  he  was  a 
student  in  Washington  Hall  Seminary,  at  the  Trappe,  in  Montgomery  county. 
Pa.,  for  three  years,  and  he  began  his  medical  studies  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
Devilla  Schoener,  at  Shartlesville,  Berks  county.  Entering  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1861,  he  was  graduated  in  1864, 
and  immediately  thereafter  settled  at  Ringtown,  Schpylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  has  since  had  his  home  and  field  of  practice.  His  work  has  been  general, 
and  his  patrons  during  his  active  years  were  scattered  over  a  wide  territory, 
the  country  adjacent  to  Ringtown  and  other  boroughs  in  this  part  of  the 
county  as  well  as  his  home  place.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Schuylkill 
County  Medical  Society  and  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  Society,  and 
respected  by  his  contemporaries  in  the  profession  as  well  as  by  his 
patients.  His  public  services  have  a  large  place  in  the  records  of  his  section. 
For  twenty-eight  years  he  held  the  position  of  school  director  in  Union 
township  (before  Ringtown  was  incorporated  as  a  borough),  and  during 
twenty-one  years  also  acted  as  secretary  of  the  board,  where  his  recommenda- 
tions were  always  received  with  respect  and  his  opinions  sought  and  valued. 
In  1878  he  was  elected  coroner  of  the  county  and  filled  that  office  for  one 
term,  when  its  duties  were  both  responsible  and  dangerous  by  reason  of  the 
activities  of  the  Molly  Maguires.  Politically  he  has  always  given  his  sup- 
port to  the  Democratic  party. 

When  the  need  for  more  solid  financial  institutions  in  this  section  became 
apparent  Dr.  Rentschler  lent  his  aid  to  their  establishment,  having  been  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Merchants'  National  Bank  of  Shenandoah,  and  was  a 
director  of  same  for  twelve  years,  until  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ringtown 
came  into  existence,  in  1904.  He  was  interested  in  its  organization,  served  as 
vice  president  for  some  years,  and  is  now  president  of  the  institution,  which 
has  been  a  valuable  adjunct  to  the  business  activities  of  the  borough  and  sur- 
rounding country.  He  owns  a  farm  of  eighty-seven  and  a  half  acres  in  the 
borough,  turned  over  to  general  agriculture  and  fruit  growing. 

Fraternally  the  Doctor  affiliates  with  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Masons,  belong- 
ing to  Ringtown  Lodge,  No.  287,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  to  Mahanoy  City  Lodge,  No. 
357,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Mizpah  Chapter,  No.  252,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Mahanoy  City 
(charter  member)  ;  and  Ivanhoe  Commandery,  No.  31,  K.  T.,  of  Mahanoy 
City.  He  and  his  wife  and  all  of  thtir  children  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

On  Feb.  15,  1869,  Dr.  Rentschler  was  married  to  Emmaline  Rumbel,  of 
Ringtown,  who  was  bom  there  Feb.  21,  1852,  and  received  her  education  in 
the  local  public  schools.  Eight  children  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage: 
Adalaide,  bom  Aug.  19,  1*870,  completed  a  course  in  the  Keystone  State  Nor- 
mal School,  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  afterwards  studied  music  in  a  seminary  at 
Hagerstown,  and  was  organist  of  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  for 
years ;  she  is  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  George  R.  Shenk,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  and  has 
three  children,  Katherine  F.,  Florence  E.  and  Frederick  R.  Maurice  F.,  bom 
Aug.  19,  1872,  after  receiving  an  excellent  fundamental  education  entered  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  but  did  not  finish  the  course,  and  he  is  now 
engaged  in  the  confectionery  business  at  Ringtown ;  he  married  Sadie  Rumbel, 
daughter  of  Francis  Rumbel,  of  Ringtown,  and  their  children  are  Emmaline, 
Winifred,  Ralph  M.  and  Frederick.  Walter  R.,  bom  Oct.  12,  1874,  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Ringtown,  Bloomsburg  State  Normal 


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616  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

School  and  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  School,  which  he  entered 
in  1892,  graduating  in  1896,  since  when  he  has  been  in  practice  with  his 
father  at  Ringtown;  he  married  Edna  Hughes,  daughter  of  George  S.  and 
Emily  (Barrow)  Hughes,  of  Clearfield,  Pa.,  and  their  children  are  George 
Hughes,  Henry  D.,  Emily  B.,  Rebecca  R.  and  Isabelle  C.  Sadie  May,  bom 
Dec.  10,  1876,  graduated  from  the  Bloomsburg  State  Normal  School  and 
taught  school  at  Ringtown ;  she  was  organist  of  St.  John's  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church  for  over  ten  years;  she  died  Feb.  7,  1907,  when  thirty  years 
old.  Harry  J.,  bom  Dec.  16,  1878,  was  formerly  engaged  as  a  machinist  in 
the  hosiery  mills  at  Ringtown,  and  is  now  farming  there;  he  married  Pearl 
Fuhrman,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  Elizabeth  (deceased)  and  Fuhr- 
man  Henry.  Robert  F.,  bom  May  23,  1881,  graduated  from  the  Keystone 
State  Normal  School,  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  taught  school  a  few  terms,  took  a 
course  in  a  commercial  college  at  Reading,  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  the 
E.  &  G.  Brooke  Iron  Company,  at  Birdsboro,  where  he  is  accountant;  he  is 
unmarried  and  makes  his  home  at  Reading.  Elizabeth  M.,  bom  Aug.  28, 
1883,  who  lives  at  home,  graduated  from  the  musical  department  of  the 
Bloomsburg  State  Normal  School,  and  has  taught  music  at  Ringtown,  where 
she  has  also  been  organist  in  the  church  since  1908.  Guy  H.,  bom  Sept.  i, 
1885,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Bloomsburg  State  Normal  School,  has  taken  courses 
at  Columbia  University,  New  York  City,  and  is  now  supervising  principal  of 
the  schools  of  Dunellen,  New  Jersey. 

Mrs.  Rentschler  belongs  to  an  old  family  of  Schuylkill  county,  being  a 
granddaughter  of  Henry  Rumbel,  who  was  bom  Oct.  31,  1801,  in  East  Bmns- 
wick  township,  this  county,  where  he  owned  land  near  Rauschs  which  he 
traded  for  property  in  Union  township,  acquiring  valuable  holdings.  He 
had  one  tract  principally  in  timber  (now  owned  by  Washington  Rumbel), 
cultivating  the  few  acres  which  were  cleared,  and  owned  another  which  he 
occupied  and  operated,  selling  the  latter  eventually  to  his  son  Henry.  He 
gave  each  of  his  sons  a  farm.  Mr.  Rumbel  was  independent  in  politics.  He 
was  known  for  his  high  Christian  character,  and  was  a  zealous  member  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation  of  the  Old  White  Church,  in  which  he  filled  all 
the  official  positions.  His  wife  belonged  to  the  Reformed  denomination.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Salome  Andrews,  and  she  was  born  Sept.  18,  1807.  Mr. 
Rumbel  died  Nov.  17,  1869,  Mrs.  Rumbel  on  May  20,  1887,  and  they  are 
buried  at  the  Old  White  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Henry  married  Elizabeth  Singley;  Daniel  is  mentioned  below; 
Jacob  served  in  the  Civil  war,  was  wounded,  and  died  from  his  injuries; 
Joshua  married  Lucy  Singley;  Rebecca  married  William  Laudig;  Mary  mar- 
ried Levi  Reber. 

Daniel  Rumbel,  son. of  Henry,  was  bom  Dec.  24,  1830,  in  East  Bmnswick 
township,  this  county,  and  died  at  Ringtown  June  26,  189 1.  He  was  educated 
partly  in  his  native  township,  but  was  still  a  boy  when  the  family  moved  to 
Union  township,  where  he  finished  his  schooling.  During  most  of  his  early 
life  he  helped  his  father  on  the  farm,  continuing  thus  for  some  time  after  his 
marriage,  and  he  also  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker.  In  time  he  bought  a 
farm  of  about  115  acres  from  his  father,  nearly  all  timbered,  cut  the  wood 
and  cleared  the  ground,  selling  his  lumber  to  the  Catawissa  Railroad  Com- 
pany, who  used  it  in  the  constmction  of  bridges  along  their  road.  Later  he 
sold  fifteen  acres  to  Jacob  Laudig,  retaining  the  remainder  for  himself  and 
carrying  on  general  farming  for  some  years.  He  sold  another  portion  of  this 
tract  to  the  Ringtown  Fair  Association  for  fair  grounds.     Below  Ringtown 


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SCHUYLKILt  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  617 

I 

he  owned  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  mostly  in  timber,  on  which  he  had  a  water- 
power  sawmill,  and  the  timber  cut  there  was  used  for  mining  and  building 
purposes.  His  general  farming  and  lumbering  operations  were  very  profitable, 
and  he  did  well,  but  he  was  too  good-natured  for  his  own  interest  about  going 
on  others'  bonds,  and  as  a  consequence  he  failed  financially,  his  property  being 
disposed  of  at  sheriff's  sale.  After  that  he  went  into  the  shoe  business  at 
Ringtown,  conducting  a  store  and  working  at  the  trade.  He  spent  his  later 
years  in  retirement  there. 

Mr.  Riunbel  married  Sarah  M.  Seltzer,  who  was  bom  Sept.  7,  1832,  in 
East  Brunswick  township,  and  they  had  three  children:  Emmaline,  wife  of 
Dr.  H.  D.  Rentschler,  of  Ringtown;  William  H.,  bom  Jan.  29,  1854,  who 
married  Louisa  Seitz;  and  Trenton  W.,  bom  in  October,  1856,  who  married 
Barbara  Maurer.  The  mother  died  Sept.  2,  1914,  and  both  parents  are  buried 
at  the  Old  White  Church.  Mr.  Rimibel  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  that 
church,  and  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 

SALEM  W.  KOCH,  who  has  valuable  mercantile  and  agricultural  in- 
terests near  Rauschs,  in  East  Brunswick  township,  has  been  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  residents  of  that  portion  of  Schuylkill  county  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  and  more.  He  has  taken  a  hand  in  the  direction  of  township  affairs 
in  various  official  capacities,  and  his  personal  influence  has  always  been  felt 
as  a  distinct  force  for  progress.  In  church  and  social  affairs  he  has  also 
done  his  share,  helping  to  raise  the  standard  of  the  community  by  giving  en- 
couragement to  every  movement  whose  object  appealed  to  his  sympathies  as 
being  worthy  of  support.  He  is  a  native  of  East  Bmnswick  township,  bom 
Sept.  21,  1848,  son  of  William  W.  Koch  and  grandson  of  William  Koch. 

William  Koch,  the  grandfather,  lived  in  Schuylkill  county  from  early  life, 
and  followed  farming  in  East  Brunswick  township,  where  he  owned  a  farm 
of  180  acres,  no  acres  of  which  were  cleared  ground.  After  operating  this 
farm  for  some  years  he  sold  it  to  his  son,  William  W.,  and  it  is  now  the 
property  of  George  Zimmerman.  After  selling  his  farm  he  moved  to  Schuyl- 
kill Haven  and  was  a  boatbuilder  for  the  Schuylkill  Navigation  Company  for 
many  years  before  his  retirement.  He  died  in  that  place,  aged  ninety-two 
years.  Mr.  Koch  married  a  Miss  Bolich,  by  whom  he  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: William  W. ;  Daniel;  and  Kate,  who  married  John  Deibert.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Briggetta  Schaeffer,  who  was  from  Berks  county, 
and  they  had  one  child,  Lewis,  who  is  unmarried.  He  became  a  Republican, 
and  served  his  fellow  citizens  as  school  director.  Mr.  Koch  was  first  a  member 
of  Christ  Church  at  McKeansburg,'but  on  his  removal  to  Schuylkill  Haven 
became  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church  there.  He  and  his  sec- 
ond wife  are  buried  at  Schuylkill  Haven. 

William  W.  Koch,  father  of  Salem  W.  Koch,  was  educated  in  East 
Brunswick  township,  and  worked  for  his  father  until  he  was  twenty  years  old, 
when  he  married.  Then  he  bought  his  father's  farm  and  operated  that  place 
for  eight  years,  when  he  sold  it  and  bought  the  mill  property  which  Jonas 
Kunkel  now  owns.  He  conducted  the  property  for  eight  years,  when  he  sold 
out  and  removed  to  Lewisburg,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  remaining  there  one  year. 
Then  he  removed  to  Selinsgrove,  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  and  bought  a  property,  but 
held  it  only  one  year,  when  he  sold  and  removed  to  East  Brunswick  township 
and  bought  the  mill  property  now  owned  by  EHas  Bachert.  At  that  time  the 
property  was  known  as  the  Weaver  property.  Mr.  Koch  operated  the  mill 
and  farm  for  eight  years,  when  the  mill  bumed  down  and  he  sold  the  property 


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618  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

to  EHas  Bachert.  Then  he  removed  to  New  Ringgold  and  from  there  to 
Rauschs,  where  he  lived  retired.  He  was  killed  accidentally  on  the  Lehigh 
Valley  railroad  about  a  mile  from  his  home,  when  on  his  way  to  go  fishing. 
He  married  Catherine  Kershner,  a  daughter  of  William  B.  and  Elizabeth 
(Seltzer)  Kershner,  and  they  had  three  children:  Oliver,  who  is  deceased; 
Salem  W. ;  and  Wesley  W.,  who  conducts  a  hotel  at  Mohnton,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  his  mother,  now  eighty-nine  years  old,  making  her  home  with  him  (he 
married  Hannah  Hartman).  Mr.  Koch  was  a  Republican  and  was  elected 
school  director.  He  joined  the  Church  of  God  at  Steigerwalt,  McKeansburg, 
and  was  an  active  church  member.  He  is  buried  in  Christ  Church  cemetery 
at  McKeansburg. 

Salem  W.  Koch  started  his  education  in  East  Brunswick  township,  later 
attending  the  seminary  at  Collegeville  and  Lewisburg  Academy.  He  pre- 
pared himself  for  teaching,  and  taught  one  term  at  Selinsgrove,  Snyder 
county,  after  which  he  came  to  East  Brunswick  township,  and  worked  in  his 
father's  mill  (now  the  Bachert  mill),  also  operating  the  sawmill  and  assisting 
on  the  fanxi.  Later  he  engaged  in  the  general  store  business  in  New  Ring- 
gold, where  he  remained  five  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Rauschs  Sta- 
tion and  bought  his  father-in-law's  farm  of  eighty-six  acres.  He  still  owns 
the  same  and  has  added  to  his  holdings,  having  bought  a  tract  of  eighty  acres 
and  later  one  of  fifty-five  acres  from  the  Bachert  land.  All  told  he  had  no 
acres  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Koch  devoted  himself  to  the  operation  of  his 
farm  for  a  while,  and  when  the  Lehigh  Valley  railroad  was  built  through  that 
section  he  put  up  his  present  store  building,  where  he  has  done  a  general  mer- 
cantile business  for  the  last  twenty-four  years.  His  son  Luther  now  manages 
the  farm.  He  is  a  substantial  man  in  his  community  and  a  good  citizen.  He 
has  been  closely  associated  with  the  township  government,  having  served  as 
auditor;  for  four  years  as  supervisor;  ten  years  as  justice  of  the  peace;  and 
twenty-four  years  as  school  director,  also  acting  as  secretary  of  the  board 
throughout  that  period.  As  a  worker  of  recognized  value  in  the  Republican 
party  he  has  been  township  committeeman  fifteen  years,  and  has  served  as 
inspector  of  elections. 

Mr.  Koch  has  numerous  social  connections.  He  is  a  member  of  East 
Brunswick  Lodge,  No.  802,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  of  New  Ringgold,  and  is  a  past  grand ; 
a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  New  Ringgold, 
and  a  past  president,  and  has  been  delegate  to  county  and  State  conventions ; 
belongs  to  Protection  Council,  No.  935,  Order  of  Independent  Americans, 
McKeansburg,  and  is  a  past  councilor.  In  religion  he  is  a  Lutheran,  a  member 
of  the  Frieden's  Church  at  New  Ringgold,  and  he  has  taken  a  leading  part  in 
the  church  and  Sunday  school  affairs.  He  was  deacon  Tor  many  years ;  secre- 
tary of  the  church  council  from  twenty-four  years  of  age  until  1913;  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school  for  several  years;  and  was  also  superintendent 
of  the  Bachert  Sunday  school  for  some  time. 

Mr.  Koch  married  Maria  BoHch,  who  was  bom  Oct.  11,  1848,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Mary  (Sechler)  Bolich,  the  latter  coming  from  Lehigh  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koch  have  had  six  children:  Luther  Martin  married  Laura 
Hartman  and  they  have  three  children,  Mildred  Emma,  Salem  Hartman  and 
Roberta  Maria;  Mary  Catherine  married  W.  M.  Miller,  of  Topton,  Pa.,  and 
has  one  child,  Bessie  Florence ;  Emma  Elizabeth  married  George  G.  Shick,  of 
Pottsville,  Pa.,  and  has  three  children,  Catherine  Koch,  Salem  Henry  and 
Bemon  George ;  Salem  W.,  William  B.  and  Oliver  are  deceased. 

John  Bolich,  Mrs.  Koch's  grandfather,  farmed  in  East  Brunswick  towur 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  619 

ship,  where  he  owned  about  three  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  followed  gen- 
eral farming  throughout  his  active  years,  but  retired  many  years  before  his 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  eighty-four  years  old.  His  wife,  Susan 
(Fisher),  died  at  the  age  of  fifty,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the 
Frieden's  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  organization  they  were  members.  Polit- 
ically he  was  a  Republican.  Theif  children  were  as  follows :  John  married 
Hannah  Sechler;  George  married  Priscilla  Wanamaker;  Daniel  married  Eliz- 
abeth Sechler;  Samuel  did  not  marry;  William  married  Mary  Sechler;  Ben- 
jamin married  Mary  Reinhard;  Joseph  married  Sarah  Oswald;  Susan  mar- 
ried Joseph  Alspach;  Kate  married  Jesse  Sechler;  Hannah  married  Charles 
Dreher ;  Mary  married  Jacob  Steinmetz ;  Diana  and  Sarah  never  married. 

William  Bolich  was  bom  July  12,  1820,  in  East  Brunswick  township,  and 
was  educated  there.  He  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  for  some  time 
and  before  his  father's  death  bought  about  eighty  acres  of  the  place,  later  pur- 
chasing another  farm  of  100  acres,  to  which  he  removed.  He  cultivated  that 
tract  until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  aged  fifty-seven  years. 
He  was  actively  interested  in  politics  as  a  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
served  as  school  director,  and  belonged  to  the  Frieden's  Lutheran  Church  at 
New  Ringgold ;  he  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  that  church.  Mr.  Bolich  mar- 
ried Mary  Sechler,  who  was  bom  March  10,  1823,  in  Lynn  township,  Lehigh 
county,  daughter  of  Jacob  Sechler,  whose  wife's  maiden  name  was  Fussel- 
man.  Mrs.  Bolich  survives  her  husband,  making  her  home  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Bauscher.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bolich  had  three  children:  Charles  married 
Sarah  Kindt,  of  New  Ringgold,  Pa. ;  Maria  married  Salem  Koch,  of  Rauschs, 
Schuylkill  county ;  Emma  is  Mrs.  David  Bauscher. 

WESLEY  A.  SELTZER  belongs  to  two  families  of  old  and  honorable 
standing  in  Schuylkill  county,  being  connected  in  the  maternal  line  with  thp 
Albrights,  whose  name  has  long  been  associated  with  high  qualities  of  char- 
acter, for  which  its  representatives  have  been  known. 

The  Seltzers  were  first  established  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  after  their  emigra- 
tion to  America.  Jacob  Seltzer  emigrated  in  the  year  1752  from  the  upper 
Rhein,  near  Coblentz,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  famous  "Seltzer  Springs"  in  Ger- 
many, where  he  was  bom  in  1732.  He  settled  in  Heidelberg  township  (where 
afterwards  Womelsdorf  was  laid  out),  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  became  a  natural- 
ized citizen  in  1765.  Several  years  before  (in  1762)  he  had  established  a 
hotel  in  the  village,  which  has  been  known  until  the  present  time  as  the  "Selt- 
zer House."  He  died  in  1788.  He  was  married  to  Maria  Catharine  Hiester, 
of  Bern  township,  who  was  bom  in  1735  and  died  in  1817.  By  her  he  had  six 
children:^  Jacob,  who  married  Catharine  Kauffman;  Michael,  who  enlisted 
in  the  Revolution  and  died  of  fever  shortly  befbre  the  end  of  his  term  of 
service ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Dr.  Michael  Tryon,  a  prominent  physician  of 
Tulpehocken;  Mary,  who  married  Jacob  Spang,  a  prominent  ironmaster  of 
Oley;  Catharine,  who  married  David  Dewees;  and  a  daughter  who  married 
Christopher  Reed. 

Jacob  Seltzer  was  bom  in  1764  at  Womelsdorf,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing and  kept  hotel  until  his  decease  in  1825.  He  was  married  to  Catharine 
Kauffman  (daughter  of  Jacob,  of  Oley),  bom  in  1766  and  died  in  1842,  and 
by  her  he  had  eight  children :  William  married  Catharine  Ruth ;  John  married 
Mary  Van  Reed:  Daniel  married  a  Weiser;  David  married  Eliza  O.  Sheetz 
and  moved  to  Ohio;  Jacob  married  a  Hassinger;  Michael  married  Catherine 
Hain;  Anna  remained  single;  Elizabeth  married  George  See. 


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620  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Michael  Seltzer,  great-grandfather  of  Wesley  Seltzer,  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  and  was  at  Valley  Forge.  He  w^s  taken  prisoner  and  con- 
fined with  others  in  an  old  stone  church,  where  he  starved  to  death.  His 
children  were  Abraham,  John  and  Jacob. 

Abraham  Seltzer,  son  of  Michael,  was  bom  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  was 
an  early  settler  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  at  Drehersville  until  his  death,  which  occurred  there.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  kept  hotel  at  that  point,  besides  following  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-one  years,  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Catherine  Faust,  is  buried  with  him  at  the  Red  Church.  They  had 
the  following  family:  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Michael,  Susan,  Polly,  Catherine, 
Rebecca  and  Nathan.  One  married  Daniel  Ebling;  another  Edw.  Ebling; 
Michael  married  Mary  Frey;  Nathan  married  Catherine  Albright;  Joseph 
went  West,  where  he  died ;  Mrs.  Reuben  Miller  lived  in  the  West. 

Nathan  Seltzer,  son  of  Abraham,  was  bom  in  December,  1827,  in  East 
Brunswick  township,  and  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three.  He  was  a 
successful  business  man,  following  farming,  and  kept  an  inn  at  Drehersville 
for  a  time,  also  carrying  on  a  general  mercantile  business  at  that  point.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  is  buried  at  the  Red  Church. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  wife,  Catherine,  was  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Albright,  of  West  Bmnswick  township,  and  four  children  were  bom  to  this 
union:  Elizabeth,  Wesley  A.,  Oscar  and  Mary,  all  deceased  but  Wesley. 
Mrs.  Seltzer  remarried,  becoming  the  wife  of  John  Walbom,  but  had  no 
children  by  that  union. 

Wesley  A.  Seltzer  was  born  Jan.  22,  1865,  2tt  Drehersville,  East  Brunswick 
township.  Being  only  four  years  old  when  his  father  died  he  was  reared  by 
his  grandfather,  Peter  Albright,  meantime  attending  the  public  schools  of  the 
locality.  He  assisted  his  grandfather  with  the  farm  work  until  he  reached 
his  majority,  and  from  that  time  farmed  on  shares,  also  conducting  a  lime 
quarry.  He  continued  to  carry  on  his  agricultural  work  and  quarrying  for 
twenty-one  years  in  all,  and  in  1894  removed  to  Orwigsburg',  where  he  pur- 
chased the  Jacob  Hiest  farm,  a  valuable  tract  of  135  acres,  included  within 
the  borough  limits.  Under  Mr.  Seltzer's  management  during  the  twenty  years 
and  more  of  his  ownership  it  has  undergone  steady  improvement,  and  is  up-to- 
date  in  every  respect,  having  reached  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Seltzer 
has  erected  a  house  upon  the  land,  which  he  rents.  His  time  has  always 
been  given  to  business,  and  he  is  known  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  agricul- 
turalists of  his  vicinity.  He  is  a  director  of  the  South  Schuylkill  Farmers' 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  which  he  has  been  serving  as  treasurer  for  some 
time.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  taken  any  part  in  public 
affairs.    His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Reformed  Church. 

In  1874  Mr.  Seltzer  married  Joanna  Hoy,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Faust)  Hoy,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  the  following  named  children: 
Frank  P.,  now  engaged  in  farming  in  North  Manheim  township,  this  county; 
Mary,  who  lives  at  home ;  Anna,  who  taught  school  for  a  time,  now  married 
and  living  in  Orwigsburg;  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Williams,  living  at  Pine 
Grove  Fumace,  Cumberland  county.  Pa. ;  John  W.,  living  at  Franklin  Fumace, 
N.  J. ;  George  I.,  now  in  New  York  State ;  Edward,  a  student  at  State  Col- 
lege ;  and  Albert,  at  home. 

JOHN  PFEIFFER,  of  Tower  City,  is  one  of  the  substantial  business 
men  of  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county.     His  own  success  would  be  sufli- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  621 

dent  to  justify  his  faith  in  the  county  as  a  field  for  investment,  and  he  has 
been  among  the  promoters  and  supporters  of  some* of  the  most  progressive 
enterprises  set  on  foot  within  the  last  twenty  years,  taking  a  public-spirited 
pride  in  securing  for  his  locality  the  benefits  afforded  by  the  various  con- 
cerns in  which  he  is  interested.  Mr.  PfeiflFef  is  a  native  of  Germany  and' a 
typical  member  of  his  race,  thorough-going,  self-reliant,  persevering  and  in- 
dustrious. It  is  to  these  solid  characteristics  that  his  many  friends  in  the 
valley  ascribe  the  good  fortune  he  now  enjoys. 

Mr.  Pfeiffer  was  bom  in  Germany  Oct.  26,  1864,  son  of  Daniel  Pfeiffer, 
also  a  native  of  that  country.  He  brought  his  family  to  America  in  1882  and 
settled  at  Middleport,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  In  the  old  country  he  had  been 
variously  employed,  and  here  he  was  engaged  for  a  time  in  coal  washing,'  at 
Brockton.  Then  he  followed  farming,  until  his  retirement.  His  death 
occurred  at  Middlpport,  where  his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Pabst),  also  passed  away, 
and  they  are  both  buried  there.  They  had  the  following  children:  Jacob, 
John,  Daniel,  Frederick,  Henry,  Lewis,  Charles,  and  Lena  (who  married 
George  W.  Miller). 

John  Pfeiffer  received  his  education  in  the  Fatherland,  being  eighteen 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  the  family  to  America.  He  had  learned  the 
trade  of  stone  cutter,  and  after  his  arrival  in  Schuylkill  county  was  em- 
ployed for  ten  years  at  the  mines  and  on  the  railroad.  By  that  time  he  felt 
justified  in  starting  business  on  his  own  account,  and  he  opened  the  general 
store  at  Tower  City  which  he  has  conducted  ever  since,  having  one  of  the 
best  managed  establishments  in  the  town.  The  trade  has  increased  steadily, 
and  Mr.  Pfeiffer  has  given  his  patrons  the  benefit  of  his  prosperity,  im- 
proving his  stock  and  facilities  not  only  as  the  trade  demands,  but  usually 
in  advance  of  its  needs.  His  merchandise  is  of  reliable  quality,  the  service 
is  prompt  and  courteous,  and  no  detail  is  nedected  to  insure  satisfaction  to  all 
customers.  Mr.  Pfeiffer  also  owns  the  'Conmiercial  Hotel,"  carrying  a 
retail  license,  and  he  has  considerable  valuable  real  estate  at  Tower  City  and 
in  Porter  township.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Consolidated  Elec- 
tric Company  which  supplies  light  to  New  Philadelphia,  Middleport,  Cum- 
bola  and  Schuylkill  township,  and  also  to  Blythe  township,  and  whose  plant 
was  sold  July  i,  19 15,  to  the  Eastern  Pennsylvania  Light,  Heat  &  Power  Com- 
pany. He  was  one  of  the  first  stockholders  in  the  Tower  City  National  Bank, 
organized  in  1902,  and  has  been  a  director  since  1914.  He  also  helped  to 
organize  the  Electric  Light  Company  at  Tower  City,  which  has  since  been 
sold.  Mr.  Pfeiffer  is  a  director  of  the  Williamstown  Water  Company  and 
the  Wiconisco  Telephone  Company.  The  only  public  office  he  has  ever  con- 
sented to  fill  is  that  of  supervisor  of  Porter  township. 

Mr.  Pfeiffer  married  Emma  Ida  Miller,  daughter  of  Thomas  Miller,  and 
they  have  three  children,  Ella,  Charles  and  John.  He  and  his  family  belong 
to  the  Reformed  Church.  Socially  he  is  a  Mason,  holding  membership  in 
Ashler  Lodge,  No.  570,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Lykens,  Pa.,  and  he  also  belongs  to 
the  Moose  lodge  at  that  place;  to  Tower  City  Lodge,  No.  755,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; 
and  to  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle. 

WILLIAM  FRANKLIN  FUHRMAN,  present  burgess  of  the  borough 
of  Ringtown,  has  been  actively  engaged  in  business  there  for  a  number  of 
years,  following  various  lines.  His  principal  interests  now  are  in  the  line 
of  carpentry,  and  the  steady  demand  for  his  services  bears  indisputable  testi- 
mony to  his  good  workmanship  and  conscientious  fulfillment  of  every  obliga- 


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622  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANLA 

tion.  In  his  public  duties  he  has  been  equally  faithful,  showing  a  sincere 
desire  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  town  where  his  unselfish,  progress- 
ive spirit  is  proving  an  influential  element  for  good. 

Mr.  Fuhrman  was  bom  Jan.  30,  1861,  in  Union  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  son  of  Lewis  Fuhrman,  also  a  native  of  Union  township,  who  was 
occupied  at  farming  and  lumbering.  During  the  Civil  war  Lewis  Fuhrman 
enlisted  at  Ringtown,  this  county,  for  three  years,  served  his  full  term,  and 
received  an  honorable  discharge  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  died  in  July,  1869, 
and  is  buried  at  the  old  White  Church  near  Ringtown,  In  religion  he  was  a 
Lutheran,  in  politics  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Fuhrman  married  Susanna  LindAi- 
muth,  who  was  bom  in  October,  1838,  in  Union  township,  where  she  received 
her  education.  Her  father,  John  Lindenmuth,  was  a  farmer  in  that  town-' 
ship,  owning  a  tract  of  over  one  hi^ndred  acres,  part  of  which  he  cleared; 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  valuable  timber  on  his  land.  He  belonged  to  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  was'  a  I>emocrat  on  political  questions.  He  and  his 
wife  Hannah  (Ponnebecker)  are  buried  in  a  private  graveyard  in  Union 
township.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Frank  Rhoades;  Jacob,  who  married  Catherine  Ulshaffer;  William,  who 
was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  being  Eliza  Diliplarte;  Rachel,  wife  of 
Daniel  Rhoades ;  Polly,  wife  of  Daniel  Zimmerman ;  Amanda,  wife  of  Peter 
Fry;  and  Susan,  Mrs.  Fuhrman. 

Mrs.  Susan  Fuhrman,  widow  of  Lewis  Fuhrman,  resides  in  Ringtown 
borough.  Six  children  were  bom  to  them :  Caroline,  who  lives  in  Allentown, 
Pa. ;  William  F. ;  Amanda,  wife  of  Samuel  Miller,  living  at  Black  Hills,  near 
McAdoo,  Schuylkill  county;  Barbara,  deceased;  Hannah,  deceased,  who  was 
the  wife  of  George  Titus,  of  Rush  township,  Schuylkill  county;  and  Henry, 
of  Ringtown,  Pennsylvania. 

William  F.  Fuhrman  attended  the  Home  and  Lindner  schoolhouses  in 
Union  township,  but  as  he  was  only  eight  years  old  when  his  father  died  he 
began  work  when  yet  a  boy,  helping  his  mother.  He  was  employed  by 
neighboring  farmers  until  twelve  years  old,  when  he  went  to  work  in  the 
breaker  of  the  colliery  at  Raven  Run,  this  county,  later  doing  inside  tasks, 
firing  and  running  engines,  etc.  He  remained  there  until  nearly  thirty  years 
old,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  Peter  Dresher,  as  teamster  in  his  lumber 
woods  and  as  wood  chopper,  continuing  with  him  two  years.  For  four  years 
afterwards  he  was  in  the  hotel  business  at  Ringtown  on  his  own  account,  first 
as  proprietor  of  the  **Eagle  Hotel"  and  later  of  another  house.  He  also 
acquired  manufacturing  interests  in  the  borough,  being  one  of  the  stockhold- 
ers of  the  Ringtown  Knitting  Mills,  which  he  operated  for  a  couple  of  years, 
later  selling  out  and  renting  the  farm  of  Dr.  H.  D.  Rentschler,  in  Ringtown, 
which  he  conducted  for  four  years.  After  the  death  of  his  father-in-law, 
Samuel  Dresher,  he  bought  the  latter's  farm,  but  never  operated  that  prop- 
erty, which  he  sold  later  to  Elmer  Dennison,  the  present  owner.  In  1905 
Mr.  Fuhrman  bought  the  William  Snyder  farm  in  Union  township,  which  he 
cultivated  for  one  year,  later  selling  the  place  to  Jonathan  Hetherington,  who 
in  tum  sold  it  to  the  present  owner,  Benjamin  Zimmerman.  Mr.  Fuhrman, 
however,  retained  eight  building  lots  from  the  Snyder  tract,  and  has  disposed 
of  six  of  them,  still  holding  two.  He  also  owns  a  seventy-foot  (  front)  lot  in 
Ringtown  upon  which  he  has  erected  a  fine  double  dwelling  house,  which 
he  occupies.  For  a  number  of  years  past  he  has  been  devoting  his  energies 
principally  to  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  he  has  a  large  number  of  patrons  in 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  623 

the  borough  and  vicinity.  From  time  to  time  Mr.  Fuhrman  has  acquired 
other  interests,  having  been  one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Ringtown,  in  which  capacity  he  is  still  serving ;  he  attends  the  direct- 
ors' meetings  regularly.  '' 

For  some  years  Mr.  Fuhrman  has  kept  in  close  touch  with  local  public 
affairs,  having  served  as  election  inspector  in  Union  township  before  Ring- 
town  was  incorporated  as  a  borough,  and  he  has  earned  a  well  merited  repu- 
tation for  reliable  service  in  public  trusts.  In  19 13  he  was  honored  as  the 
choice  of  the  townspeople  for  the  office  of  burgess,  being  the  second  incum- 
bent of  that  important  position  since  the  incorporation  of  the  borough.  His 
official  acts  have  been  such  as  to  hold  the  allegiance  of  his  original  sup- 
porters and  gain  him  many  new  friends.  Mr.  Fuhrman  has  also  been 
active  in  other  local  interests,  being  a  member  of  Ringtown  Castle,  No.  500, 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  and  of  the  Ringtown  Lutheran  Church;  many 
years  ago  he  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  held  in  Home's 
school  in  Union  township. 

Mr.  Fuhrman  married  Elizabeth  Dresher,  who  was  bom  Feb.  23,  1861, 
in  Union  township,  where  she  received  her  education,  remaining  at  home  until 
her  marriage.  She  is  an  eamest  member  of  the  Ringtown  Lutheran  Church 
and  of  its  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  Two  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fuhrman:  Pearl  May,  the  daughter,  bom  Oct.  17,  1887,  received  an  ex- 
cellent education  in  the  public  schools,  graduating  from  the  Ringtown  high 
school,  taught  school  for  three  years  in  Union  township,  and  is  now  the  wife 
of  Harry  Rentschler,  a  farmer,  of  Ringtown;  they  have  had  two  children, 
Elizabeth  Alice  (born  Dec.  26,  1912,  deceased)  and  Fuhrman  Henry  (bom 
Nov.  24,  1913).  Samuel  Robert,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  F.  Fuhrman, 
bom  June  2,  1891,  was  educated  in  the  local  public  schools  and  at  the  Blooms- 
burg  (Pa.)  State  Normal  School,  attending  the  latter  for  one  term;  he  was 
an  employe  of  the  Hooven  Mercantile  Company  at  Shenandoah  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  Aug.  6,  191 3. 

George  Dresher,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Fuhrman,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. Coming  to  America  he  settled  in  Black  Creek  township,  Luzeme 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  farmed  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  he  is  buried  there 
with  his  second  wife.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  had  five  children  by  the  first  union:  Samuel;  Polly, 
Mrs.  Henry  Hetler;  Katie,  Mrs.  Joseph  Mostellor;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Aaron 
Mostellor;  and  Lydia,  Mrs.  Paul  Huntsinger.  To  the  second  marriage  were 
bom:  George,  John  and  Henry  all  went  West;  Stephen  married  Mary  Etta 
Link;  Susan  married  Charles  Baer;  Sallie  married  Jeremiah  Spiegel. 

Samuel  Dresher,  father  of  Mrs.  Fuhrman,  was  born  Sept.  25,  181 5,  in 
Mifflin  township,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  was^  reared  and  educated  in  that  county, 
and  became  a  prosperous  farmer,  owning  three  farms,  one  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, Columbia  county,  and  two  in  Union  township,  Schuylkill  county.  When 
he  came  to  this  county  he  settled  on  his  large  tract,  which  comprised  325  acres, 
then  in  the  woods.  He  cleared  a  considerable  portion  of  that  property  and 
carried  on  general  farming  for  a  number  of  years,  butf  eventually  gave  up 
agriculture,  renting  out  his  farms,  and  for  some  time  conducted  the  "Eagle 
Hotel"  in  Ringtown,  owning  the  hotel  property.  When  he  withdrew  from 
that  business  he  rented  the  hotel  and  bought  a  dwelling  in  Ringtown  where 
he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  retirement.  He  died  March  17,  1897,  and  his 
325-acre   farm  was  subsequently  divided  into  three  parts  and  sold;  these 


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624  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

parts  are  now  owned  by  Harry  Shenk,  Frank  Lebenburg  and  the  Girard 
Estate,  respectively.  Mr.  Dresher's  other  Union  township  farm  is  now 
owned  by  Ehner  Dennison.  Mr.  Dresher  was  actively  interested  in  local 
affairs,  being  a  well  known  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  tax  collector  of 
his  township,  and  a  prominent  worker  in  the  Lutheran. Church  of  Ringtown. 
He  is  buried  at  the  old  White  Church  near  Ringtown  with  his  first  wife, 
Elizabeth  (Hetler),  who  was  bom  in  Mifflin  township,  Columbia  county, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years,  when  her  daughter  Mrs.  Fuhrman  was 
an  infant.  Her  father,  Peter  Hetler,  was  a  farmer  in  Mifflin  township,  and 
he  and  his-  wife  are  buried  at  Mifflinville,  Columbia  county.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hetler  had  two  children,  the  other  being  a 
son  Henry,  who  married  Polly  Dresher.  By  his  first  wife  Mr.  Dresher  had 
the  following  children:  Savina,  Mahala,  Mary  Ann,  Sydney  Frances  and 
Boyd  (who  married  Emma  Bitting,  now  a  resident  of  Ringtown)  are  all 
deceased;  Peter  married  Sallie  Hetherington;  George  married  Carolina  Fry; 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  William  F.  Fuhrman.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Dresher  married  Anna  Lindermuth,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Nima  (Miller) 
Lindermuth,  and  she  survives  him,  being  now  (191 5)  about  seventy-five  years 
old.  To  this  union  were  bom  children  as  follows:  Henry  married  Lizzie 
Seltzer,  and  they  make  their  home  at  Berwick,  Pa. ;  Santharella  married  Wil- 
liam Long,  and  both  are  deceased;  David,  a  resident  of  Ringtown,  Pa.,  mar- 
ried Adeline  Brown ;  Charles,  of  Girardville,  this  county,  married  Sallie  Schap- 
pell;  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Irwin  Seltzer,  of  Union  township;  Nima  is  the  wife 
of  Luther  Stauflfer,  of  Ringtown;  Emma  married  Fred  Jay,  of  Philadelphia, 
Pa.;  Fannie  married  Charles  Richards;  Ida  married  George  Bamhart,  of 
Girardville,  Pennsylvania. 

H.  J.  HERBEIN,  D.  D.  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  bom  in  Bern 
township,  Berks  county,  son  of  Dr.  J.  S.  and  Elizabeth  A.  R.  (Winter)  Her- 
bein,  grandson  of  John  Herbein,  who  removed  to  Bem  township  from  Oley 
township,  Berks  county,  where  the  progenitor  of  the  Herbein  family  in  Penn- 
sylvania located  in  171 7.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Bem  town- 
ship, and  Sinking  Springs,  Berks  county,  and  in  Bmnner's  Scientific  Academy, 
Reading,  Pa.  After  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Berks  county  for  several 
terms.  Eh*.  Herbein  took  up  the  study  of  dentistry,  in  the  Dental  Department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania;  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution, 
April  13,  1883,  with  the  d^ree  of  Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery.  After  practicing 
for  three  years  as  assistant  in  the  office  of  Dr.  E.  Slegel,  Reading,  Pa.,  he 
opened  an  office  in  Pottsville,  in  March,  1886,  where  he  has  continued  in  the 
active  practice  of  his  profession  to  the  present  time. 

Dr.  Herbein  is  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Dental  Society,  the 
Schuylkill  County  Dental  Society  and  the  Lebanon  Valley  Dental  Association, 
serving  as  Secretary  of  the  last  named  organization  for  twenty-five  consecu- 
tive years,  and  as  President  in  191 1.  As  a  charter  member  of  the  Historical 
Society,  he  served  as  librarian  of  the  Society,  from  its  organization,  in  1903, 
until  1912,  when  he  was  elected  secretary,  which  office  he  filled  until  191 5. 

In  November,  1912,  he  received  the  appointment  of  Local  Registrar  of 
the  Pottsville  District  of  the  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Health;  at  the 
same  time  he  was  elected  secretary  to  the  Board  of  Health  of  Pottsville, 
which  offices  he  still  holds. 

Residing  in  one  of  the  finest  fossil  fields  in  the  country.  Dr.  Herbein  has 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  625 

devoted  his  leisure  time  to  the  collection  of  Coal  Flora,  and  has  a  large  col- 
lection of  typical  specimens  of  coal  fossils,  as  well  as  a  very  unique  collec- 
tion of  fossil  reptilian  foot  tracks  from  the  Mauch  Chunk  Red  Shales  in  the 
vicinity  of  Potts ville. 

In  1893,  Dr.  Herbein  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha  M.  Stichter,  of  Potts- 
ville,  taking  as  a  residence  and  dental  office  the  residence,  No.  407  Garfield 
Square,  Pottsville,  where,  with  their  family  of  three  daughters  and  one  son, 
they  still  reside. 

GEORGE  HOFF  STICHTER.  With  the  band  of  pioneers  who  blazed 
the  trail  through  the  wilds  of  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1827,  there 
was  one  young  man  who  had  just  reached  his  majority,  by  the  name  of  George 
Hoff  Stichter,  son  of  Peter  Stichter.  He  was  bom  in  Reading,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  Feb.  13,  1805,  and  was  educated  in  a  private  night  school  which  he 
attended  after  the  day's  labor.  He  learned  the  trade  of  tinsmith  with  his 
cousin,  John  Stichter,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.  In  1829,  upon  the  death  of  John 
Stichter,  he  purchased  the  good-will  and"  interest  in  the  stove  and  tin  busi- 
ness from  the  estate,  and  branched  out  very  extensively,  employing  twelve 
to  fifteen  journeymen  in  his  factory,  all  hand  work,  and  using  three  teams 
on  the  road  to  sell  the  finished  product  north,  east,  south  and  west. 

George  H.  Stichter  was  a  natural-bom  mechanic  and  inventor.  In  1831 
he  patented  an  improvement  on  the  first  cook  stove.  In  1832  he  designed  and 
patented  the  cylinder  stove  now  in  use.  In  1833  he  patented  and  manu- 
factured the  first  heating  stove  for  house  use  to  burn  coal  in  the  United 
States.  Up  to  then  grates  walled  in  were  used  exclusively.  In  1845  he 
added  hardware  to  his  stove  and  tin  business,  and  continued  in  active  life 
until  1876,  when  he  retired,  dying  May  4,  1887.  He  served  as  county  com- 
missioner from  1845  to  1848,  as  school  director,  councilman  and  tax  collector, 
was  a  member  of  the  old  Schuylkill  County  Troop  in  the  thirties  and  forties, 
and  a  charter  member  of  the  first  Lutheran  Church  at  Pottsville. 

On  May  11,  1830,  George  H.  Stichter  was  married  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  John  Hahn,  of  Reading,  Berks  county.  They  were  blessed  with  eleven 
children,  of  whom  four  survive:  Henry  P.  Stichter,  retired  hardware  mer- 
chant; Emma  Fox,  widow  of  Augustus  Fox,  grocer;  Anna  Rich,  widow  of 
Isaac  Rich;  and  Joseph  Stichter,  clerk  with  the  Coal  &  Iron  Company — 
all  of  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania. 

JAMES  LORAH,  of  /East  Union  township,  has  had  his  chief  interests 
in  the  lumber  business  for  a  number  of  years.  At  present  he  deals  exclusively 
in  mine  timber,  operating  as  a  lessee  and  working  the  timber  under  royalty. 
Possessed  of  noteworthy  business  qualities,  Mr.  Lorah  has  made  his  way  in 
the  world  one  of  constant  progress,  in  the  course  of  which  he  has  drawn 
to  himself  the  respect  of  all  his  associates  and  the  good  will  of  his  fellow  men 
generally  by  the  unselfish  spirit  he  has  shown  and  a  keen  sense  of  responsi- 
bility towards  others,  manifest  in  all  his  transactions. 

The  Lorahs  are  an  old  family  of  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  Michael 
Lorah,  the  grandfather  of  James  Lorah,  was  bom  May  18,  1788,  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  and  was  of  French  descent.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the 
local  subscription  schools.  He  followed  farming  and  shoemaking,  owning 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  which  included  the  property  where  his  grand- 
son James  Lorah  now  lives,  in  what  is  now  East  Union  township,  Schuylkill 
Vol  II— 2 


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626  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANLA 

county.  It  was  all  Union  then.  He  died  on  his  farm  May  6,  1852,  and  is 
buried  with  his  wife  at  St.. John's  German  Reformed  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  member.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  It  is  supposed  that  Michael 
Lorah  was  twice  married,  and  the  maiden  name  of  his  first  wife,  bom  Dec. 
23,  1793,  died  March  6,  1837,  was  Hannah  Fry.  His  second  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Polly  Long.  His  children  were:  Emmanuel,  who  married  Mary 
Houser;  Henry,  deceased;  Lafayette,  deceased;  Daniel,  who  married  Polly 
Schappell,  both  now  deceased;  Joshua,  deceased;  John,  who  married  Cath- 
erine Johnson  (she  is  deceased);  Susanna,  who  married  Aaron  Gross; 
Hannah,  wife  of  Samuel  Beaver;  Lucy,  who  died  young,  and  William,  who 
died  young. 

Joshua  Lorah,  son  of  Michael,  was  bom  July  11,  1830,  in  Union  town- 
ship, that  part  now  included  in  East  Union,  and  there  grew  to  manhood, 
meantime  receiving  his  education  in  the  local  district  schools.  During  his 
younger  days  he  worked  for  his  father  on  the  home  place,  and  after  his 
marriage  he  lived  as  a  tenant  on  various  farms,  continuing  thus  for  a  number 
of  years.  When  Michael  Lorah  died  his  son  Emmanuel  bought  the  home- 
stead, which  he  operated  until  his  death,  when  it  was  sold  by  the  adminis- 
trators to  Elias  Peifer,  who  subsequently  sold  sixty-three  acres  of  the  orig- 
inal tract  to  Joshua  Lorah.  He  carried  on  general  farming  there  for  a  con- 
siderable period.  In  his  later  life  he  cut  up  thirteen  acres  of  this  property 
into  building  lots  and  laid  out  the  town  of  Phinny,  including  180  lots.  As  he 
died  before  they  were  all  sold  his  son  James,  as  administrator  of  the  estate, 
continued  to  dispose  of  them,  buying  two  of  them  himself,  upon  which  he 
built  his  present  home.  That  part  of  Joshua  Lorah's  farm  remaining  un- 
divided was  bought  by  his  son  Michael  upon  the  mother's  death,  and  is 
now  owned  by  Jacob  Landauhl. 

Mr.  Lorah  married  Elizabeth  Johnson,  who  was  bom  Sept.  3,  183 1,  in 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Henry  Johnson,  and  was  of  Eng- 
lish ancestry.  Mrs.  Lorah  survived  her  husband,  his  death  occurring  Feb. 
4»  1895,  hers  Feb.  9,  1899,  and  they  are  buried  at  St.  John's  Reformed  and 
Lutheran  Church  in  East  Union  township.  He  was  a  prominent  Reformed 
member  of  that  church,  in  which  he  held  the  highest  offices,  serving  many 
years  as  elder  and  deacon,  and  also  acting  as  treasurer.  Politically  he  was 
a  Republican,  and  kept  up  an  interest  in  local  public  affairs ;  he  served  as  one 
of  the  directors  of  the  school  district  and  as  treasurer  of  same.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Joshua  Lorah  were  bom  the  following  children:  Hannah  married  John 
Deeble,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Michael,  deceased,  married  Sarah  Huntsinger, 
who  now  resides  at  Mountain  Grove,  Luzeme  Co.,  Pa.;  Thomas,  a  resident 
of  East  Union  township,  married  Missouri  Applegate ;  Emma  died  in  infancy ; 
Mary  died  in  infancy;  Albert,  decea^d,  married  Anna  Irwin,  who  Hves  at 
Allentown,  Pa.;  James  is  next  in  the  family;  Sarah,  deceased,  was  the  wife 
of  William  Schaeffer,  who  lives  in  Alabama ;  Rebecca  Elizabeth  is  the  widow 
of  Andrew  B.  Faust,  and  lives  next  door  to  her  brother  James;  Oscar,  of 
McAdoo,  Schuylkill  county,  married  Clara  Applegate ;  Ida  is  married  to  John 
Wilhelm,  of  WiUiamsport,  Pa.;  Jacob  married  Jennie  Davis  of  Brandonville, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  moved  to  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

James  Lorah  was  bom  May  18,  i860,  in  East  Union  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  attending  Lorah's  school.  He 
was  trained  to  agricultural  Ufe,  working  on  his  father's  farm  until  twenty-six 
years  old,  after  which  he  was  employed  as  a  section  hand  on  the  Philadelphia 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  627 

&  Reading  road  for  nine  months.  His  next  work  was  for  William  and  Elder 
Spangler,  in  the  lumber  woods  at  Audenried,  Carbon  county,  being  in  their 
employ  about  two  years,  and  later  he  was  a  stationary  engineer  for  Coxe 
Brothers  &  Co.,  at  their  Oneida  (Schuylkill  county)  colliery,  for  a  period  of 
eleven  years.  His  sister,  Mrs.  Andrew  B.  Faust,  having  bought  the  lumber 
business  of  her  deceased  husband  at  the  administrators'  sale,  he  went  into 
partnership  with  her  under  the  name  of  Mrs.  Andrew  Faust  &  Brother,  and 
they  had  joint  interests  for  the  next  nine  years,  when  they  sold  out.  Later 
Mr.  Lorah  formed  another  partnership,  with  his  brother  Michael,  in  the 
same  line,  and  they  were  together  five  years,  dissolving  the  association  by 
mutual  consent.  James  Lorah  is  now  alone  in  the  lumber  business,  con- 
fining his  transactions  entirely  to  mine  timber.  He  has  other  important  con- 
nections also,  being  one  of  the  most  active  business  men  in  his  community, 
and  his  encouragement  of  any  project  is  considered  a  recommendation.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  Ringtown  National  Bank,  and  is  still 
serving  in  that  capacity. 

Like  the  earlier  generations  of  his  family  in  this  region  Mr.  Lorah  has 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  St.  John's  Reformed  Church,  which 
he  is  serving  as  elder  at  present ;  he  was  formerly  a  deacon.  With  his  brother- 
in-law,  Andrew  B.  Faust,  and  others,  he  built  the  present  house  of  worship, 
Mr.  Faust  furnishing  the  lumber  and  Mr.  Lorah  contributing  liberally  of 
money  and  supervising  the  erection  of  the  building.  He  has  always  taken  a 
leading  part  in  the  enterprises  of  this  church.  Fraternally  he  is  an  Odd 
Fellow,  belonging  to  Ringtown  Lodge,  No.  287,  which  he  joined  Oct.  9,  1890. 
His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Republican  party.  He  has  served  his 
township  six  years  as  school  director,  for  two  years  being  president  of  the 
board. 

Mr.  Lorah  was. united  in  marriage  with  Margaret  Catherine  Faust,  who 
was  bom  May  3,  1863,  in  East  Union  township,  where  she  was  reared  and 
educated,  remaining  at  home  until  her  marriage.  She  is  a  Lutheran  member 
of  St.  John's  Church,  and  formerly  taught  in  the  Sunday  school.  Children 
as  follows  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lorah :  Derwin  Ezra,  born  Dec. 
10,  1891,  received  his  early  education  in  the  township  schools,  and  later  took 
the  college  preparatory  course  at  the  Bloomsburg  (Pa.)  State  Normal  School, 
from  which  he  was  graduated;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men  at  Sheppton,  Schuylkill  county,  and  belongs  to  St.  John's  Reformed 
Church.  Ivy  May,  horn  July  12,  1894,  began  her  education  in  the  township 
schools,  later  attending  one  year  at  the  Bloomsburg  Normal  and  taking  one 
summer  course  at  Perkiomen  Seminary,  Pennsburg,  Pa.,  and  is  now  teach- 
ing the  Oneida  school  in  East  Union  township ;  she  is  a  member  of  St.  John's 
Reformed  Church.  OliVe  Margaret,  born  Jan.  5,  1898,  acquired  her  early 
education  in  the  township  schools  and  is  now  attending  the  Keystone  State 
Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  Pa.;  she  is  a  member  of  St.  John's  Reformed 
Church.  Beulah  Caroline,  bom  June  2,  1900,  is  attending  high  school  at 
Sheppton,  in  East  Union  township.  James  Russell,  bom  Dec.  14,  1904,  and 
Heber  Daniel,  bom  Oct.  14,  1907,  are  attending  school  in  the  township. 

Henry  Faust,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lorah,  was  bom  April  8,  1780,  prob- 
ably in  East  Brunswick  township,  and  died  June  6,  1871,  aged  ninety-one 
years,  one  month,  twenty-eight  days.  He  is  buried  at  the  Old  White  Church 
near  Ringtown,  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mengle,  is  buried  at 
Weissport,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.     It  is  supposed  they  were  farming  people.     Mr. 


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628  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Faust  was  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment.  His  children  were:  James, 
who  married  Levina  Moyer ;  Frank,  who  married  Dorothy ;  Michael ;  Daniel ; 
Elizabeth  (deceased),  who  married  Jacob  Trout;  and  Catherine,  widow  of 
Henry  Eisenhart,  living  at  Brownsville,  Pennsylvania. 

Daniel  Faust,  father  of  Mrs.  Lorah,  was  bom  near  McKeansburg,  in  East 
Brunswick  township,  Feb.  27,  1828,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated.  Dur- 
ing his  young  manhood  he  worked  out  among  farmers,  and  in  time  bought  a 
farm  of  his  own,  at  Brandonville,  in  East  Union  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
upon  which  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  the  remainder  of  his  Ufe.  His 
death  occurred  Oct.  11,  1910,  and  he  is  buried  with  his  wife,  Carolina 
(Bitting),  at  the  Old  White  Church  near  Ringtown.  She  was  bom  Oct.  6, 
1835,  daughter  o^  Charles  and  Margaret  (Beaver)  Bitting,  and  died  Aug. 
II,  1914,  at  the  home  of  her  son-in-law,  James  Lorah.  They  had  the  follow- 
ing children :  Hannah  Malinda  married  Jacob  Brobst,  and  they  live  at  Hazle- 
ton,  Pa. ;  Amanda  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Scott,  of  Brandonville,  this 
county;  Andrew  B.  (deceased)  married  Rebecca  Elizabeth  Lorah;  Margaret 
Catherine  is  the  wife  of  James  Lorah;  Daniel  Wesley  married  Rebecca 
Bolander,  and  they  live  at  Hazleton;  Silas  Mayberry  (deceased)  married 
Charity  Creasy,  and  she  resides  at  Forks,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.  The  father 
of  this  family  was  a  Democrat  and  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  St.  John's 
Church  in  East  Union  township,  which  he  served  as  deacon. 

HENRY  L.  MILLER  has  had  his  residence  and  business  headquarters 
at  f^ort  Carbon  for  a  number  of  years.  But  having  had  interests  at  various 
other  points  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  retaining  important  connections  in  sev- 
eral places  besides  his  home  town,  he  has  more  than  local  reputation  and 
standing.  Mr.  Miller  has  exhibited  in  large  degree  the  qualities  which  made 
his  father  one  of  the  most  valuable  citizens  of  this  region  in  his  day,  admired 
for  his  energetic  and  progressive  character  and  respected  for  his  substantial 
contributions  to  the  development  of  the  locality. 

John  Frederick  Miller,  the  father,  was  of  German  nativity,  bom  in  the 
kingdom  of  Wurtemberg.  There  he  spent  his  childhood  and  youth,  coming 
to  this  country  when  twenty-one  years  old.  He  landed  at  Castle  Garden,  New 
York  City,  came  as  far  as  Landingville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  by  canalboat,  and 
thence  walked  to  Orwigsburg,  where  he  found  work  with  Reuben  Hoy  as  a 
farm  hand.  Some  time  later  he  purchased  145  acres  of  land  in  West  Bruns- 
wick township,  lying  one  mile  north  of  Orwigsburg,  the  old  Leymeister 
farm.  Part  of  it  was  still  covered  with  brush  and  timber,  and  he  continued 
the  work  of  clearing  and  cultivation  until  1895,  ^^  which  year  he  removed  to 
the  borough  of  Orwigsburg.  The  property  remained  in  the  Miller  family 
for  forty-five  years,  and  is  now  owned  by  Fred  Blacker.  Jonn  F.  Miller 
acquired  extensive  and  valuable  real  estate  holdings  at  Orwigsburg,  and 
exerted  himself  very  effectively  in  introducing  modem  conditions  of  life  into 
that  town.  The  first  sewers  laid  there  were  of  his  construction,  and  he  was 
the  original  owner  of  the  system,  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son  Henry  L. 
Miller.  When  the  borough  was  ready  to  provide  a  public  water  supply  the 
necessary  land  was  purchased  from  him  for  the  works,  reservoir,  etc.,  and 
he  assisted  the  project  in  every  possible  way.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
parties  interested  in  the  Orwigsburg  Fair  Association,  which  for  years  enter- 
tained the  people  throughout  this  section.  He  was  the  first  to  start  in  the  ice 
business  at  Orwigsburg,  and  carried  it  on  successfully,  as  he  did  everything 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  629 

else  he  undertook.  Indeed,  his  fellow  citizens  had  such  confidence  in  his 
judgment  and  faith  in  his  disinterested  public  spirit,  that  few  men  of  his 
time  were  more  influential  in  guiding  local  affairs,  though  he  took  no  special 
part  in  the  administration  of  public  matters.  However,  he  was  a  zealous  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Lutheran  Church  at  Orwigsburg,  having  been  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  church,  and  he  assisted  in  building  the  present  St.  Paul's 
Church,  which  he  served  as  trustee.  Mr.  Miller  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years,  dying  in  1909,  after  several  years  of  retirement.  He  is  buried  in 
the  Lutheran  cemetery  at  Orwigsburg. 

Mr.  Miller  married  Sophia  Dietrich,  also  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  when  twenty  years  old,  and  died  at  Orwigs- 
burg at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  They  were  married  at  that  place, 
and  the  following  children  were  born  to  their  union:  Elizabeth  died  young; 
Mary  died  young;  William,  who  lives  at  McAdoo,  this  county,  is  engaged  in 
the  ice  business  and  has  a  farm  in  the  Quakake  valley;  Henry  L.  is  next  in 
the  family;  George  B.  is  living  at  Orwigsburg;  John  J.  is  a  resident  of  Shen- 
andoah, this  county;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  John  Reidler,  of  Orwigsburg; 
Rosie  is  the  wife  of  Charles  H.  Hein,  who  is  serving  as  poor  director  of 
Schuylkill  county;  Frederick  lives  at  Pottsville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  also 
reared  her  sister's  son,  Jacob  Koenig,  who  was  bom  in  Germany  and  was 
brought  to  America  whep  nine  months  old. 

Henry  L.  Miller  was  bom  May  28,  1862,  at  Orwigsburg,  and  had  school 
privileges  there  and  in  West  Brunswick  township.  His  early  years  were 
spent  in  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  went 
to  learn  the  business  of  broommaking,  in  which  eventually  he  became  engaged 
on  his  own  account,  following  it  for  seven  years  at  Orwigsburg  and  Auburn, 
this  county;  he  also  made  brushes.  Then  he  entered  the  hotel  business  at 
Lakeside,  this  county,  also  taking  charge  of  the  pleasure  resort  grounds 
there  for  a  period  of  four  years.  Returning  to  Orwigsburg,  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  manufacture  of  paper  boxes  in  company  with  Samuel  Miller, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Miller  &  Miller,  carrying  on  the  business  which  they 
sold  to  George  Ketner  and  which  is  now  owned  and  operated  by  Oscar  Knipe. 
For  several  years  following  Henry  L.  Miller  gave  his  time  chiefly  to  the 
timber  business,  and  at  the  same  time  conducted  coal  washeries  along  the 
Schuylkill  river,  near  Schuylkill  Haven,  taking  out  thousands  of  tons  of  coal, 
and  finding  the  venture  very  profitable.  In  1902  he  came  to  Port  Carbon 
and  purchased  the  knitting  plant  then  owned  by  George  Heebner,  and  imme- 
diately set  about  improving  and  enlarging  the  facilities,  foreseeing  the  great 
possibilities  in  the  business.  He  rented  the  old  building  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  at  Port  Carbon,  remodeled  it  to  suit  his  needs,  installed  modem  ma- 
chinery, and  for  the  next  six  years  operated  the  plant  under  the  name  of  the 
Superior  Knitting  Mills.  The  business  was  then  incorporated  as  the  Superior 
Knitting  Company,  with  Mr.  Miller  as  president  and  general  manager,  Messrs. 
S.  R.  Beddall  (ex-sheriflf)  and  G.  W.  Beddall  being  the  other  members  of 
the  firm.  They  continued  together  until  Aug.  i,  1914,  when  Mr.  Miller, 
having  new  ideas  which  he  wished  to  put  into  practice,  resigned  as  president 
and  general  manager  of  the  Superior  Knitting  Company  and  formed  a  part- 
nership with  his  son,  John  J.  Miller,  under  the  name  of  H.  L.  Miller  &  Son. 
They  have  erected  a  fine  modem,  three-story  brick  plant  on  South  Coal  street. 
Port  Carbon,  one  of  the  most  complete  of  its  kind  in  the  State,  equipped 
with  the  most  approved  machinery  known  to  the  trade,  lighted,  heated  and 


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630  .  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ventilated  in  accordance  with  the  latest  ideas,  admirably  appointed,  in  fact, 
for  the  production  of  the  highest  class  of  work  under  the  most  favorable  con- 
ditions. The  Millers  deserve  no  less  credit  for  the  consideration  they  have 
shown  in  respect  to  the  welfare  of  their  employes  than  for  intelligent  dis- 
crimination in  the  choice  of  machinery  and  the  arrangement  of  their  estab- 
lishment. They  employ  one  hundred  skilled  workers,  who  turn  out  the  finest 
grades  of  underwear,  sold  to  jobbers  all  over  the  world.  Mr.  Miller's  char- 
acteristic thoroughness  has  left  no  weak  points  in  the  business,  his  familiarity 
with  the  details  of  manufacturing  being  well  supplemented  with  executive 
ability  and  grasp  of  trade  conditions.  He  is  one  of  the  owners  in  the  Potts- 
ville  Bleaching  &  Dyeing  Company,  and  for  a  time  was  the  president  of  that 
concern,  but  is  now  vice  president,  Mr.  John  P.  Schwenk,  of  Schuylkill  Haven, 
taking  the  presidency;  John  J.  Miller  (son  of  Henry  L.  Miller)  is  secretary 
and  treasurer.  Mr.  Schwenk  and  Mr.  Miller  erected  the  plant  (at  Potts- 
ville)  in  1909.  It  is  provided  throughout  with  modem  machinery  and  facili- 
ties of  every  description,  being  one  of  the  most  up-to-date  factories  of  the 
kind  in  the  State,  and  the  company  has  established  a  remunerative  business 
in  this  section,  many  factories  having  found  its  conveniences  very  advan- 
tageous. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  large  property  owner  at  Orwigsburg.  His  holdings  at  one 
time  included  the  **Harlon  House"  there,  and  he  formerly  owned  his  father's 
farm,  but  sold  it  in  1910.  At  one  time  he  owned  another  farm  in  West 
Brunswick  township.  Success  has  come  to  him  as  the  result  of  work,  for 
though  his  ability  is  exceptional  his  application  and  perseverance  have  been 
equally  noteworthy,  and  he  has  maintained  a  name  for  honor  and  int^rity 
in  every  transaction.  While  a  resident  of  Orwigsburg  he  was  an  officer  in 
the  Lutheran  Church.  At  one  time  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Mahanoy 
City  Gun  Club  and  enthusiastic  in  the  sport,  being  one  of  the  best  wing  and 
rifle  shots  in  this  section. 

In  1885  Mr.  Miller  was  married  at  Orwigsburg,  by  Rev.  H.  I.  Erb,  to  Ida 
Amanda  Honsberger;  daughter  of  Jacob  S.  and  Mary  Matilda  (Walborn) 
Honsberger.  Her  father  now  resides  at  New  Ringgold,  Schuylkill  county. 
She  is  a  great-granddaughter  of  Uris  Walborn,  an  early  settler  at  Pinedale, 
Pa.  The  Honsberger  and  Walborn  families  are  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  two  children,  Lottie  Irene  and  John  J., 
both  living  at  home. 

John  J.  Miller  was  bom  Sept.  2,  1889,  at  Lakeside,  this  county,  and 
received  his  education  principally  in  the  local  public  schools,  attending  high 
school  at  Port  Carbon.  In  1909  he  was  graduated  from  the  Peirce  business 
college,  at  Philadelphia.  That  year  he  found  employment  in  the  accounting 
department  of  the  Eastern  Steel  Company's  plant  at  Pottsville,  but  after  a 
short  experience  there  became  associated  with  H.  O.  Roller,  of  Reading,  Pa., 
and  established  the  Pottsville  Motor  Car  Company.  They  did  business  at 
Pottsville,  selling  the  Buick,  Franklin  and  E.  M.  F.  cars.  Two  years 
later  Mr.  Miller  bought  out  his  partner,  and  thereafter  conducted  the  business 
alone  until  he  formed  an  alliance  with  Theodore  K.  Leininger,  of  Orwigs- 
burg, under  the  name  of  the  Pottsville  Automobile  Company.  Their  loca- 
tion was  on  Centre  street,  Pottsville,  and  they  did  a  successful  business,  being 
sole  agents  for  the  Buick  cars  in  Schuylkill  county.  In  October,  1914,  Mr. 
Miller  having  made  arrangements  to  enter  the  manufacturing  business  with 
his  father,  sold  his  interests  in  the  automobile  business  to  Mr.  Leininger,  and 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  631 

he  is  now  devoting  all  his  time  to  his  duties  as  junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
H.  L.  Miller  &  Son  and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Pottsville  Bleaching 
&  Dyeing  Company.  He  is  business-like,  industrious  and  popular,  and  has 
excellent  prospects  of  taking  his  place  among  the  wide-awake  men  of  the 
borough. 

Mr.  Miller  holds  membership  in  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America, 
the  Independent  Order  ot  Odd  Fellows,  the  Junior  Order  United  American 
Mechanics,  the  T.  P.  A.,  and  the  Pottsville  Motor  Club. 

CHARLES  MEYERS,  proprietor  of  the  Evening  Chronicle,  Pottsville, 
was  bom  in  Branch  township,  near  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov. 
25,  1855.  He  is  descended  from  German  ancestors,  his  parents,  Jacob  and 
Susanna  (Laudemann)  Meyers,  being  natives  of  Bavaria.  They  immigrated 
to  America  in  1852,  and  were  married  in  Minersville,  spending  the  rest  of 
their  lives  in  Branch  township,  near  Minersville.  The  father  died  in  March, 
1894,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven,  and  the  mother  died  three  months  later,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-two.  Charles  Meyers  has  been  entirely  ^elf-dependent 
from  early  youth.  His  parents  were  not  financially  able  to  afford  him  the 
advantages  of  an  education,  and  he  left  school  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  to 
join  the  army  of  slate  pickers  at  the  mines.  He  was  employed  in  this  capa- 
city and  that  of  "loader"  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  Thereafter  he  was 
engaged  in  various  lines  of  work  for  a  number  of  years,  until  after  his  mar- 
riage, in  1880,  when  he  returned  to  the  mines  as  a  foreman,  being  thus  em- 
ployed for  several  years,  at  diflferent  places.  In  1894  he  became  the  super- 
intendent of  the  Brookwood  Coal  Company's  washery  at  Mahanoy  Plane, 
both  he  and  his  brother  Harry  having  an  interest  in  the  $50,000  plant  there 
erected.  In  1896  Mr.  Meyers  resigned  this  position  and  was  nominated  as 
Republican  candidate  for  the  office  of  county  commissioner,  a  position  to 
which  he  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  After  this  Mr.  Meyers  again 
returned  to  the  mines,  having  retained  his  interest  in  the  property  previously 
mentioned,  and  soon  thereafter  considerable  change  was  made  in  the  propri- 
etorship, other  property  was  purchased,  and  the  business  of  the  firm  expanded. . 
It  now  became  known  as  the  Madeira,  Hill  &  Co.,  consolidating  with  the  G.  B. 
Newton  &  Company,  and  Mr.  Meyers  owned  a  one-third  interest,  being 
superintendent  of  the  business.  Leases  were  secured  on  additional  property, 
in  diflferent  parts  of  the  county,  the  business  being  devoted  to  mining  and 
washing  culm  banks,  which  proved  profitable.  In  August,  1903,  Mr.  Meyers 
sold  his  interest  in  the  extensive  business  here  briefly  described,  and  in 
May,  1905,  he  purchased  the  Chronicle,  which  is  one  of  the  principal  daily 
papers  in  Pottsville,  as  it  is  also  one  of  the  oldest.  The  Chronicle  from  time 
to  time,  since  Mr.  Meyers  has  acquired  it,  has  been  thei  leader  in  a  ntunber 
of  crusades.  Especially  .was  it  instrumental,  in  the  fall  and  winter  of  1909, 
in  clearing  up  the  stigma  resting  on  Schuylkill  county  jx)litics,  resulting  in 
many  of  the  crooked  ways  of  the  professional  politician  being  made  straight, 
and  the  effect  of  which  is  still  wholesome  on  the  entire  county.  The  plant 
is  large  and  valuable,  fully  equipped  for  all  kinds  of  job  and  book  work,  as 
well  as  the  publication  of  a  daily  newspaper. 

On  Feb.  8,  1880,  Mr.  Meyers  was  married  to  Caroline  Semmet,  of  Cres- 
sona,  Schuylkill  county.  Her  parents,  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Leonard) 
Semmet,  were  natives  of  Bavaria,  and  located  at  Cressona  in  an  early  day. 
Her  father  was  killed  in  a  railroad  accident  in  1875,  and  her  mother  died  at 


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632  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Cressona  in  1886.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meyers  have  two  daughters,  Marion  and 
Helen,  the  latter  now  the  wife  of  Lester  E.  Schlaseman. 

CHRISTOPHER  LOESER,  ESQ.,  who  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
the  oldest  member  of  the  bar  of  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  in  Montgomery 
county.  Pa.,  Nov.  5,  1793,  the  son  of  Christian  and  Elizabeth  (Stringer) 
Loeser.  He  came  to  Schuylkill  county  in  1814.  During  the  war  of  1812  Mr. 
Loeser  served  as  a  lieutenant  in  a  company  from  this  county,  commanded  by 
Capt.  Theophilus  Hughes,  which  in  1814  was  stationed  in  Baltimore.  He 
was  for  some  years  clerk  in  the  prothonotary's  office  under  Dn  McFarland, 
who  was  the  first  prothonotary  under  the  new  county  organization  of  Schuyl- 
kill. Subsequently  Mr.  Loeser  became  deputy  sheriff  under  Benjamin  Christ. 
In  1820,  as  deputy  marshal,  Mr.  Loeser  took  the  first  census  of  the  county, 
going  over  much  of  the  ground  necessarily  on  foot.  He  read  law  under 
James  B.  Hubley,  Esq.;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Schuylkill  county  July 
31,  1820,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Orwigsburg,  then  the 
county  seat  of  Schuylkill.  He  entered  upon  a  professional  career,  which  con- 
tinued until  he  became  enfeebled  by  disease,  for  nearly  half  a  century.  With 
great  natural  ability  he  united  legal  learning,  untiring  industry,  sterling  integ- 
rity and  fidelity  to  the  interests  of  his  clients,  who  gave  to  him  their  un- 
limited confidence. 

During  his  long  professional  career  Mr.  Loeser  acted  as  legal  adviser  to 
many  of  the  mining  companies.  So  well  known  was  his  sense  of  what  was 
just  and  proper,  that  he  quelled  many  an  incipient  riot  in  the  numerous  strikes 
among  the  coal  miners  of  his  time,  by  merely  raising  his  hand,  and  directing 
the  men  to  return  to  work,  telling  them  that  he  would  personally  present  their 
grievances  to  the  operators,  and  he  never  betrayed  the  confidence.  After 
the  removal  of  the  county  seat  to  Pottsville,  Mr.  Loeser  became  a  resident 
of  that  borough,  where  death,  which  occurred  March  27,  1865,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years,  closed  his  long  and  useful  career.  Mr.  Loeser  was  mar- 
ried to  Louisa  Bartle  Sept.  15,  1833. 

WILLIAM  N.  STINE,  a  prominent  resident  of  Barry  township,  has 
occupied  his  home  place  there  for  over  thirty  years.  He  has  prospered  and 
has  made  investments  from  time  to  time  in  other  farm  lands,  still  retaining 
valuable  interests  of  the  kind.  But  he  has  availed  himself  of  the  opportunities 
to  go  into  other  fields,  has  been  a  successful  trader,  and  at  present  does  con- 
siderable business  handling  real  estate. 

The  Stine  family  is  of  German  extraction.  Jonas  Stine,  father  of  William 
N.,  was  bom  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  in  this  section  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
his  earlier  ancestors  settled.  He  was  one  of  three  brothers,  and  also  had 
three  half  brothers,  John,  William  and  Safenos,  two  of  whom,  William  and 
Safenos,  were  in  the  military  service  during  the  Mexican  war.  Jonas  Stine 
in  his  youth  followed  carpenter  work,  but  he  soon  became  engaged  in  the 
buying  and  selling  of  horses,  bringing  many  from  the  West.  Later  he  became 
a  merchant,  having  a  store  at  Gettysburg,  whence  he  removed  to  Dark  Comer, 
in  Columbia  county.  His  next  change  was  to  Shamokin,  Northumberland 
county,  and  subsequently  he  was  located  at  Mount  Carmel,  that  county,  from 
which  place  he  moved  to  the  farm  in  Mahantongo  where  the  rest  of  his  life 
was  spent.  He  was  accidentally  killed  in  1869,  by  being  thrown  from  a 
wagon.     Mr.  Stine's  energetic  disposition  made  him  active  in  other  lines  as 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  633 

well  as  in  business,  and  he  was  a  leader  of  public  opinion  among  his  neigh- 
bors, being  regarded  as  an  authority  on  law  and  politics  in  Mount  Carmel. 
He  married  Eva  Ann  Lake,  who  was  bom  near  Reed  station,  in  Northum- 
berland county,  daughter  of  John  Lake,  a  farmer,  who  settled  early  in  North- 
umberland county  and  continued  to  live  there  to  the  end  of  his  days.  Mrs.  > 
Stine  was  one  of  a  large  family,  three  sons  and  several  daughters :  John, 
Daniel,  Milton,  Eva  Ann,  Mahalia,  Kate,  Martha,  and  Maria.  Daniel,  Mil- 
ton, and  several  of  the  daughters  still  survive. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stine  were  bom  three  children:  Louis  lives  at  Ansted, 
W.  Va.;  Dora  died  young;  William  N.  completes  the  family.  He  was  only 
a  small  boy  when  the  mother  died,  in  1855,  and  the  father  remarried,  having 
several  children  by  the  second  union :  John  W. ;  Hannibal  C. ;  Jonas  G. ;  Flora, 
and  Elizabeth.   ^ 

William  N.  Stine  was  bom  in  1851  at  Shamokin,  Northumberland  county, 
received  the  principal  part  of  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Mount  Carmel, 
and  when  yet  a  boy  began  work  at  the  mines.  He  was  first  employed  at  the 
breaker,  and  he  was  afterwards  in  the  mines,  spending  a  year  thus  in  different 
capacities.  When  only  fifteen  years  old  he  became  engaged  in  the  business 
his  father  followed  so  successfully,  dealing  in  horses,  in  which  line  he  later 
developed  an  extensive  trade.  In  1883  he  came  to  his  present  home  property 
in  Barry  township,  Schuylkill  county,  a  farm  of  over  one  hundred  acres,  and 
for  a  number  of  years,  in  connection  with*  its  management,  was  extensively 
engaged  in  buying,  selling  and  exchanging  property.  He  acquired  other 
farm  property,  at  one  time  owning  as  many  as  eight  farms.  Some  of  his 
capital  has  been  attracted  to  other  quarters,  being  at  present  invested  in  the 
coal  fields  of  West  Virginia.  Besides  his  operations  in  real  estate  he  has  an 
interest  in  several  hotela  and  local  bank  stock,  a  practical  proof  of  his  faith 
in  the  stability  of  business  conditions  in  Schuylkill  county.  Though  not  a 
public  man  in  any  sense  he  is  an  influential  member  of  the  community,  where 
his  intelligence  and  substantial  qualities  of  character  are  highly  appreciated. 

In  1871  Mr.  Stine  married  Phietta  Wehry,  a  native  of  the  Mahantongo 
valley,  where  her  father,  David  Wehry,  was  an  early  settler  and  became 
extensively  engaged  in  farming.  Mrs.  Stine's  brothers,  Daniel  and  Amos, 
survive.  Mrs.  Stine  died  May  23,  1901,  the  mother  of  one  child,  Charles 
Henry,  who  lives  in  Barry  township,  this  county.  He  married  Sallie  Berry, 
of  that  township,  and  they  have  had  a  large  family,  eight  still  living. 

FRANK  W.  BAUSUM,  one  of  the  leading  merchants  at  Pottsville,  bears 
a  name  which  has  been  associated  with  the  development  of  Schuylkill  county 
from  its  early  days,  the  family  having  been  established  here  by  his  great- 
grandfather. In  every  generation  the-Bausums  have  been  conspicuous  for 
industry,  honesty  and  the  other  substantial  characteristics  which  are  at  the 
foundation  of  good  citizenship  and  progress  in  any  community.  The  present- 
day  members  of  the  family  are  no  exception. 

Conrad  Bausum,  the  emigrant  ancestor  of  this  family,  came  from  Alsace- 
Lorraine,  near  the  border  line  of  Germany,  settling  in  America  in  young 
manhood.  He  located  near  what  is  now  Orwigsburg,  in  Schuylkill  county, 
Pa.,  and  followed  the  miller's  trade  at  Orwigsburg,  as  well  as  farming.  He 
died  there,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  that  place.  His  children  were : 
John;  Philip;  William;  and  Sarah,  wh6  went  West  with  a  family  by  the 
name  of  Allairs. 


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634  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Philip  Bausum,  son  of  Conrad,  was  bom  at  Orwigsburg,  Pa.,  and  spent 
most  of  his  life  there,  dying  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  thirty-five 
years.  He  is  buried  at  Orwigsburg.  By  occupation  he  was  a  carpenter  and 
builder.  He  married  Rebecca  Reinheimer,  daughter  of  Jacob  Reinheimer, 
of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Mary,  who  died  in  infancy;  Edw.,  deceased;  Henry,  deceased;  Daniel  F.; 
Sarah,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Emma,  who  married  Charles  Reinhart. 

Daniel  F.  Bausum,  father  of  Frank  W.  Bausum,  was  bom  at  Orwigs- 
burg Feb.  9,  1840,  and  owing  to  his  father's  untimely  death  had  few  advan- 
tages.- When  but  seven  years  old  he  began  to  work  for  Isaac  Orwig,  Sr., 
by  whom  he  was  employed  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  he  also 
drove  a  store  team  for  Isaac  Orwig,  Jr.  His  next  employer  was  George 
Moser,  for  whom  he  did  farm  work  for  some  time  at  Pine  Creek.  Return- 
ing to  Orwigsburg  he  worked  there  until  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  enlisting 
Aug.  5,  1861,  in  Company  K,  48th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  with  which  he 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  reenlisting  Jan.  i,  1864,  in  the  same  company. 
He  was  in  the  corps  under  Gen.  Ambrose  E.  Bumside,  and  took  part  in 
thirty-seven  battles,  every  one  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged  except 
that  at  Newport,  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Pottsville  and  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company,  being  engaged  in  railroad 
work  with  that  company  from  Auj§:.  7,  1865,  until  Mardi,  191 1,  when  he  was 
pensioned.  He  is  now  living  retired.  Mr.  Bausum  married  Anna  Wesley, 
daughter  of  Peter  Wesley,  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  near  Reading.  They  have 
had  five  children:  George,  of  St.  Clair,  this  county,  a  merchant;  Mary,  de- 
ceased; Anna,  who  is  teaching  public  school  at  Pottsville;  Frank  W. ;  and 
Cora  B.,  at  home. 

By  virtue  of  his  service  in  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Bausum  holds  membership 
in,Gowen  Post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Pottsville,  and  in  the  encampment  of  the 
Union  Veteran  Legion  at  that  place.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  R.  M. 
His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Trinity  Reformed  Church  of  Pottsville. 
Politically  he  is  independent,  casting  his  ballot  for  the  candidates  he  favors 
regardless  of  the  party  which  sponsors  them. 

Frank  W.  Bausum  was  born  Feb.  16,  1872,  at  Pottsville,  and  obtained  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  there.  When  a  boy  of  fifteen  he  began  to  work 
in  Mr.  Rohrheiner's  clothing  store  ill  the  borough,  and  after  clerking  in  the 
same  line  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years  he  formed  his  present  association  with 
George  F.  Moyer,  in  1902,  engaging  in  the  clothing  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Moyer  &  Bausum,  as  they  still  continue.  Their  first  store  was  at  the 
comer  of  Centre  and  Market  streets,  and  in  1907  they  purchased  the  premises 
at  No,  4  South  Centre  street,  opening  their  new  store  on  that  site  Sept.  25, 
1913.  The  fine  line  of  clothing  carried  by  Moyer  &  Bausum  is  adapted  to 
cater  to  the  most  fastidious  trade,  the  patrons  of  this  firm  knowing  from  long 
experience  that  it  can  be  relied  upon  to  supply  them  with  up-to-date  furnish- 
ings and  correct  clothes  and  having  a  wide  choice  of  desirable  garments  to 
select  from.  Mr.  Bausum  has  evidenced  his  willingness  to  aid  in  keeping  his 
city  well  to  the  front  as  a  progressive  municipality  by  his  hearty  cooperation 
in  the  activities  of  the  Merchants'  Association  (of  Pottsville  and  vicinity), 
of  which  he  was  an  early  member  and  is  now  president.  His  fellow  officers 
are:  E.  F.  Schlaseman,  vice  president;  H.  R.  Knapp,  recording  secretary; 
T.  E.  Hummel,  financial  secretary;  Harry  C.  Manbeck,  treasurer.  Mr. 
Bausum  is  also  a  member  of  the  Civic  Club  of  Pottsville,  taking  a  thorough 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  635 

interest  in  all  that  affects  the  welfare  of  his  native  city.  Hd  belongs  to  the 
Reformed  Church,  and  socially  to  the  local  lodges  of  the  Elks,  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  (Camp  No.  36)  and  I.  O.  O.  F.  (Lodge 
No.  20). 

Mr.  Bausum  married  Catherine  R.  Mayberry,  daughter  of  Joseph  S.  May- 
berry,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  this  county,  and  they  have  two  children,  Ethyle 
M.  and  Harry  W. 

PROF.  GEORGE,  A.  BEHNEY,  principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Out- 
wood,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  Aug.  10,  1876,  at  Outwood,  and  is  a 
son  of  Emanuel  and  Catherine  (Reinhart)  Behney. 

Michael  Behney,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  George  A.  Behney,  passed 
his  entire  life  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of  cooper. 
He  was  the  father  of  the  following  children :  Ephraim,  who  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  and  now  resides  at  Lebanon;  Jere- 
miah, who  also  joined  the  Union  army  during  that  struggle,  and  met  his 
death  while  a  prisoner  in  the  notorious  Andersonville  stockade;  Emanuel; 
Louis;  John,  who  is  deceased;  Eliza;  Lucinda,  and  Mary. 

Emanuel  Behney,  father  of  George  A.  Behney,  was  bom  in  Lebanon 
county.  Pa.,  there  received  limited  educational  advantages,  and  grew  up 
amid  the  fumaces  and  forges.  He  became  a  forgeman  and  in  1874  located 
in  Pine  Grove  township,  Schuylkill  county,  securing  a  position  at  the  Eckert 
Forge,  where  he  followed  his  vocation  during  the  remainder  of  his  active  life. 
He  died  at  Outwood  in  1910.  While  he  was  an  industrious  and  skilled 
worker,  Mr.  Behney  was  able  to  accumulate  but  little  property,  but  he  was  one 
of  his  community's  respected  and  substantial  citizens.  He  married  Catherine 
Reinhart,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Reinhart,  who  survives  her  husband  and  lives 
at  Outwood  with  her  son  George  A.  The  following  children  were  in  the 
family :  Emanuel,  Ephraim,  Mary,  Ellen,  John,  Jacob,  Elizabeth  and  George  A. 

The  boyhood  of  George  A.  Behney  was  passed  in  the  little  country  com- 
munity about  six  miles  west  of  Pine  Grove,  and,  as  his  parents  were  poor, 
he  was  allowed  few  advantages  of  an  educational  nature,  early  beginning 
work  at  the  Lincoln  colliery  as  a  slate  picker  in  order  to  contribute  to  the 
family  income.  He  was,  however,  of  a  particularly  studious  and  ambitious 
nature,  and  studied  at  night  when  through  with  his  day's  work,  in  addition 
to  carefully  hoarding  whatever  he  could  save  from  his  meagre  earnings, 
always  with  the  goal  in  view  of  bettering  his  condition.  Through  hard  work 
he  was  able  to  amass  enough  to  pay  his  way  through  the  Keystone  State  Nor- 
mal School,  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  from  which  he  was  duly  graduated  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  principally  in  teach- 
ing school,  although  he  has  also  worked  in  the  mines  in  the  summer  months 
and  engaged  in  other  enterprises.  For  five  years  after  completing  his  normal 
course  Mr.  Behney  taught  school  at  Outwood,  and  then  entered  the  United 
States  railway  mail  service,  with  a  mn  between  Pittsburg  and  New  York 
City.  This  work  did  not  prove  congenial,  however,  and  after  three  months 
he  returned  to  Outwood  and  established  himself  in  business  as  the  proprietor 
of  a  general  store  at  Suedberg.  After  one  year  he  disposed  of  his  interests 
in  that  line  and  accepted  the  position  of  principal  of  schools  at  Outwood,  a 
capacity  in  which  he  has  acted  capably  ever  since.  Mr.  Behney  is  one  of  the 
popular  and  efficient  educators  of  the  county,  earnest,  zealous,  energetic  and 
painstaking,  interested  in  the  advancement  and  careful  in  the  training  of  those 


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636  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

under  his  charge.  He  belongs  to  the  Pennsylvania  State  Educational  Asso- 
ciation and  the  Pennsylvania  State  Teachers'  League.  Fraternally  he  is  affil- 
iated with  Camp  No.  223,  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America,  of  Suedberg,  of 
which  he  is  now  secretary,  and  of  which  he  is  an  ex-district  president,  of 
the  Fourth  District  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the 
Knights  of  the  Mystic  Chain.  Mr.  Behney  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  teaches  in  German  a  large  Bible  class  at  Outwood.  That  he  is  independ- 
ent in  thought  atid  action  in  political  affairs,  and  is  standing  boldly  forth  as 
an  exponent  of  better  government,  is  shown  by  a  letter  which  he  sent  to  the 
voters  of  his  district  when  he  became  a  candidate  for  the  Pennsylvania  Legis- 
lature in  191 5,  and  which  said  in  part:  "A  little  over  half  a  century  ago,  on 
the  now  historic  field  of  Gettysburg,  Abraham  Lincoln  delivered  a  short  ad- 
dress which  has  becomd  world-famous,  largely  through  its  decisive  utterance 
of  the  principles  that  really  stand  for  human  liberty  and  free  government.  The 
closing  lines  of  this  address  were :  'Government  of  the  people,  for  the  people, 
by  the  people,  shall  not  perish  from  the  earth.'  To-day  the  words  of  Lincoln 
are  on  the  verge  of  becoming  a  false  prophecy  through  the  abominable  manip- 
ulations and  treacherous  tactics  of  self-seeking  politicians  and  party  machines. 
It  was  for  the  purpose  of  trying  to  rectify  these  evils,  and  to  make  this  coun- 
try once  more  a  government  of,  for,  and  by  the  people,  that  I  conceived  the 
project  of.  placing  myself  among  those  who  are  laboring  toward  this  end.  The 
Washington  Party  as  you  well  know  is  the  only  party  in  the  country  to-day  that 
strives  toward  this  goal;  it  is  to  this  party,  therefore,  that  I  have  given  my 
support  and  my  undying  allegiance.  I  sincerely  hope  that  you  will  stand  by  me 
in  this  fight,  which  means  so  much  for  you  and  for  me  and  for*  the  unborn 
future." 

Mr.  Behney  was  married,  July  24,  191 5,  to  Elizabeth  Ditzler,  daughter  of 
Clinton  Ditzler,  of  Greenpoint,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.  Mrs.  Behney's  death, 
occurring  after  less  than  five  months  of  married  life,  Dec.  6,  1915,  was  a 
great  shock  to  the  entire  community. 

JOHN  K.  BERK,  M.  D.,  has  been  established  at  Frackville  ever  since  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  attained  honorable  stand- 
ing by  conscientious  attention  to  his  duties.  He  is,  indeed,  a  most  creditable 
representative  of  a  respected  family  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  it  was 
founded  during  Provincial  days.    The  Berks  are  of  German  lineage. 

The  Berk,  Berck,  or  Berg  family  settled  in  Berks  county  in  the  very  be- 
ginning of  its  history.  The  pioneer  members  of  the  family  were  Henry  and 
Ludwig  Berck,  probably  brothers,  who  located  in  Greenwich  township.  In 
1759  the  former  paid  four  pounds  tax,  and  the  latter  three  pounds.  In  1774 
the  taxable  list  of  Greenwich  township  records  the  names  of  Henry  Berck 
and  Peter  Berck.  It  appears  that  Ludwig  had  already  died  or  removed  from 
that  township.  The  Federal  census  for  1790  records  the  following  Berks  for 
Greenwich  township,  as  heads  of  families :  Peter  Berck,  who  had  a  son  under 
sixteen  years,  a  wife  and  three  daughters;  George  Berck,  who  was  married 
but  had  no  children.  In  i8fii  John  Berk  was  a  taxable  of  Greenwich  town- 
ship, and  paid  a  tax  of  £1  5s.  4d.  The  Berks  were  among  the  Huguenot  fam- 
ilies who  came  to  this  country  for  religious  freedom,  and  with  a  family  bear- 
ing the  name  of  Beli  (now  Bailey)  settled  in  the  same  (Greenwich)  township. 
Both  families  later  moved  to  Albany  township  in  the  same  county.     One 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  637 

branch  of  the  Berk  family  went  to  Ontelaunee,  and  of  that  line  one  member 
went  to  Cumru  township,  where  to-day  Charles  Berg  is  well  known. 

David  Berk,  who  died  in  Greenwich  township  in  1871,  was  survived  by 
his  wife  Hannah  and  sons  David  and  Nathan.  His  will  is'  on  record  in  Book 
12,  page  354. 

Daniel  Bercly  (as  his  name  is  spelled  on  his  tombstone)  was  bom  July 
27,  1796,  and  died  March  6,  1871,  and  is  buried  at  New  Jerusalem  Church  in 
Albany  township.  He  owned  the  farm  now  the  property  of  Charles  Schol- 
lenberger.  This  was  a  large  farm,  and  when  Mr.  Berck  died  it  first  became 
the  property  of  his  son,  Reuben.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Billman,  born  Oct.  12. 
1793,  died  May  28,  1869.  They  had  seven  children,  and  at  their  deaths  twenty- 
nine  grandchildren  and  seven  great-grandchildren.  Among  their  children 
were:  Johan;  Reuben,  born  in  1821,  who  died  when  past  sixty  years  of  age 
(he  married  Lovina  Knepper,  who  died  at  the  a|^e  of  fifty-four  years,  and 
they  lived  in  Albany  township)  ;  Daniel  B.,  bom  m  1825,  died  in  1884,  who 
lived  in  Albany  township ;  and  Salome,  who  married  Jacob  Reinhart. 

Henry  -Berk,  grandfather  of  Dr.  John  K.  Berk,  was  a  prominent  farmer  in 
his  section  of  Berks  county,  where  he  passed  all  his  life.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Greenawalt,  and  they  had  the  following  children :  Floranda,  John 
G.,  Amanda  (Mrs.  Peter  Wamer,  living  at  Kutztown,  Pa.)  and  Llewellyn 
(who  lives  at  MoUtown,  Berks  county). 

John  G.  Berk,  the  Doctor's  father,  was  bom  Jan.  20,  1845,  and  settled 
at  Girardville,  Schuylkill  county,  in  the  year  1873.  After  clerking  about  a 
year  in  a  general  store  there  he  moved  to  Frackville,  where  he  was  in  business 
as  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  John  G.  Berk  &  Co.,  general  merchants, 
remaining  at  the  head  of  that  concem  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  death  occurred 
at  Frackville  April  22,  1880,  when  he  was  but  thirty-five  years  old,  and  he 
was  buried  at  Hamburg.  On  March  30,  1869,  he  married  Mary  Jane  Kal- 
bach,  and  they  had  four  children,  namely:  William  Henry,  bom  Dec.  3, 
1869,  a  clergyman  of  the  Lutheran  Church  now  located  at  Berwick,  Pa.; 
John  K.,  bom  Aug.  22,  1871 ;  Katie  Louisa,  born  June  28,  1874,  who  died 
July  20,  1875 ;  and  Harvey  Isaac,  bom  July  3,  1877,  who  died  June  5,  1878. 
The  mother  remarried,  on  Dec.  30,  1893,  becoming  the  wife  of  William 
Huppert,  of  Frackville.    No  children  were  bom  to  this  union. 

John  K.  Berk  was  bom  Aug.  22,  1871,  at  Hamburg,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
was  reared  in  Schuylkill  county,  beginning  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
at  Frackville.  His  higher  literary  studies  were  pursued  at  the  Keystone 
State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  where  he  graduated  in  1892,  after 
which  he  taught  schoolfor  one  year,  at  Lewistown,  Schuylkill  county.  In  the 
fall  of  1893  he  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College,  at  Philadelphia,  and  was 
graduated  in  1896  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  opened  an  office  at  Frack- 
ville, Schuylkill  county,  the  following  October,  and  has  since  devoted  prac- 
tically all  his  time  to  general  practice.  His  skill  and  sincere  efforts  to  keep 
those  who  call  on  him  have  made  him  very  popular  with  a  wide  circle  of 
patrons,  and  in  his  desire  to  serve  them  well  he  has  kept  pace  with  the  advances 
made  in  medical  science  through  various  channels.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Schuylkill  County  Medical  Society;  of  the  Pennsylvania  Medical  State  So- 
ciety; and  the  American  Medical  Association.  Local  business  interests  have 
also  attracted  him  to  some  extent.  He  was  one  of  the;  charter  members  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Frackville,  and  was  made  vice  president  of  that  insti- 


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638  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

tution  in  191 1.  In  religious  connection  he  is  a  Lutheran,  and  fraternally  he 
is  a  thirty-second-degree  Mason,  affiliated  with  Ashland  Lodge,  No.  294,  F. 
&  A.  M. ;  Griscom  Chapter,  No.  219,  R.  A.  M. ;  Prince  of  Peace  Commandery, 
No.  39,  K.  T.— all  of  Ashland;  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Reading. 

On  June  6,  1900,  Dr.  Berk  married  Rae  Ethel  Hand,  daughter  of  Lud- 
man  and  Hester  (Goff)  Hand,  of  Cape  May  Court  House,  N.  J.  They  have 
had  two  sons,  John  William  and  Leslie  Hand. 

The  Kalbach  family,  from  a  hich  Dr.  Berk  is  descended  in  the  maternal 
line,  had  its  origin  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Germany,  whence  came  Chris- 
topher Kahlbach,  the  immigrant  ancestor,  who  settled  in  Heidelberg  town- 
ship, Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  before  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Here  he 
acquired  property,  prospered,  and  reared  a  family  of  children,  among  whom 
were  Adam  and  Michael.  The  latter,  bom  in  1766,  died  in  1840.  He  had 
sons:  Daniel,  1800-1874;  and  Michael,  1814-1896  (who  married  Elizabeth 
Womelsdorf,  1816-1895).  Michael,  Sr.,  and  his  sons  are  buried  at  Womels- 
dorf. 

Through  the  marriage  of  George  Kalbach,  one  of  the  early  members  of 
the  family,  to  Maria  Spang,  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  these  Kalbachs  are  among 
the  heirs  to  the  great  Spang  fortune  in  Germany. 

Adam  Kalbach,  son  of  Christopher,  was  a,  farmer  in  Tulpehocken  town- 
ship, where  he  owned  a  large  plantation,  on  which  he  died,  ripe  in  years,  in 
1801.  He  and  his  wife,  Maria  Eva,  had  these  children:  Michael,  George, 
Adam,  Johannes,  Susanna,  Elizabeth,  Maria  Sabilla,  Regina  Catherine  and 
Sophia. 

Adam  Kalbach,  son  of  Adam,  above,  was  a  farmer  in  Tulpehocken  (now 
Penn)  township,  owning  a  large  tract  of  land.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife's  maiden  name  being  Catherine  Ruth,  and  his  second  wife's  name 
being  Christ.  His  children,  all  by  the  first  union,  were:  Adam;  Joseph; 
John ;  William ;  Isaac ;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Conrad  Loose ;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Loose ; 
Liddie,  Mrs.  John  Epler ;  and  Jacob. 

Isaac  Kalbach,  son  of  Adam  and  Catherine  (Rjith)  Kalbach,  was  bom 
July  3>  1820,  near  Bemville,  in  Bern  township,  Berks  county.  He  attended 
school  in  the  locality,  and  until  forty  years  old  remained  on  the  home  farm 
in  that  township  with  his  brother  William.  Meantime,  on  Feb.  2,  1845,  he  mar- 
ried L.  Haus,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  August  Hermann.  She 
was  bom  May  i,  1826,  in  Bern  township,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elisabetha 
Haus,  and  died  at  Frackville.  Mr.  Kalbach  died  there  March  10,  1877,  aged 
fifty-six  years,  eight  months,  seven  days.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church  always  known  as  the  Bern  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kal- 
bach had  children  as  follows:  Elisabetha,  bom  Nov.  i,  1845,  who  died  when 
eighteen  years  old;  William  Adam,  bom  June  11,  1847;  Mary  Jane,  bom 
Aug.  13,  1848;  James  Benjamin,  born  Jan.  31,  1853,  who  died  when  nine  years 
old;  Emma  Catherine,  bom  Sept.  10,  1854,  deceased  in  infancy;  Henry  Wash- 
ington, bom  Oct.  10,  1856,  who  died  when  five  years  old;  Martha  M.,  born 
March  28,  i860,  who  died  when  three  years  old;  and  Catherine  Ellen,  bom 
Sept.  20,  1862,  who  married  Isaiah  Mensch. 

ABRAHAM  CARL,  deceased,  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  a  son 
of  Philip  Carl,  also  a  resident  of  this  county,  whose  useful  life  was  rounded 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  639 

out  within  its  confines.  The  children  of  Philip  Carl  wgre:  Elizabeth,  John, 
Daniel,  Abraham,  David  and  Samuel. 

While  still  a  boy  Abraham  Carl  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  and  he 
followed  it  for  a  few  years,  but  later  became  a  butcher,  learning  that  calling 
at  Feamot,  where  he  resided  for  a  period.  In  1874  he  located  at  Tower  City, 
and  until  1881  was  actively  engaged  in  butchering.  Then  for  a  year  he 
operated  a  farm  in  Porter  township,  and  returnin|^  to  Tower  City  embarked 
in  a  general  merchandising  business,  which  he  contmued  for  seven  years.  He 
built  the  well  known  "Carl  House"  at  Tower  City,  and  operated  this  hotel 
until  within  a  year  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  30,  1898.  His  remains 
were  interred  at  the  Artz  Church,  near  Sacramento,  in  Hubley  township, 
Schuylkill  county.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  well  known  men  of  this 
section,  and  his  success  in  business  through  honorable  methods  proved  an 
incentive  to  others  to  pursue  a  like  course.  He  was  one  of  the  members  of  the 
Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America. 

Mr.  Carl  married  (first)  Catherine  Schwalm,  who  died  leaving  one  son, 
Fred  M.,  who  is  now  a  butcher  in  Tower  City.  The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Carl 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Ellen  M.  Shade,  and  she  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  (Klinger)  Shade.  There  were  no  children  of  this  marriage,  but 
Mrs.  Carl  has  reared  four  belonging  to  others,  one  of  whom,  Harry  C.  Kurtz, 
a  son  of  Reuben  Kurtz,  has  been  with  heir  since  he  was  two  years  old.  He 
is  a  plumber  and  tinsmith  by  trade,  and  is  employed  by  Ira  W.  Hand  at  Reiner- 
ton,  Pa.  Mrs.  Carl  still  owns  the  "Carl  House."  Like  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily she  is  a  Lutheran,  and  her  charities  in  conjunction  with  her  church,  in  addi- 
tion to  those  of  a  private  nature,  are  many.  She  is  beloved  by  all  who  know 
her,  and  those  whom  she  has  reared  as  her  own  rise  up  to  call  her  blessed. 

WALTER  G.  BOWERS,  M.  D.,  Medical  Superintendent  at  the  Schuyl- 
kill County  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  located  within  two  miles  from  the  borough 
of  Schuylkill  Haven,  is  a  physician  of  wide  hospital  experience,  particularly 
in  the  line  in  which  he  is  now  serving.  His  early  training  was  thorough  and 
comprehensive,  a  solid  foundation  for  the  practical  work  which  he  has  had 
in  such  great  variety  in  his  special  field,  and  his  adn^inistration  has  been  highly 
satisfactory  to  the  citizens  of  Schuylkill  county. 

Dr.  Bowers  was  bom  Sept.  23,  1879,  at  Parsons,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
obtained  his  early  literary  education  m  the  public  schools  of  that  vicinity, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  at  Wilkes-Barre.  He  then  entered  the 
Medico-Chirurgical  College,  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  where  he  took  the  full  course, 
graduating  in  the  year  1904.  Immediately  following  his  graduation  he  became 
an  Interne  at  the  State  Hospital  of  the  North  Eastern  Anthracite  Coal  Region, 
at  Scranton,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  for  one  year.  Then  for  eighteen  months 
he  was  at  the  Philadelphia  General  Hospital  (Blockley),  Philadelphia,  mean- 
time passing  the  civil  service  examination  at  that  city  and  at  the  close  of  his 
service  in  the  institution  named  becoming  first  assistant  at  the  Philadelphia 
Hospital  for  the  Insane,  at  Philadelphia.  The  next  three  years  were  spent 
there,  until  he  transferred  to  the  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Norristown, 
Pa.  He  continued  in  successful  work  in  that  connection  until  appointed  to  his 
present  position,  at  the  Schuylkill  County  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  July  17, 
191 2.  He  was  its  first  superintendent,  assuming  his  duties  when  the  hospital 
was  opened,  so  that  the  entire  credit  for  the  progressive  spirit  which  has  been 
manifested  at  this  institution  from  the  beginning  belongs  to  him.     This  is 


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640  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

verified  by  the  report  of  Floyd  Haviland,  M.  D.,  of  Kings  Park,  N.  Y.,  who 
in  his  report  to  The  Public  Charities'  Association  of  Pennsylvania,  after  a 
survey  of  all  the  Institutions  in  Pennsylvania  caring  for  the  insane,  said: 
"This,  in  most  respects,  is  the  best  County  Hospital  in  the  State."  Dr.  Haviland 
spent  six  months  at  this  work.  Dr.  Bowers'  conscientious  performance  of 
every  obligation,  and  many  responsibilities  voluntarily  taken  upon  himself, 
show  how  deep  is  his  interest  in  improving  the  condition  of  those  in  his  care, 
and  how  earnest  he  is  in  his  endeavor  to  be  of  real  service  to  the  community 
which  has  honored  him  with  so  important  a  trust.  He  has  been  well  received 
among  his  professional  co-workers  in  the  county,  being  a  member  of  the 
Southern  Schuylkill  County  Medical  Society,  the  Schuylkill  County  Medical 
Society,  the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  Society,  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  affiliated  with  Page  Lodge,  No.  270, 
F.  &.A.  M.,  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Dr.  Bowers  was  married  to  Rae  R.  Pierce,  of  Millville,  N.  J.,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Leroy  and  Ruth. 

CHARLES  HERBERT  MARSHALL,  cashier  of  the  Merchants'  National 
Bank,  Pottsville,  Pa.,  is  undoubtedly  a  self-made  man,  and  his  career  is  an 
example  of  what  c^n  be  accomplished  even  in  these  modem'  days  by  energy, 
hard  work  and  perseverance.  Young  men  who  complain  of  lack  of  opportu- 
nities for  advancement  should  read  and  learn  what  has  been  done  by  one  man 
who  started  in  life  without  a  dollar  and  won  a  position  where  he  handles 
thousands  of  those  valuable  tokens  of  wealth. 

James  Henry  Marshall,  father  of  Charles  H.  Marshall,  was  bom  in 
England  April  20,  1820,  and  came  to  America  when  a  youth.  He  first  resided 
in  Philadelphia,  being  a  member  of  the  old  Marshall  family  of  that  city,  but 
remained  there  only  a  short  time,  coming  to  Jefferson  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
bought  a  plat  of  165  acres  at  Sugar  Hill,  near  Brockwayville.  He  settled 
down  to  agriculture  for  the  rest  of  his  days,  tos  wife,  Ellen  (Robinson),  a 
native  of  England,  died  in  Jefferson  county  Jan.  21,  1880,  and  is  buried  at 
Sugar  Hill.  Mr.  Marshall  died  Au^.  5,  1874,  and  is  also  buried  at  Sugar  Hill. 
Six  children  were  bom  to  their  union :  Martha  Jane  Marshall,  who  married 
William  W.  Dougherty;  Emma  Marshall,  wife  of  John  Bryan;  Florence 
Marshall,  wife  of  William  F.  Burchfield;  John  E.  Marshall,  who  resides  on 
the  homestead  in  Jefferson  county;  James  H.  Marshall,  also  residing  on  one 
of  the  homesteads  in  Jefferson  county ;  and  Charles  H.  Marshall. 

Charles  Herbert  Marshall  was  bom  July  27,  1866,  on  the  old  farm  at 
Sugar  Hill,  Jefferson  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  orphaned  at  the  age  of  thirteen  and 
had  but  twenty-five  cents  when  he  started  out  to  get  an  education  and  support 
himself  during  the  endeavor.  But  he  had  unlimited  courage,  and  undaunted 
by  adversity  took  every  odd  job  given  him  by  the  sympathetic  but  hardworking 
neighbors.  In  the  summer  he  worked  from  daylight  to  dark  at  the  numerous 
tasks  of  the  farm,  and  in  the  winter  did  chores  morning  and  evening  to  pay 
for  his  board,  so  as  to  attend  the  local  public  schools,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1883.  As  he  grew  older  he  labored  in  the  lumber  camps  during  sev- 
eral winters,  in  order  to  get  money  enough  to  continue  his  education.  Finally 
he  accumulated  the  amount  necessary  to  pay  for  a  course  at  the  Clarion 
Normal  School,  Clarion,  Pa.,  and  later  one  in  the  Iron  City  Business  Collie, 
at  Pittsburgh,  and  defray  his  expenses  while  in  attendance.  Having  com- 
pleted the  course  and  graduated,  April  14,  1887,  he  immediately  found  a  posi- 


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rUBLiC  Lii::  .i::Y 

ASTOR,   LEy^> 
TTLDl-N   hi  {.::l.s  .  - 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  641 

tion  as  bookkeeper  with  Horton  Brothers,  of  Brockport,  Pa.,  with  whom  he 
remained  for  one  year.  He  next  returned  to  Brockwayville  and  took  charge 
of  the  books  in  Bond  &  Cooper's  hardware  store,  remaining  with  them  until 
May,  1892,  whn  he  was  offered  the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  the  Brockway- 
ville Bank.  He  held  this  position  until  October,  1895,  when,  though  but 
twenty-nine  years  old,  he  was  elected  cashier.  In  1900  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  R.  L.  Buzzard  and  W.  G.  McCain  and  bought  up  all  the  shares  of 
the  bank. 

In  July,  1900,  Mr.  Marshall  promoted  the  First  National  Bank  of  Brock- 
wajrvrille,  was  one  of  the  largest  stockholders,  and  took  the  responsible  position 
of  cashier  and  director.  His  activities  seemed  to  be  but  commenced,  for  in 
the  year  1904  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  DuBois  National  Bank, 
of  which  he  became  assistant  cashier.  In  1907  he  saw  the  opportunity  and 
again  assisted  in  the  formation  of  a  bank,  this  time  at  Potts ville.  With  a 
capital  of  $125,000  and  a  surplus  of  $25,000,  the  new  bank  was  firmly  estab- 
lished, Mr.  Marshall  taking  the  position  of  cashier  (and  also  director),  which 
he  holds  at  the  present  time.  The  Merchants*  National  Bank  is  one  of  the 
most  substantial  in  the  State,  and  to  the  financial  acumen  and  clear  discern- 
ment of  Charles  H.  Marshall  a  great  part  of  its  prosperity  is  due.  Concerning 
the  many  industrial  enterprises  in  which  he  is  interested,  it  is  unnecessary  to  go 
into  detail.  Suffice  it  to  say  he  is  always  prepared  to  finance  any  industry  of 
benefit  to  the  community  and  takes  a  warm  pe^onal  interest  in  building  up  his 
adopted  town,  industrially  and  socially. 

On  March  24,  1891,  Mr.  Marshall  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Biddle,  dau|^h- 
ter  of  Nelson  Biddle,  of  Mifflinburg,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Anna  Marshall.  Politically  Mr.  Marshall  is  a  Republican.  He  held  several 
borough  offices  while  in  Brockwayville,  being  the  youngest  burgess  ever  elected 
in  that  borough.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Potts- 
ville,  of  the  Pottsville  Qub,  and  of  the  Acorn  Club  of  EHiBois.  He  was  for- 
merly a  member  of  Knapp  Commandery,  No.  40,  Knights  Templar,  of  Ridg- 
way,  but  transferred  his  membership  from  that  Commandery  to  Bethany 
Commandery,  No.  83,  of  DuBois,  of  which  he  was  a  charter  member.  He 
still  belongs  to  Elk  Chapter,  No.  230,  and  Elk  Lodge,  No.  379,  F.  &  A.  M., 
both  of  Ridgway,  Pa.,  and  also  holds  membership  in  ZemZem  Temple,  A.  A. 
O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Erie. 

WILLIAM  HORN,  of  Sheppton,  has  held  an  honored  place  in  that  town 
and  the  adjacent  part  of  Schuylkill  county  for  many  years,  his  business  and 
official  duties  bringing  him  into  contact  with  a  large  proportion  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  was  bom  March  10,  1840,  at  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
the  family  has  been  here  since  his  grandfather's  time.  So  far  as  is  known,  his 
great-grandfather  came  from  the  North  of  Ireland. 

William  Horn,  the  grandfather,  was  bom  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  was 
a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  died  in  1847,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  Com- 
ing to  Pennsylvania,  he  settled  near  Reading,  in  Berks  county,  was  married 
in  that  county,  and  thence  removed  to  Pine  Grove  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  became  a  well  known  citizen,  serving  that  township  as  a  justice  df 
the  peace  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  located  near  the  Lauberry  mines, 
and  followed  shoemaking  all  his  life.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Bretz)^  died  when 
about  sixty-five  years  old.  Their  children  were :  Daniel ;  Mary ;  Abraham ; 
Joseph :  John ;  William ;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Fisher,  a  widow,  now  residing  with  her 

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642  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

daughter  at  No.  2  Patch,  in  Bear  Valley,  near  Shamokin,  Northumberland 
Co.,  Pa.;  Jerusha,  who  married  John  Elder  (he  is  deceased) ;  and  Eliza.    At 
this  writing  (1915)   Mrs.  Sarah  Fisher  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  family.  • 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Horn  are  buried  in  Pine  Grove  township,  this  county. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion. 

Daniel  Horn,  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Bretz)  Horn,  was  bom 
March  16,  181 5,  near  Reading,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-three  years, 
eleven  months,  twenty-three  days,  passing  away  March  7,  1909.  The  neigh- 
borhood at  that  time  offered  no  educational  advantages,  and  he  began  work 
early.  He  lived  in  Berks  county  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  was  there 
employed  in  chopping  wood  for  the  charcoal  furnaces.  Coming  to  Pine  Grove 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  he  found  work  as  a  miner  at  the  Lauberry  mines 
for  a  short  time,  later  buying  a  team  and  hauling  coal  on  the  Mine  Hill  road, 
from  Llewellyn  to  the  canal  dock  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  This  was  before  the 
locomotive  came  into  use  on  that  road.  He  entered  into  a  contract  with  the 
Hibners  Coal  Company  to  furnish  minctimber,  and  was  so  occupied  two  years, 
then  removing  to  Tamaqua,  this  county,  where  he  worked  a  little  while  on  the 
Little  Schuylkill  railroad.  Later  he  took  a  contract  to  furnish  cordwood  for 
their  wood-burning  locomotives  which  he  kept  for  five  years,  in  1863  moving 
to  Mahanoy  City,  where  he  obtained  the  position  of  chute  boss  at  the  Hill  & 
Harris  colliery,  remaining  there  for  the  next  seventeen  years.  At  the  end  of 
that  period  he  retired  and  for  a  time  lived  at  Shenandoah,  moved  thence  to 
East  Union  township,  and  a  short  time  before  his  death  took  up  his  resi- 
dence with  his  daughter  Laura,  Mrs.  Charles  Schreaves,  in  Shenandoah,  at 
whose  home  he  died.  Mr.  Horn  married  Susanna  Feger,  who  was  born  Dec. 
27,  1813,  near  Reading,  Pa.,  and  survived  him  a  few  months,  dying  June  17, 
1909.  They  are  buried  in  the  Evangelical  Church  cemetery  near  Ringtown. 
He  was  a  member  of  that  denomination.  In  politics  Mr.  Horn  was  originally 
a  Democrat,  but  after  his  son  William  returned  from  his  service  with  the 
Union  army  he  turned  Republican.  A  large  family  was  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Daniel  Horn :  Sarah  E.  (deceased),  was  the  wife  of  David  Faust,  of  Camden, 
N.  J.,  a  fire  insurance  broker;  William  is  mentioned  below;  Henry,  Clara  and 
Franklin  died  young;  Daniel  A.  was  accidentally  killed  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  1887 
(he  married  Mary  Brannigan,  and  left  four  children)  ;  Maria  married  Daniel 
D.  Kirby,  publisher  of  the  Salem  Herald,  of  Salem,  Ohio,  and  they  have  two 
children;  Matilda  married  Alton  O.  Crobaugh,  and  they  have  one  child  (he 
is  watchman  at  the  Knickerbocker  colliery,  Shenandoah)  ;  Joseph  died  young; 
Laura  married  Charles  Schreaves,  of  Shenandoah,  a  watchman. 

Jacob  Feger,  father  of  Mrs.  Susanna  (Feger)  Horn,  was  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  lived  until  after  his  marriage.  He  owned  and  operated 
a  paper  mill  there,  and  moved  thence  to  Schuylkill  Haven,  Schuylkill  county. 
During  one  governor's  term  he  was  doorkeeper  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives at  Harrisburg.  This  was  during  the  middle  fifties.  Later  he  was  elected 
prothonotary  of  Schuylkill  county,  in  which  office  he  served  one  term.  Polit- 
ically he  was  a  Democrat,  in  religion  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 
He  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Yergy),  both  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years,  and  they  are  buried  at  Spring  Garden,  Schuylkill  Haven.  They  had 
children  as  follows:  William;  Joseph,  who  married  a  Miss  Mills;  Franklin, 
who  married  Sarah  Johnson;  Susanna,  who  married  Daniel  Horn;  Matilda, 
who  married  Cornelius  Hoffman;  Priscilla,  who  married  George  K.  Reed; 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  643 

Eliza,    who    married    Morgan    Saylor;    Amanda,    who    married    Emmanuel 
Pflueger;  and  Abigail,  who  married  William  Spangler. 

William  Horn  was  reared  at  Tamaqua  and  Llewellyn,  where  he  attended 
public  school  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twelve  years.  He  has  made  his  own 
way  in  the  world  since.  His  first  employment  was  as  water  boy  for  a  gang 
of  trackmen  building  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  road,  the  part  then  known 
as  the  Little  Schuylkill.  As  he  became  able  to  assume  more  responsibility  he 
was  given  work  as  a  trackman,  working  as  such  until  he  reached  his  twenty- 
first  year.  At  that  time  came  the  first  call  for  volunteers  to  defend  the  Union, 
and  Mr.  Horn  was  a  member  of  the  local  organization  known  as  the  Scott 
Rifles,  formed  at  Tamaqua,  and  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  as 
Company  C,  loth  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry.  Their  service  was  for 
ninety  days,  at  the  end  of  which  term  he  reenlisted,  joining  Company  H,  96th 
Pennsylvania  Infantry,  after  a  three  weeks'  furlough.  The  company  was  first 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Henry  Hippie,  and  after  his  resignation  under 
Henry  Royer.  The  regiment  left  Pottsville  Nov.  8,  1861,  proceeded  by  way 
of  Gordon  Plane  and  Shamokin  to  Washington,  D,  C,  and  thence  into  camp 
at  Bladensburg,  Md.  It  was  then  moved  across  the  Long  bridge  into  Vir- 
ginia, beyond  Fairfax  Seminary.  Col.  Henry  L.  Cake,  commanding  the  regi- 
ment, named  the  new  location  Camp  Northumberland,  in  honor  of  his  home 
county.  Up  to  this  time  the  command  had  been  engaged  principally  in  picket 
duty.  Shortly  afterwards  the  regiment  was  sent  by  boat  to  Fortress  Monroe, 
and  after  the  evacuation  of  Yorktown  went  up  the  York  river  to  West  Point, 
where  it  had  a  slight  skirmish  with  the  Confederate  rear  guard.  From 
West  Point  it  went  on  to  White  House  Landing,  thence  to  Mechanicsville, 
where  it  was  in  camp  for  a  short  time,  moving  across  the  Chickahominy  river 
to  Savage  Station.  It  participated  with  McQellan  in  the  Peninsular  cam- 
paign. On  June  27,  1862,  it  formed  the  extreme  right  of  the  Federal  line  at 
Gaines'  Mill,  and  the  following  day  supported  the  batteries  at  White  Oak 
Swamp.  At  Malvern  Hill  it  again  had  the  extreme  right  of  the  line,  and 
with  the  rest  of  the  army  fell  back  when  that  engagement  was  over.  After 
participating  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  the  6th  Corps,  to  which  the 
96th  had  been  assigned,  was  moved  to  help  intercept  the  Confederate  move- 
ment into  Maryland.  On  Sept.  14th  was  fought  the  battle  of  South  Mountain. 
Mr.  Horn's  company  took  part  in  the  gallant  charge  up  the  slope,  with  the 
final  result  of  a  decisive  Federal  victory,  going  into  the  charge  with  forty- 
eight  men,  of  which  twenty-four  were  killed  or  wounded.  He  received  a 
gunshot  wound  in  the  breast,  so  severe  that  the  army  surgeons  did  not  expect 
him  to  live,  and  he  spent  three  months  in  hospital  at  Burketsville  and  Fred- 
erick, Md.  When  discharged  from  the  hospital  he  was  so  weakened  by  his 
injuries  as  to  be  incapacitated  for  further  service,  and  he  returned  to  Tamaqua. 
For  a  time  Mr.  Horn  tried  railroad  work,  but  found  he  was  in  no  con- 
dition to  stand  it.  Then  he  went  to  Mahanoy  City  and  took  a  position  at 
hoisting,  on  a  coal  plane,  remaining  there  seven  years.  In  1871  he  went  out 
to  Missouri,  where  he  expected  to  do  farm  work,  but  it  was  too  much  for  his 
strength,  and  after  fourteen  months  in  that  section  he  returned  to  Mahanoy 
City,  where  he  found  employment  issuing  supplies  to  miners,  shipping  coal,  at 
the  Mahanoy  City  colliery.  The  superintendent  of  this  colliery  later  asked 
him  to  take  the  position  of  foreman  at  the  Elmwood  colliery,  Mahanoy  City, 
where  he  continued  for  five  years,  being  afterwards  sent  to  the  Indian  Ridge 
colliery,  where  he  was  outside  foreman  for  five  years.     Meantime  he  had 


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644  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

bought  a  farm  of  103  acres  in  East  Union  township,  and  his  father-in-law, 
Aaron  Van  Horn,  operated  the  place  for  five  years,  Mr.  Horn  having  stocked 
it  after  it  came  into  his  possession.  When  he  resigned  his  position  at  the 
Indian  Ridge  colliery  he  moved  to  the  farm,  and  lived  there  for  three  years, 
though  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  its  cultivation.  He  still  owns  eighty-five 
acres  of  the  place  (having  given  the  rest  to  his  daughter),  and  has  fifty  acres 
of  his  property  cleared,  the  farm  being  now  rented  and  operated  by  John 
Kahley. 

Mr.  Horn  has  been  quite  closely  connected  with  the  administration  of 
local  affairs.  In  1887  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  for  East  Union 
township,  and  accordingly  opened  an  office  at  Sheppton,  to  which  town  he 
subsequently  removed.  By  repeated  reelections  he  continued  to  fill  the  office 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  closing  his  duties  in  January,  1913.  He  is  still 
acting  as  a  notary  public,  deputy  coroner  (which  office  he  has  held  twelve 
years)  and  register  of  births  and  deatl)s,  and  has  also  been  school  director, 
supervisor  and  judge  of  election.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  associated 
with  the  Republican  party.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has  carried  on  business 
as  an  insurance  broker  and  real  estate  dealer,  collects  rents,  and  is  agent  for 
the  local  sewer. 

Mr.  Horn  has  always  kept  in  touch  with  social  and  church  enterprises.  He 
is  a  member  of  Watkin  Waters  Post,  No.  146,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Shenandoah,  and 
has  been  guard  of  that  post;  formerly  he  held  membership  in  General  Grant 
Lodge,  No.  575,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  of  Mahanoy  City.  He  is  a  zealous  member  of 
the  Evangelical  denomination,  now  connected  with  the  church  at  Shenandoah, 
and  has  served  as  exhorter  and  class  leader  at  both  Shenandoah  and  Mahanoy 
City. 

In  1863  Mr.  Horn  was  married,  at  Tamaqua,  to  Rebecca  Margaret  Van 
Horn,  who  was  bom  March  8,  1842,  in  Salem  township,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa., 
and  shortly  afterwards  they  moved  to  Mahanoy  City.  They  have  had  four 
children:  Ella,  bom  June  14,  1864,  died  Jan.  30,  1910;  she  was  the  wife  of 
H.  F.  Faust,  of  Camden,  N.  J.,  an  employe  of  the  Victor  Talking  Machine 
Company,  and  the  mother  of  one  child,  Roy  Brenton,  born  in  1892,  who  mar- 
ried Sallie  Kunkel  and  has  one  child,  Elrl ;  they  live  at  Camden.  William  F., 
bom  April  14,  1868,  is  outside  foreman  at  the  Oneida  colliery  in  East  Union 
township,  Schuylkill  county;  he  married  Sarah  Alvaretta  Rich,  who  died 
Jan.  31,  1908,  the  mother  of  these  children:  Duane,  Auber,  Retta,  Grace, 
Bessie,  Florence,  and  one  that  died  unnamed.  Bessie  Van  Hom,  bom  July 
25,  1873,  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  F.  Van  Horn,  a  carpenter  in  East  Union 
township;  they  have  had  children,  Guy  (deceased),  Sylvester  (deceased), 
Leslie,  Margaret  and  Althea.  Rev.  Leo  D.,  bom  Jan.  i,  1882,  is  a  Reformed 
clergyman  now  stationed  at  McConnellstown,  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.;  he  mar- 
ried Pearl  Kahley,  and  their  children  are  Vemon  M.,  Daisy  May  and  Merl. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Margaret  (Van  Hom)  Hom  was  educated  at  Tamaqua,  to 
which  place  her  parents  removed  in  1846.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church,  her  last  association  being  with  the  organization  at  Shenandoah,  where 
she  still  retains'  membership.  Mrs.  Hom  is  a  daughter  of  Aaron  Van  Hom 
and  a  granddaughter  of  Nicholas  Van  Hom,  who  was  bom  near  New  York 
City  and  was  of  Holland-Dutch  stock.  By  trade  he  was  a  cooper.  Coming 
to  Northampton  county,  Pa.,  he  followed  his  trade  for  a  time,  later  bought  a 
farm  in  Salem  township,  Luzeme  county,  and  moving  to  that  property  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  there,  engaged  in  farming.    At  one  time  he  owned 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  645 

considerable  land  now  included  in  the  site  of  New  York  City.  He  and  his 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Shobert,  are  buried  in  Salem  township,  Luzerne 
county.  He  was  a  Democrat  politically,  and  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  faith. 
His  diildren  were:  George,  who  married  Phoebe  Titus;  Aaron;  John,  who 
did  not  marry;  Mary,  Mrs.  Isaac  Titus;  Anne,  Mrs.  William  Thomas;  Eliz- 
abeth, Mrs.  George  Hughes ;  and  Catherine,  who  died  unmarried. 

Aaron  Van  Horn,  Mrs.  Horn's  father,  was  bom  in  April,  1820,  at  Pocono 
Mountain,  Northampton  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  in  June,  1893,  o^  ^  farm  in  East 
Union  township,  Schuylkill  county.  He  learned  coopering  with  his  father, 
and  later  followed  the  carpenter's  trade.  Moving  to  Salem  township,  Luzerne 
county,  he  operated  his  father's  farm,  the  property  coming  to  him  at  the 
bitter's  death,  and  thence  moved  to  Tamaqua.  For  a  time  he  was  engaged  as 
a  carpenter  by  the  Little  Schuylkill  Railway  Company.  Then  he  went  out 
to  Missouri,  where  he  rented  a  farm  seven  miles  from  Chillicothe,  remain- 
ing there  nine  years,  and  on  his  return  to  Schuylkill  county  he  was  a  car- 
penter at  the  Mahanoy  City  collieries  for  a  while.  But  he  was  anxious  to  get 
on  a  farm  again,  so  his  son-in-law,  William  Horn,  bought  the  place  in  East 
Union  township  previously  mentioned,  and  Mr.  Van  Horn  moved  thereon, 
operating  the  tract  for  five  years.  It  was  there  he  died.  He  married  Eliz- 
abeth Titus,  who  was  bom  in  January,  1826,  in  Nescopeck  township,  Luzerne 
county,  and  died  March  12,  1854,  the  mother  of  six  children:  Rebecca  Mar- 
garet, Mrs.  William  Horn;  Phoebe  Ann,  who  died  young;  Daniel,  unmar- 
ried, who  lives  in  East  Union  township;  George  W.,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Nicholas  Tames,  who  died  in  infancy ;  and  Mary  C,  Mrs.  Morris  Marsh, 
living  in  Connecticut.  Mrs.  Van  Horn  was  buried  in  the  Methodist  cemetery 
at  Tamaqua,  and  Mr.  Van  Horn  in  the  Union  grave)rard  at  Brandonville,  in 
East  Union  township.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a 
Republican  in  his  political  views. 

Samuel  Titus,  father  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Titus)  Van  Horn,  was  bom  in 
Nescopeck  township,  Luzerne  county,  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  He 
was  engaged  as  a  fisherman  on  the  Susquehanna  in  the  days  when  salmon  were 
plentiful  there,  and  was  drowned  in  tnat  river.  He  is  buried  in  Nescopeck 
township.  Mr.  Titus  belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  children 
were:  Isaac,  Daniel,  George  and  Albert  (who  went  out  west  when  young), 
Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Van  Horn),  Phoebe  (who  married  George  Van  Horn)  and 
Mary  (Mrs.  Hiram  Murray). 

LEVI  MILLER,  deceased,  who  was  for  many  years  identified  with  the 
business  and  financial  interests  of  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  at  Pine  Grove, 
this  county,  in  January,  1853,  son  of  Levi  and  Mary  (Ruth)  Miller. 

Levi  Miller,  the  father,  was  for  a  long  period  engaged  in  business  opera- 
tions in  Schuylkill  county  and  was  a  prominent,  wealthy  and  influential  citizen. 
He  died  in  August,  1887,  his  wife  about  two  years  before.  Their  children 
were:  Daniel  R.,  who  died  in  1902;  George,  who  died  in  1877;  Catherine, 
also  deceased ;  and  Levi. 

After  attending  the  local  schools  of  Pine  Grove  Levi  Miller  entered  Mer- 
cersburg  College  and  was  duly  graduated  therefrom,  and  subsequently  with 
his  father  and  brother  Daniel  R.  was  engaged  in  coal  mining,  in  the  operation 
of  the  Lincoln  and  New  Lincoln  collieries.  Their  offices  were  in  the  brick 
mansion  opposite  the  "Filbert  House,"  now  owned  by  Justice  Gregory  Achen- 
bach,  where  the  Miller  Estate  continued  to  maintain  offices  for  some  time.  The 


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646  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

firm  operating  under  the  name  of  Miller,  Filbert  &  Company  also  conducted 
a  large  business,  and  was  located  in  the  building  afterwards  occupied  by  the 
concern  of  Christ  &  Rehrer.  Mr.  Miller  was  identified  with  and  a  director  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Trust  Company,  of  Reading,  and  the  Pennsylvania  National 
Bank,  of  Pottsville,  for  many  years,  but  had  resigned  from  the  latter  the 
year  before  his  death.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  and  fraternally  was 
connected  with  Lodge  No.  49,  F.  &  A.  M.,  being  also  a  thirty-second-degree 
Mason ;  he  was  a  member  of  Camp  No.  49,  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America. 
He  served  on  the  school  board  and  assisted  the  community  in  every  possible 
way,  and  was  prominently  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
of  which  he  and  the  other  members  of  his  family  have  always  been  liberal 
supporters. 

Mr.  Miller  had  a  large  relationship,  his  family  connections  reaching  to 
distant  points  in  this  and  other  States,  and  his  sudden  death,  July  31,  1910, 
was  a  shock  not  only  to  his  immediate  relations  and  to  the  community,  but  to 
a  wide  circle  of  friends.  Mr.  Miller  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  New  Lutheran 
Cemetery. 

In  1874  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage  with  Emma  Eaton,  of  Landis- 
burg,  Pa.,  who  survives  him.  Two  children  were  bom  to  this  union:  Ralph 
E. ;  and  Mary  Ruth,  who  died  in  March,  1906. 

Dr.  Ralph  E.  Miller  began  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Pine  Grove, 
and  after  graduation  from  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania served  as  an  interne  at  the  Wilkes-Barre  hospital.  In  July,  1905,  he 
took  up  his  residence  at  Bloomsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  has  since  been  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  large  and  representative  professional  business.  Dr.  Miller  married 
Janette  Nigton,  of  Pine  Grove,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Ralph  E.,  Jr.,  and  Mary  Ruth. 

ALVIN  KISTLER,  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship, and  one  of  the  progressive  young  farmers  of  that  section,  has  many  /of 
the  characteristics  which  have  come  to  be  associated  with  the  name  he  bears. 
The  Kistlers  in  this  part  of  Schuylkill  county  are  a  branch  of  an  old  Berks 
county  family  founded  in  this  country  by  Johannes  or  John  George  Kistler, 
and  are  people  of  high  character  and  the  sterling  qualities  pertaining  to  good 
citizenship  and  helpful  lives. 

On  the  records  of  the  Jerusalem  Church  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county, 
known  in  the  eighteenth  century  as  the  Allemangel  Church,  there  are  recorded 
the  baptisms  of  hundreds  of  the  Kistler  children,  while  in  the  cemetery  under 
the  shadow  of  the  church  are  many  graves  marked  with  the  same  name.  Near 
the  center  of  the  oldest  part  of  the  cemetery  lies  a  slate  stone  (which  is  now 
being  replaced  by  the  descendants  with  a  marble  slab)  bearing  the  inscription 
'*I.  G.  K.  1767."  This  is  supposed  to  be  the  stone  that  marked  the  burial 
place  of  the  progenitor  of  the  American  Kistlers,  who  was  legally  known  as 
Johannes,  but  was  called  Joerg  or  George  by  Pastor  Schumacher  in  his  record 
and  Han  joerg  or  John  George  by  his  neighbors. 

Johannes  Kistler  was  a  native  of  the  Palatinate,  in  Germany.  On  Oct. 
5,  1737,  he  came  in  the  ship  *Townshead"  from  Amsterdam  to  Philadelphia, 
and  soon  after  to  Falkner  Swamp,  or  Goshenhoppen,  in  what  is  now  Mont- 
gomery county,  Pa.  It  is  supposed  he  was  accompanied  by  his  wife,  Anna 
Dorothea,  and  his  oldest  children.  In  1747  he  took  out  a  warrant  for  land  and 
moved  to  Albany  township,  Berks  county,  then  wild  and  barren,  where  he 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  647 

made  his  permanent  home.  The  vicinity  was  named  "Allemanger*  or  "All 
Wants."  Johannes  Kistler  was  taxed  in  1756  in  Albany  township,  and  was 
naturalized  in  1761,  on  Sept.  loth  of  which  year  he  and  his  neighbor,  Michael 
Brobst,  appeared  before  the  Supreme  court  at  Philadelphia,  and  there  received 
the  papers  which  made  them  citizens  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  Lutheran, 
and  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  elder  of  the  Allemangel  Church,  where 
his  children  were  baptized  and  confirmed.  His  children  were:  (i)  Jacob  left 
seven  children,  Philip,  Jacob,  Michael,  Solomon,  Daniel,  Catharine  and  Magda- 
lene. Samuel  Kistler  Brobst,  a  teacher  of  James  A.  Garfield,  was  a  grand- 
son of  Philip;  and  so  was  Michael  Kistler,  the  tanner,  whose  son  Stephen 
was  at  one  time  the  most  extensive  tanner  in  eastern  Pennsylvania.  (2)  John 
remained  on  the  homestead  after  his  father's  death.  The  name  John  runs 
through  at  least  five  generations  and  the  trade  of  blacksmith  follows  it.  John's 
children  were:  John  William,  bom  May  29,  1757;  and  Abraham,  born  Dec. ^ 
20,  1 761,  who  is  the  ancestor  of  the  Perry  county  Kistlers,  for  whom  Kistler 
post  office  was  named.  A  descendant.  Rev.  Dr.  John  Kistler,  has  for  many 
years  been  professor  at  the  oldest  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  in  America, 
located  at  Hartwick,  N.  J.  (3)  George  remained  in  Berks  county.  In  1779 
he  was  the  owner  of  248  acres  of  land  and  a  gristmill.  In  1778  he  was 
elected  elder  of  the  Allemangel  Church,  and  as  he  was  referred  to  as  George 
Kistler,  Sr.,  he  doubtless  had  a  son  George.  The  archives  of  Pennsylvania 
show  that  a  George  Kistler  served  in  the  Continental  army  during  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  (4)  Philip,  bom  Oct.  19,  1745,  is  next  m  the  line  we  are 
tracing.  (5)  Michael  moved  to  Ohio,  and  is  the  ancestor  of  the  large  Kistler 
settlements  in  Indiana.  His  family  consisted  of  John,  Michael,  Joseph,  Nathan, 
Monroe,  Salome  and  Judith.  (6)  Samuel,  the  youngest  son  of  his  father, 
married  Elizabeth  Ladich  and  Catharine  Brobst,  and  had  three  children  by  his 
first  marriage  and  twelve  by  the  second.  (7)  Barbara  married  (first)  a  Brobst 
and  (second)  Michael  Mosser,  of  LowhiU.  (8)  Dorothea  married  Michael 
Reinhart.     (9)  Elizabeth  married  a  Mr.  Keller,  near  Hamburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Philip  Kistler,  son  of  George,  above,  was  bom  Oct.  19,  1745,  and  died 
Aug.  28,  1809.  He  had  nine  children:  Jacob,  John,  Ferdinand,  Philip, 
Jonathan,  Barbara,  Maria,  Catherine  and  Elizabeth.  Of  these,  Jacob  was  a 
lieutenant  in  the  war  of  181 2. 

Jonathan  Kistler,  son  of  Philip,  was  bom  Nov.  10,  1799,  in  Berks  county, 
and  was  raised  on  the  place  where  his  grandson  Charles  S.  Kistler  now  lives. 
He  was  reared  by  Jacob  Wehr,  worked  among  farmers  while  young,  and 
after  he  married  started  out  for  himself.  In  1829  he  built  the  gristmill  which 
still  stands  and  is  known  as  the  Kistler  mill.  He  also  became  the  owner  of 
about  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  a  great  deal  of  which  he  cleared  and  culti- 
vated, following  milling  and  farming  on  this  place  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  when  he  was  about  seventy-nine  years  of  age.  His  wife,  Sarah 
(Shellhammer),  bom  Aug.  4,  1800,  daughter  of  Simon  and  Catherine  (Long) 
Shellhammer,  died  aged  eighty-one  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  children 
as  follows:  Polly  married  Michael  Houser;  Rebecca  married  Jacob  Wert- 
man;  Hannah  married  Joseph  Shaeffer;  Daniel  married  Rebecca  Sechler; 
David,  who  resides  in  West  Penn  township,  married  Mary  Hagenbuch,  i?ow 
deceased ;  John  is  mentioned  below ;  William,  who  was  a  school  teacher,  never 
married;  Nathan  never  married;  Jonathan  K.  married  Lydia  Shellhammer; 
Elizabeth  married  Timothy  Zehner.  The  father  retired  some  years  before 
his  death.    He  took  an  active  part  in  politics  as  a  member  of  the  Democratic 


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648  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

party,*  and  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  forty-four  years,  and  a  leader  in 
Zion's  Lutheran  Church,  in  West  Penn  township,  serving  as  elder,  deacon  and 
trustee.    He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  that  church. 

John  Kistler,  son  of  Jonathan,  was  bom  March  24,  1832,  in  West  Penn 
township,  and  was  educated  there.  He  assisted  with  the  work  on  his  father's 
farm  while  young,  and  later  bought  the  farm  of  about  seventy-five  acres  where 
Ambrose  Lechleitner  now  resides.  He  operated  that  farm  for  a  number  of 
years,  sold  it,  and  bought  the  farm  of  ninety  acres  which  is  now  owned  by  his 
son,  Albert  S.  Of  this  farm,  about  eighty  acres  are  cleared.  Mr.  Kistler 
carried  on  general  farming,  and  for  many  years  also  followed  the  stonemason's 
trade,  which  he  learned  when  he  was  a  young  man.  He  attended  market  at 
Tamaqua.  Mr.  Kistler  was  an  active  man  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  Nov.  23,  1909.  He  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Zion's  Lutheran 
Church  in  West  Penn  township,  of  which  church  he  was  a  devout  member 
and  faithful  official,  serving  as  elder  and  deacon.  He  held  the  township 
office  of  school  director,  and  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

Mr.  Kistler's  first  wife,  Caroline  (Hagenbuch),  was  bom  March  4,  1836, 
daughter  of  Amos  and  Sarah  (Bailey)  Hagenbuch,  and  died  Jan.  19,  1856, 
the  mother  of  one  child,  Jonathan,  born  July  6,  1855.  He  is  married  to  Alvina 
Mantz,  and  they  reside  at  Allentown,  Pa.  Mrs.  Kistler  is  buried  at  Zion's 
Church  in  West  Penn  township.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Kistler  married 
Cordelia  Hagenbuch,  who  was  bom  March  10,  1839,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife, 
and  a  large  family  came  to  this  union:  William,  bom  July  15,  1858,  married 
Ella  Meyerhoff ,  and  their  children  are  Rosie,  Bert  and  Raymond ;  Mkry,  bom 
Nov.  18,  1859,  died  Feb.  22,  i860;  Sarah,  bom  Dec.  27,  i860,  married  Uriah 
Reber,  of  NeflFs  (P.  O.),  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  and  has  children,  William,  Charles, 
Ralph,  Jennie,  Francis  and  Harvey;  Amanda,  bom  June  i,  1863,  died  Feb.  4, 
1884,  the  wife  of  Mahlon  Lutz  and  mother  of  one  child,  Laura,  who  is  deceased ; 
Alice  was  bom  April  28,  1865 ;  Ida,  bom  March  26,  1868,  married  William 
Brobst,  of  Owl  Creek,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  has  had  three  children,  Charles, 
Mabel  (deceased)  and  Alice;  Oliver  was  born  Jan.  4,  1870;  Franklin,  bom 
Dec.  8,  1871,  died  aged  forty  years;  Amandus,  bom  Aug.  18,  1873,  lives  in 
Missouri ;  Rosa,  bom  Jan.  9,  1876,  is  married  to  John  Nester,  of  Tamaqua, 
knd  has  had  two  children,  Mary  (deceased)  and  Herbert;  one  sort  died  in 
infancy;  Albert  S.  is  a  farmer  in  West  Penn  township;  Alvin  is  mentioned 
below.  The  mother  of  this  family  is  now  living  at  the  home  of  David  K.  Kist- 
ler, in  West  Penn  township. 

Alvin  Kistler  was  bom  May  11,  1881,  in  West  Penn  township,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  there.  Until  twenty-seven  years  of  age  he  worked 
for  his  father  on  the  home  farm,  this  being  the  place  his  brother  Albert  now 
owns,  in  West  Penn  township.  When  he  left  the  home  farm  he  bought  the 
tract  where  he  now  lives,  from  Isaac  Gerber,  having  originally  224  acres, 
thirty-eight  of  which  he  sold  to  the  Lehigh  &  New  England  Railroad  Com- 
pany. Of  the  remainder,  186  acres,  there  are  about  one  hundred  acres  under 
cultivation,  devoted  to  general  farming  and  tmcking.  Mr.  Kistler  markets 
his  produce  to  Tamaqua,  making  regular  trips  there,  both  winter  and  summer. 
His  affairs  have  prospered  under  strict  attention,  but  he  also  finds  time  for 
matters  of  general  interest,  takes  an  active  part  in  the  workings  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  served  as  election  inspector.  He  is  a  member  ot 
Washington  Camp  No.  615,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  Andreas,  Pa.,  and  of  Zions 
Lutheran  Church  in  West  Penn  township. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  649 

Mr.  Kistler  is  married  to  Sadie  Agnes  Gerber,  who  was  bom  Sept.  3,  1879, 
in  West  Penn  township,  a  daughter  of  Phaon  and  Harriet  (Romig)  Gerber, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  bom  as  follows :  Percy  Albert,  Aug. 
8,  1903;  Edward  Leroy,  Jan.  15,  1906;  Myrtle  Harriet,  July  4,  1908;  John 
William,  Oct.  24,  1910;  Frank  Francis,  Feb.  28,  1913.  The  children  old 
enough  are  attending  school  in  the  township.  Mrs.  Kistler  was  educated  in 
West  Penn  township  and  lived  at  home  until  her  marriage.  She  is  a  member 
of  Zion's  Reformed  Church,  in  West  Penn  township,  of  which  Rev.  H.  D. 
Houtz  is  pastor,  and  attends  the  Sunday  school  of  that  organization. 

The  G^rbers  are  a  very  old  and  much  respected  family  m  West  Penn  town- 
ship. Reuben  Gerber,  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Kistler,  was  bora  on  a 
small  tract  which  is  now  the  property  of  Alvin  Kistler,  and  followed  farming. 
His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Houser,  and  they  had  the  following  children: 
Isaac,  David,  Edwin,  John  (deceased),  Caroline  (Mrs.  Kistler)  and  EUavina 
(widow  of  Jacob  Dietrich,  living  at  Tamaqua).  The  father  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics.  His  reli|^ous  connection  was  with  Zion's  Reformed  Church,  and 
both  parents  are  buned  at  that  church. 

Edwin  Gerber,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Alvin  Kistler,  was  bora  in  1822, 
and  died  March  13,  1898.  He  was  a  native  of  West  Penn  township,  where 
he  lived  and  died,  and  followed  farming  all  his  life,  cultivating  the  place  now 
owned  by  his  son  Frank.  He  married  Sarah  Moyer,  who  was  bora  Dec.  31, 
1834,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Salome  (Baer)  Moyer,  and  survives  him,  living 
with  her  son  Franklin  in  West  Penn  township.  They  had  three  children: 
Franklin  married  Angeline  Eckert;  Phaon  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Kistler; 
Amandus  died  young.  Mr.  Gerber  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Zion's 
Church  in  West  Penn  township,  of  which  he  was  a  Reformed  member. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat. 

Phaon  Gerber,  Mrs.  Kistler's  father,  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township 
Aug.  2,  1855,  and  died  Sept.  24,  1908.  He  was  educated  in  his  native  town- 
ship, and  worked  for  his  father  until  twenty-one  years  old,  after  which  he  was 
employed  one  year  on  a  farm  in  Packer  township.  Carbon  county.  He  mar- 
ried and  returned  to  West  Penn  township,  and  then  bougnt  a  farm  of  forty- 
eight  acres  from  his  father,  remaining  on  it  the  rest  of  his  life.  Besides  farm- 
ing he  did  woo4  chopping,  and  marketed  his  produce  to  Tamaqua.  On  Jan. 
17,  1879,  he  was  married  at  Weatherly,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  by  Rev.  M.  H. 
Mishler,  to  Harriet  Romig,  a  native  of  Quakake,  Carbon  county,  daughter  of 
John  and  Rosanna  (Faust)  Romig,  and  six  children  were  bora  to  this  union: 
Sadie  Agies,  wife  of  Alvin  Kistler;  Eva  Rosanna,  bora  Sept.  24,  1882,  mar- 
ried to  Claude  Steigerwalt;  Oscar  Frank,  bora  April  20,  1884,  who  married 
Jennie  Knapp;  Mahlon  John,  bora  Nov.  4,  1889,  married  to  Katie  Clause; 
Elmer  Edward,  twin  of  Mahlon,  married  to  Lena  Behler;  and  Stella  Adeline, 
bora  July  26,  1896,  living  at  home.  The  mother  is  still  residing  on  the  home 
farm.  Mr.  Gerber  was  a  Democrat  in  political  faith.  Socially  he  belonged  to 
the  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  being  a  member  of  Pocahontas  Coun- 
cil, No.  406,  at  Chain,  Pa.,  and  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Reformed 
congregation  of  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township,  which  he  served  faith- 
fully as  elder.    He  is  buried  at  that  church. 

Benjamin  Romig,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Phaon  Gerber,  was  a  farmer,  and 
one  of  the  original  settlers  at  Weatherly,  Carbon  county.  At  one  time  he  was 
the  owner  of  every  foot  of  land  on  which  the  borough  of  Weatheriy  now 
stands.     His  children  were:     Nathan;  John;   Sarah,   who  married   Daniel 


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650  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA- 

Faust  (he  is  deceased)  ;  Judith,  who  was  the  wife  of  the  late  John  Lomison; 
Susan,  who  was  the  wife  of  the  late  Edwin  Young;  Mary,  who  died  unmar- 
ried; and  Matilda,  Mrs.  Solomon  Gerhard.  Mrs.  Gerhard  is  now  the  only 
survivor  of  the  family.  Benjamin  Romig  was  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  Church.     He  is  buried  at  Quakake. 

John  Romig,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  bom  in  February,  1824,  passed  all  his 
life  in  Packer  township,  Carbon  county,  and  lived  retired  for  about  thirty 
years  before  his  death.  He  built  a  house  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the 
Warner  store  at  Weatherly  and  a  .sawmill  where  the  borough  building  now 
stands.  He  was  a  successful  farmer,  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  common  schools,  a  kind-heartecf  neighbor,  a  good  father,  and 
a  faithful  member  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Quakake,  in  whose  work  he 
was  always  active.  He  served  as  elder,  deacon  and  trustee  of  his  church,  and 
was  a  popular  township  official,  holding  all  the  local  offices.  Politically  he 
was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Rosanna  Faust,  daughter  of  John  Faust,  and 
they  are  buried  at  Quakake.  They  had  children  as  follows :  Emma  married 
Henry  Englehart;  Harriet  married  Phaon  Gerber;  Frank  married  Ella  Flick- 
inger  and  they  made  their  home  at  Williamsport,  Pa. ;  Alfred  married  Emma 
Heller,  and  settled  at  Freeland,  Pa.;  Sophia  married  J.  J.  Gerhard;  Adeline 
married  Lewis  Bender,  of  Scranton,  Pa. ;  Elizabeth  married  George  Ulshaef er, 
of  Weatherly,  Pa. ;  Abigail  married  Edward  Kester,  of  AUentown,  Pa. ;  Matilda 
married  Levi  Englehart,  of  Weatherly;  Rosanna  married  Charles  Gray,  of 
Weatherly ;  John  is  next  in  the  family ;  Mary  married  Henry  Hagenbuch,  of 
Nazareth,  Pennsylvania. 

GOTTLIEB  E.  SCHREPPLE  is  one  of  the  progressive  business  men  of 
Ashland,  where  he  has  built  up  a  modem  laundry  plant,  which  gives  employ- 
ment to  several  people. 

The  Schrepples  are  of  German  extraction,  Nicholas  Schrepple,  grand- 
father of  Gottlieb  E.  Schrepple,  coming  to  America  at  an  early  age,  and 
settling  on  a  farm  near  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death.  His  son,  Frederick  Schrepple,  was 
bom  in  Germany,  came  with  his  parents  to  America,  and  like  his  father  fol- 
lowed farming  until  he  died,  March  14,  1906.  He  married  Loretta  Buchpies, 
like  himself  a  native  of  Germany,  daughter  of  Elias  Buchpies,  who  came  to 
America  many  years  ago  and  settled  on  land  near  Ashland,  which  he  took  up. 
He  cleared  this  property  and  farmed  there  until  his  death.  Mrs.  Loretta 
Schrepple  died  in  1874.    Of  her  two  children,  the  daughter  is  now  deceased. 

Gottlieb  E.  Schrepple,  son  of  Frederick  and  Loretta  Schrepple,  was  bom 
Oct.  8,  1870,  on  a  farm  near  Ashland,  and  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  that  neighborhood.  When  old  enough  he  began  work  on  the 
home  farm,  continuing  to  live  there  until  his  thirtieth  year,  m  January,  1900, 
moving  to  Ashland,  where  he  has  since  been  in  business.  Upon  his  removal 
here  he  bought  the  laundry  business  of  Mr.  Bright,  which  he  carried  on  for 
about  one  year,  then  buying  his  present  business.  Under  his  management  it 
has  enlarged  steadily,  and  as  his  capital  has  increased  Mr.  Schrepple  has 
improved  his  facilities  for  carrying  on  the  large  trade  he  has  established,  his 
plant  being  now  equipped  with  highly  improved  machinery  and  being  conducted 
along  modem  lines.  It  is  known  as  the  Ashland  Steam  Laundry.  The  modem 
system  in  use  enables  the  force  employed  to  accomplish  the  large  amount  of 
work  with  dispatch,  and  Mr.  Schrepple  has  shown  himself  competent  to  take 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  .    651 

care  of  his  growing  trade  and  to  provide  for  it  as  its  demands  arise.  He  has 
his  business  m  a  two-story  house,  in  which  is  also  the  flat  where  he  makes 
his  home.  His  business  is  recognized  as  a  distinct  convenience  to  the  town, 
and  under  Mr.  Schrepple's  efficient  management  is  one  of  its  creditable  indus- 
trial plants. 

On  June  24,  1901,  Mr.  Schrepple  married  Mary  E.  Kimmel,  of  Pottsville, 
Schuylkill  county,  who  was  bom  at  Ashland,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Susan 
A.  Kimmel,  early  settlers  of  Ashland,  of  German  extraction.  Mr.  Kimmel  died 
April  22,  1894,  and  is  survived  by  his  wife.  Two  children  Have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schrepple:  Mildred  A.  and  Arthur  Louis.  Mr.  Schrepple  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 

CHRISTIAN  NEIDLINGER,  a  farmer  of  Porter  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  was  born  at  Tower  City,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  7,  1843,  son  of 
Jonathan  and  Anna  Maria  (Romberger)  Neidlinger,  and  a  grandson  of  Peter 
Neidlinger. 

Peter  Neidlinger  was  born  in  1777,  in  Germany,  and  when  a  young  man 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  as  a  pioneer  in  the  Mahantongo  Valley  of 
Pennsylvania.  For  many  years  he  carried  on  farming  in  Dauphin  county, 
but  in  later  life  went  to  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  where  his  death  occurred  July  9, 
1857.  His  wife,  Catherine,  was  torn  in  1779,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three  years,  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :  George,  who  died  in  the  West ;  Jacob,  who  also  passed  away  there ; 
Jonathan,  the  father  of  Christian;  Polly;  Elizabeth;  Leah;  Lydia;  Nathan; 
Judd;  David,  and  Sallie. 

Jonathan  Neidlinger  was  bom  May  6,  1805,  in  Mahanton|;o,  Pa.,  and  there 
was  reared  to  manhood.  He  early  adopted  farming  as  his  life  work,  and  for 
some  time  cultivated  a  property  in  Rush  township,  Dauphin  county,  but 
later  disposed  of  this  and  bought  a  farm  at  Orwin,  Porter  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  on  which  he  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his  life,  passing  away 
Sept.  II,  1891,  aged  eighty-six  years,  four  months,  five  days.  Mr.  Neidlinger 
was  one  of  the  good  farmers  and  substantial  ;nen  of  Orwin,  and  in  his  death 
his  community  lost  one  of  its  most  stable  and  highly  respected  citizens.  He 
married  Anna  Maria  Romberger,  who  was  bom  Nov.  5,  1805,  and  who  died 
Jan.  4,  1877,  aged  seventy-one  years,  nine  months,  twenty-nine  days.  Both 
are  buried  in  the  Orwin  cemetery.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neidlinger  were  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children  besides  Christian:  Elizabeth,  who  married 
John  Maus;  Amanda,  who  married  Henry  Eichenlaub;  Henry,  who  died  at 
Orwin;  Matilda,  who  married  William  Shaale;  John,  living  at  Williamstown, 
Dauphin  Co.,  Pa. ;  Jonathan,  who  died  young;  Lucy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Fegley;  and  Eva,  whose  death  occurred  in  young  womanhood. 

Christian  Neidlinger  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  remained  at  home 
until  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age.  At  that  time  he  was  married  and 
removed  to  Orwin,  where  he  was  employed  at  the  East  and  West  Brookside 
collieries,  making  his  home  at  Orwin  for  a  period  of  six  years.  He  then  took 
up  his  residence  in  Rush  township,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  also  resided 
for  six  years,  following  which  for  two  years  his  home  was  at  Tower  City. 
Returning  at  that  time  to  Rush  township,  he  worked  five  years  for  his  father, 
and  after  the  elder  man's  death  bought  the  family  homestead,  which  he  cul- 
tivated for  fifteen  years  with  a  satisfying  degree  of  success.  In  191 1  he  dis- 
posed of  his  interests  there  and  purchased  a  small  tract  of  land  near  Greenwood 


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652  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

cemetery  in  Porter  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  is  now  making  his 
home.  He  has  a  well  improved  property  with  good  buildings  and  modem 
equipment  and  is  known  as  a  progressive  and  industrious  farmer. 

On  July  26  1870,  Mr.  Neidlinger  was  married  to  Mary  Shadle,  daughter 
of  John  and  Hannah  (Hain)  Shadle,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been  bom 
the  following  children:  John  Henry,  who  in  addition  to  carrying  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Porter  township  is  employed  as  a  hoisting  engineer  at  the 
West  Brookside  colliery;  Charles  William,  of  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.,  who  is  a 
conductor  for  the  Pittsburgh  &  Lake  Erie  Railroad  Company;  George  Daniel 
an  electrician  by  vocation,  living  at  Emporium,  Pa. ;  Edward  N.,  of  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  a  brakeman  in  the  Reading  railroad  yards;  Harry  Jonathan,  who 
resides  with  his  parents  and  is  water  boss  at  the  East  Brookside  colliery; 
Reuben  C,  residing  at  Tower  City,  who  is  hoisting  engineer  at  the  West  Brook- 
side colliery;  Emery  C,  of  Reading,  employed  in  the  freight  department  of 
the  Reading  Company;  Milton  H.,  who  is  employed  as  a  fireman  by  the  Read- 
ing Railway  Company  at  Harrisburg;  Elvin  Raymond,  who  is  a  pipe  fitter  of 
Emporium,  Pa. ;  Robert  N.,  a  graduate  of  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School, 
at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  class  of  1915,  and  now  a  popular  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Porter  township;  and  Arthur  H.,  who  is  employed  as  a  pipe  fitter 
at  Emporium.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neidlinger,  in  addition  to  rearing  their  eleven 
sons  to  lives  of  usefulness,  have  adopted  a  daughter,  Lydia  Bechtel,  daughter 
of  John  and  Estelle  (Kone)  Bechtel.  She  was  seven  years  old  when  she  entered 
their  home  and  is  now  thirteen,  a  bright  and  promising  student  in  the  public 
schools. 

Mr.  Neidlinger  has  always  been  a  friend  of  education,  and  has  served  on 
the  school  board  of  Porter  township  for  a  number  of  years,  while  his  other 
public  service  has  taken  the  form  of  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the 
offices  of  township  assessor,  supervisor  and  treasurer.  He  is  steward  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  has  been  active  also  in  the  Greenwood  Sunday 
school,  and  at  this  tim^  is  its  treasurer.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  at  Tower  City. 

JOHN  G.  KOPP,  Sr.,  of  Tower  City,  is  now  living  retired  after  a  long 
and  industrious  career,  most  of  which  was  spent  in  a  responsible  capacity 
with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company. 

Mr.  Kopp  was  bora  July  9,  1841,  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of 
John  Kopp,  a  native  of  Prussia,  Germany,  who  came  to  this  country  in  young 
manhood  and  settled  at  Pottsville.  He  began  as  a  day  worker  at  the  mines, 
and  after  two  years  was  made  a  foreman  at  Reed's  colliery,  near  Pottsville. 
Later  he  moved  to  Tremont,  this  county,  where  he  was  also  a  mine  boss,  and 
there  he  died  when  forty-eight  years  old.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  miners 
in  this  region.  Mr.  Kopp  married  Catherine  Biltz,  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  when  eleven  years  old,  and  died  at  the  age  of  forty-four 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kopp  are  buried  at  Tremont.  They  were  the  parents  of 
six  children:  Caroline,  wife  of  William  Heckler;  John  G. ;  Lewis,  w|io  lives 
at  Sharadin,  this  county ;  Augustus,  deceased ;  Elizabeth,  deceased ;  and  Kate, 
who  is  married  to  Peter  Krebs  and  lives  in  California. 

John  G.  Kopp,  Sr.,  was  but  eight  years  old  when  he  commenced  to  work 
in  the  coal  breaker  as  a  slate  picker.  Later  he  worked  with  his  father  as  a 
laborer,  and  by  the  time  he  was  fourteen  he  was  a  skilled  miner.  This  was  at 
the  Major  White's  colliery,  Swatara,  near  New  Town,  Pa.     From  there  hl» 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  653 

went  to  the  Middle  Creek  colliery,  under  Theodore  Garrison,  and  worked  as 
a  miner  with  his  brother  Lewis,  for  several  years,  and  from  this  place  he 
went  to  work  at  Colket  colliery,  Donaldson,  Pa.  He  worked  a  while  there  and 
then  changed  to  the  Lower  Rausch  Creek  colliery,  where  he  remained  several 
years,  from  there  going  to  the  East  Franklin  colliery,  operated  under  Harry 
Heil.  and.  later  by  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company.  He 
worked  there  about  eight  years,  when  he  was  taken  to  the  West  Brookside 
colliery.  Tower  City,  to  become  an  under  boss,  under  William  Elliott,  inside 
foreman,  and  a  little  later  he  became  inside  foreman  in  Mr.  Elliott's  place 
The  colliery  was  operated  by  the  P.  &  R.  C.  &  I.  Co.,  and  General  Pleasants 
was  general  manager.  He  held  the  position  of  Inside  Foreman  for  thirty- 
seven  years  at  the  aforesaid  colliery,  retiring  therefrom  in  1912.  Mr.  Kopp's 
honorable  life  won  him  the  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  the 
men  in  his  charge  as  well  as  his  superiors,  and  he  has  many  friends  among 
his  old-time  associates.  Fraternally  he  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  his 
part  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  Lodge  No.  267, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Tremont ;  has  been  a  member  of  Tremont  Lodge,  No.  245,  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  since  Feb.  23,  1866,  and  is  a  past  officer  of  that  body ;  belongs  to  the 
Odd  Fellows  Encampment,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs;  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  at  Muir,  Pa.;  and  to  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp  at 
Tower  City,  as  well  as  the  commandery  of  that  order. 

Mr.  Kopp  married  Elizabeth  Hatter,  of  the  Mahantongo  Valley,  and  they 
have  had  a  large  family:  William  Jerome  died  when  two  years  old;  Delia 
is  the  wife  of  George  W.  Hatch ;  John  G.,  Jr.,  Harry  L.,  Robert  E.  and  Chab- 
bat  L.,  all  live  at  Tower  City;  Bessie  is  married  to  Edw.  Rank,  D.  D.  S. ; 
Blanch  is  the  wife  of  Peter  Klinger;  Flossie  is  at  home;  five  other  children 
died  young.    The  family  are  Lutherans  in  religious  connection. 

REV.  DENNIS  J.  MELLEY,  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church  at 
Tremont,  has  been  stationed  in  Schuylkill  county  the  greater  part  of  the  time 
since  his  ordination,  and  his  present  charge  is  one  of  the  most  important  in 
this  region.  Established  in  1853,  it  has  prospered  steadily  in  the  sixty  and 
more  years  of  its  existence,  and  is  now  ministering  to  the  religious  needs  of  a 
large  number  of  the  faith  in  and  around  Tremont.  The  original  church,  built 
in  1853,  was  Sufficient  for  the  requirements  of  the  congregation  until  1885, 
when  it  was  materially  enlarged,  the  capacity  being  almost  doubled.  The 
interior  was  then  completely  remodeled  and  handsomely  decorated,  the  walls 
and  ceiling  being  handsomely  frescoed.  The  paintings  in  the  sanctuary,  and 
on  the  walls  and  ceiling,  are  of  exceptional  mprit.  At  the  time  the  church  was 
rebuilt  ten  memorial  windows  were  donated  by  various  members,  and  the  old 
altar  was  replaced  by  a  beautiful  one  of  Italian  marble,  said  to  be  one  of  the 
finest  productions  of  the  famous  maker,  Stewart,  of  Philadelphia.  On  it  are 
inscribed  the  names  of  those  who  contributed  towards  it,  about  one  hundred 
and  thirty.  The  church  property  has  been  undergoing  constant  improvement. 
The  old  parsonage  was  replaced  by  a  beautiful  new  priest's  home  during  the 
pastorate  of  Father  McDevitt,  under  whose  energetic  administration  the  church 
had  been  remodeled  and  enlarged.  The  fine  grove  adjoining  the  parsonage 
was  leased  and  laid  out  in  drives  and  walks,  providing  a  delightful  surrounding 
for  the  residence,  which  has  been  improved  and  added  to  from  time  to  time. 
The  grove  is  still  leased. 

For  the  first  two  years  of  its  existence  St.  Mary's  was  under  the  charge  of 


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654  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Rev.  Sylvester  Eagle,  and  the  membership  when  he  came  was  about  one 
hundred.  It  increased  considerably  during  his  pastorate.  In  1855  Rev.  Wil- 
liam McLaughlin  was  sent  to  Tremont  and  here  ended  his  days  in  successful 
administration,  remaining  until  his  death  in  the  early  part  of  i8i67.  He  became 
very  popular,  not  only  with  his  parishioners  but  among  the  townspeople 
generally.  His  successor,  Father  Marran,  was  here  until  1869,  in  May  of 
which  year  Rev.  John  Cox  took  charge.  At  the  beginning  of  1872  he  left  and 
for  the  next  two  years  Rev.  Thomas  Toner  was  pastor,  Father  Cox  returning 
at  the  end  of  that  time  and  continuing  his  services  until  1876.  In  May,  1876, 
Rev.  Francis  X.'  George  was  installed  in  the  parish  and  remained  until  Decem- 
ber, 1878,  when  Rev.  P.  W.  Brennan  arrived.  The  next  priest  was  Rev.  John 
J.  McDevitt,  who  had  a  long  pastorate,  beginning  in  November,  1880,  and 
extending  until  1900.  He  was  a  zealous  worker,  and  not  only  did  notable 
work  for  the  church  but  also  exerted  great  influence  in  the  affairs  of  the 
borough.  He  had  the  breadth  of  view  which  enabled  him  to  see  the  importance 
of  desirable  living  conditions  in  the  conmiunity  and  directed  much  of  his  labor 
towards  that  end,  making  a  record  for  public  spirit  and  foresight  which  won 
him  the  name  of  being  one  of  the  most  useful  citizens  of  the  town.  He  offered 
td  bear  a  large  share  of  the  cost  of  laying  out  a  small  public  park  in  the 
borough.  As  previously  mentioned,  the  church  was  remodeled  during  his 
pastorate,  the  membership  having  shown  a  great  increase  during  his  control, 
reaching  1,500  to  2,000.  The  duties  became  so  heavy  that  the  Archbishop 
appointed  an  assistant.  Rev.  John  Carey,  who  came  in  June,  1891,  to  lighten 
them  somewhat,  and  besides  looking  after  the  congregation  of  St.  Mary's  they 
held  services  at  Blackwood.  There  is  now  a  separate  church  at  Blackwood, 
which  is  a  mission  of  Branchdale.  In  1885  Father  McDevitt  had  commenced 
holding  services  at  Tower  City,  now  also  a  separate  parish,  and  as  a  result  a 
congregation  was  gathered  there  which  in  a  few  years  built  a  handsome  church. 

Rev.  John  J.  McDevitt  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health  in  1900,  and  died 
in  St.  Agnes*  hospital,  Philadelphia,  in  1901.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Francis  Ward,  of  Tower  City.  During  Father  Ward's  pastorate  of  ten  years 
he  remodeled  and  decorated  the  interior  of  the  church,  built  an  addition  to  the 
rectory,  and  built  a  handsome  mission  church  at  Keffer's,  on  the  Broad  moun- 
tain (supplied  by  the  priest  of  Tremont),  in  which  the  people  of  the  neigh- 
boring mining  villages  worship.  His  assistants  at  various  times  were  Rev. 
John  Burk,  now  of  Philadelphia,  Rev.  Bernard  McKenna,  now  secretary  to 
Bishop  Shahan  of  the  Catholic  University  of  America  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  Rev.  Edgar  Cook,  who  had  labored  for  years  on  the  Philippine  missions. 
Father  Cook's  health  became  impaired  by  his  hard  labors  in  the  Philippine 
Islands,  and  he  was  obliged  to  resign  his  curacy  of  Tremont ;  he  died  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1907.    He  was  the  last  assistant  at  Tremont. 

Father  Ward  was  succeeded  in  Tremont  by  Rev.  D.  J.  Melley  May  11, 
191 1.  During  Father  Melley's  pastorate  he  has  beautified  the  sanctuary  of 
the  church  and  completed  the  marble  altar,  which  had  hitherto  remained  unfin- 
ished, by  placing  a  marble  throne  or  baldachin  over  the  tabernacle  of  the 
main  ahar.  This  throne  was  made  from  Carrara  marble  by  Da  Prato,.  of 
New  York.  It  is  of  a  very  neat  design,  and  crowned  by  a  cap  of  Venetian 
mosaics,  at  a  cost  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  of  this  amount  was  given  for  this  purpose  by  Miss  Julia  Sheehan,  of 
Tremont.  The  interior  of  the  church  as  it  appears  to-day  is  the  neatest  in 
Schuylkill  county.    Father  Melley  renovated  the  rectory,  both  the  interior  and 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  655 

exterior,  so  that  to-day  it  is  without  exception  the  most  beautiful  rectory  in 
this  part  of  the  diocese.  Nor  has  he  devoted  all  his  time  to  the  material 
upbuilding  of  the  parish,  the  spiritual  side  receiving  still  greater  attention.  He 
has  labored  indefatigably  for  the  welfare  of  his  people,  administering  to  their 
spiritual  wants  at  all  times.  As  evidence  of  this  there  are  to-day  attached 
to  the  church  a  Holy  Name  Society,  large  in  proportion  to  the  number  of 
parishioners;  a  Sodality  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary;  a  branch  of  the  League 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  and  an  Altar  Society — all  of  which  he  established ; 
they  are  now  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

Father  Melley  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  bom  at  Newkirk,  near 
Tamaqua,  in  1872.  His  parents,  Dennis  and  Anna  (Campbel^)  Melley,  were 
natives  of  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  and  they  came  to  this  country  in  1855, 
spending  the  rest  of  their  lives  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.  After  some  years' 
residence  at  Tamaqua  they  removed  to  Newkirk,  where  they  made  their  home 
for  thirty  years.  Returning  to  Tamaqua  Mr.  Melley  remained  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  Christmas  Day,  1895.  He  was  engaged  in  mining. 
He  was  a  most  respected  citizen  of  his  sec\ion,  and  was  repeatedly  elected 
school  director  in  Schuylkill  township,  holding  the  office  for  sixteen  years. 
His  widow  now  lives  with  a  daughter  at  Atlantic  City,  N.  J.  Of  the  four- 
teen children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dennis  Melley,  six  are  deceased.  Of  the 
eight  survivors.  Rose  is  a  graduate  nurse ;  Sister  Stanislaus  belongs  to  the  Order 
of  Notre  Dame;  EUzabeth,  wife  of  Edward  Smith,  and  Joseph  are  resi- 
dents of  Philadelphia;  the  remaining  members  of  the  family,  except  Father 
Melley,  reside  in  Atlantic  City. 

Dennis  J.  Melley  was  reared  in  Schuylkill  county,  attending  public  school 
in  Schuylkill  township.  His  higher  literary  education  was  received  at  LaSalle 
College,  Philadelphia,  and  Villanova  College,  and  in  1892  he  entered  Over- 
brook  Seminary  for  his  theological  preparation.  In  1902  he  received  ordina- 
tion, and  for  a  short  time  thereafter  was  at  Mount  Airy,  Pa.  Then  for  a 
year  he  was  stationed  at  Ashland,  Pa.,  as  assistant;  for  two  years  at  South 
Bethlehem,  Pa.;  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  Reading,  three  months,  and  for  five 
years  he  was  assistant  rector  of  St.  Patrick's,  at  Pottsville,  before  coming  to 
Tremont,  in  191 1.  Father  Melley  is  proving  a  worthy  successor  to  the  earn- 
est workers  who  have  preceded  him  at  St.  Mary's,  trying  to  keep  this  church, 
as  it  has  been  from  the  beginning,  among  the  potent  forces  for  good  in  the 
borough  and  vicinity. 

HENRY  CALVIN  KEHLER,  of  Locustdale,  is  a  representative  member 
of  a  family  which  has  been  foremost  in  the  development  and  progress  of  this 
portion  of  Schuylkill  county.  For  several  generations  the  Kehlers  have  had 
extensive  and  valuable  interests  in  farming  in  Eldred  township,  where  the 
town  of  Kehler  and  Kehler  Run  Junction  perpetuate  the  name,  and  at  present 
the  butchering  interests  which  constitute  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  business 
wealth  of  Locustdale,  in  the  adjoining  township  of  Butler,  are  held  principally 
by  Kehlers,  the  brothers  H.  Calvin  and  Irvin  M.  Kehler  being  among  these. 
Their  father,  Franklin  Kehler,  was  a  drover  and  live  stock  dealer  for  over 
thirty-five  years. 

John  Kehler,  grandfather  of  Henry  Calvin  Kehler,  was  bom  in  what  is 
now  Eldred  (then  Mahantongo)  township,  in  Schuylkill  county,  of  German 
ancestry.  By  trade  he  was  a  tailor,  but  he  eventually  settled  down  to  farming 
and  was  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  there  in  the  Mahantongo  valley  for 


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656  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

many  years.  In  the  pioneer  days  he  secured  a  large  tract  of  land  in  its  primi- 
tive state,  which  his  son  Peter  later  owned,  and  the  latter  in  turn  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son,  Felix  F.  Kehler.  It  was  covered  with  hardwood  timber, 
and  years  of  hard  labor  were  required  to  bring  it  into  arable  conditicwi.  John 
Kehler  first  cleared  a  spot  for  a  cabin,  and  before  the  ctose  of  his  life  made  a 
good  start  in  the  improvement  of  the  property,  though  the  early  results  were 
most  discouraging.  Thus  he  laid  the  foundation  for  the  success  of  those  who 
came  after  him,  and  also  continued  the  work  he  so  bravely  began  in  the  face 
of  hardships  and  trials  of  which  the  present  generation  knows  nothing  except 
what  the  account  handed  down  in  history.  John  Kehler  was  a  devout  Qiristian, 
an  earnest  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church.  His  home  was  the  stopping 
place  of  the  early  preachers  who  visited  the  region,  and  the  log  bam  he  erected 
was  used  for  religious  assemblages.  When  the  first  church  building  in  the  com- 
munity was  erected  he  assisted  with  the  work.  By  his  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Hepler  he  had  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Franklin  Kehler,  son  of  John,  was  born  March  ii,  1829,  in  the  Mahan- 
tongo  valley,  and  died  at  Kehler  Nov.  9,  1904.  His  death  was  quite  sudden, 
for  although  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-five  years  he  was  active  to  the 
last.  He  farmed,  and  kept  a  store  at  Kehler,  in  the  upper  Mahantongo  valley, 
but  his  operations  in  live  stock  were  his  most  important  interests.  In  the 
early  days  he  drove  cattle  from  Buffalo  to  Ashland,  this  county.  He  married 
Lydia  Snyder,  who  was  bom  Nov.  3,  1833,  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  daugh- 
ter of  an  early  settler  in  that  region,  and  she  preceded  him  to  the  grave,  passing 
away  Jan.  i,  1898.  Of  the  eight  children  bom  to  them  two  died  in  infancy, 
six  surviving  the  parents,  namely :  Franklin  J.,  the  eldest,  is  deceased ;  Henry 
Calvin  is  mentioned  below ;  Charles  Robert  is  engaged  in  the  butcher  business 
at  Tremont,  this  county ;  Pmella  M.  is  the  wife  of  Henry  H.  Geist  and  they 
are  living  on  the  old  Kehler  homestead;  Johanna,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
Dr.  J.  D.  Kiefer,  of  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.;  Irvin  M.,  of  Locustdale,  is  in  the 
wholesale  and  retail  butcher  business.  The  father  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  United  Evangelical  Church,  which  he  served  thirty-five  years  as  steward. 

Henry  Calvin  Kehler  was  bom  in  1856  in  the  Mahantongo  valley  and  was 
brought  up  there,  receiving  his  education  in  the  local  schools.  After  leaving 
school  for  a  time  he  went  West,  and  on  his  return  to  Pennsylvania  started 
business  with  his  brother  Frank  at  Locustdale.  Some  time  later  he  moved  to 
Centralia,  a  short  distance  over  the  line  in  Columbia  county,  where  he  was 
located  for  three  years,  at  the  end  of  that  period  coming  back  to  Locustdale, 
where  he  established  his  present  business  thirty-one  years  ago.  During  the 
intervening"  time  he  has  built  up  a  trade  of  large  proportions,  apparently  hav- 
ing the  gift  for  success  in  this  line  so  characteristic  of  the  family.  He  has  high 
qualifications  for  business,  combined  with  a  sense  of  fair  dealing  which  has 
made  him  recognized  as  entirely  trustworthy  in  any  transaction.  Practically 
all  his  attention  has  been  given  to  his  work,  his  principal  interest  aside  from 
that  being  his  church  association,  which  is  with  the  denomination  supported  by 
the  family  for  several  generations.  He  is  a  leading  member  of  the  United 
Evangelical  Church,  is  serving  on  its  board  of  trustees,  and  is  teacher  of  the 
Bible  class;  for  about  twenty-five  years  he  was  superintendent  or  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 

On  June  26,  1880,  Mr.  Kehler  was  married  at  Locustdale  to  Mary  A. 
Kepner,  who  was  born  Dec.  2,  1862,  a  native  of  Deep  Creek  valley,  where  her 
parents,  Emanuel  and  Matilda  (Updegraf)  Kepner,  were  early  settlers;  her 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  657 

father  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  They  died  in  Deep  Creek  valley  and 
are  buried  there.  They  had  a  large  family,  three  sons  and  eight  daughters, 
of  whom  John  T.  is  in  the  meat  business  at  Ashland ;  George  lives  at  Good- 
spring  station,  this  county;  Addie  is  the  wife  of  David  Jones,  of  St.  Clair,  a 
mine  foreman;  Katherine  is  the  widow  of  Elmer  Haslin;  Louisa  is  the  wife 
of  Paul  Kams,  of  Orwigsburg;  Flora  is  nKirried  to  Frank  Ganglof,  of 
Orwigsburg. 

Seven  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kehler:  Victor  Frank, 
bom  Dec.  29,  1881,  now  a  butcher  at  Girardville,  this  county,  is  married  to 
Martha  Keller  and  has  two  children,  Roy  R.  and  Grace  A. ;  Pmella  M.,  bom 
May  6,  1883,  is  the  wife  of  Earl  Warther,  of  Locustdale,  and  has  one  child, 
George  Henry;  Lottie  P.,  bom  Nov.  6,  1886,  is  engaged  as  a  nurse  in  Phila- 
delpWa;  Harry  C,  bom  Feb.  23,  1889,  is  in  business  at  Philadelphia;  Winfield, 
bom  Aug.  30,  1890,  is  deceased;  Lydia  Matilda,  bom  March  23,  1892,  is  at 
home;  Robert  L.,  bora  July  6,  1895,  is  at  Girardville,  working  for  his  brother. 

HARRY  D.  LATTIMORE,  outside  foreman  and  master  mechanic  at  the 
Morea  colliery  in  Mahanoy  township,  operated  by  Weston  Dodson  &  Co.,  is  a 
mine  worker  of  long  and  varied  experience  and  well  fitted  for  the  important 
duties  which  have  been  intrusted  to  him.  Mr.  Lattimore  belongs  to  a  very  old 
Pennsylvania  family,  founded  in  this  country  in  1736  by  one  John  Lattimer,  as 
the  earlier  generations  spelled  the  name.  He  was  of  the  Scotch-Irish  race  which 
has  made  so  notable  a  contribution  to  the  best  citizenship  of  the  State.  He 
lived  in  Northampton  county,  acquired  high  reputation  for  his  strong  character 
and  integrity,  and  left  an  excellent  family  to  carry  on  his  name. 

Robert  Lattimore,  son  of  John,  married  Nancy  King,  and  among  their 
children  was  William  Lattimore,  better  known  as  General  Lattimore,  who  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  Northampton  county  in  1805,  his  district  in- 
cluding Wayne,  Luzeme  and  Northampton  counties.  He  was  bom  in  what  is 
known  as  the  Irish  settlement  in  Northampton  county,  and  lived  and  died  there. 
His  wife,  Mary  (Ralston),  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Christiana  (King) 
Ralston,  the  former  of  whom  took  an  active  part  m  the  Revolutionary  war. 

James  Lattimore,  son  of  Gen.  William  Lattimore,  was  for  many  years 
connected  with  the  government  land  offices  located  at  the  cities  of  Lancaster 
and  Harrisburg,  Pa.  '  He  married  Catherine  Weaver,  daughter  of  Michael 
Weaver,  of  Weaversville,  Northampton  county,  a  prominent  farmer  and  lead- 
ing member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lattimore  had  the  fol- 
lowing children :  William  W. ;  Ralston,  who  died  in  infancy ;  May,  who  died 
in  1902,  unmarried;  Alvida  C,  who  married  James  Abbott;  John,  who  mar- 
ried Nancy  Chase;  Lenora  N.  S.,  who  married  Herman  B.  Graeff;  and  Amelia 
D.,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Abbott. 

William  W.  Lattimore  was  bom  in  1820,  and  died  in  1889:  He  is  buried 
at  Tamaqua,  this  county.  The  last  twenty  years  of  his  life  were  spent  at  New 
Boston,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  settled  in  1869  and  worked  for  the  coal 
company  until  his  death.  He  took  a  keen  interest  in  local  affairs,  serving  s^ 
president  of  the  Mahanoy  township  school  board,  was  a  Presbyterian  in 
religious  connection,  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fratemity.  He  married 
Pauh'ne  L.  Dithmar,  of  Northampton  county,  daughter  of  Henri  (Hein)  Jaques 
Dithmar,  a  native  of  France  and  of  Huguenot  ancestry.  She  still  makes  her 
home  at  New  Boston.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lattimore  were  bom  the  following 
children:  Caroline  A.  is  the  widow  of  Dr.  Alonzo  Amerman,  who  died  at 
VoLH— 4 


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658  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Danville,  Pa.,  Jan.  19,  1886  (they  had  one  son,  Alonzo,  who  died  in  1912,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-seven  years)  ;  William  A.  holds  a  position  with  the  Coal 
Company  at  New  Boston;  Harry  D.  is  next  in  the  family;  Walter  A.,  of  Nor- 
ristown,  Pa.,  married  Nettie  Richardson  and  has  one  daughter,  Joan ;  Arthur 
R.  married  Loretta  Cooney,  of  Canada,  and  has  one  son,  Arthur  William; 
Catherine  W.,  unmarried,  lives  at  home;  Elizabeth  D.  is  unmarried  and  living 
at  home;  Pauline  S.  is  the  wife  of  William  Douden,  of  Millersburg,  Pa.,  and 
has  three  children,  William  L.,  Herbert  C.  and  Dorothy. 

Harry  D.  Lattimore  was  bom  Nov.  14,  1861,  at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.  Coming  to  New  Boston  with  his  parents  in  1S69,  he  received  his  educa- 
tion principally  in  the  schools  of  Mahanoy  township.  In  1872  he  started 
work  as  a  clerk  in  Mahanoy  City.  Later  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Mill 
Creek  Coal  Company  for  twi>  years,  after  which  he  clerked  again  for  a  short 
time.  When  fifteen  years  old  he  went  back  to  school,  attending  for  five  months, 
during  which  period  he  was  under  the  capable  instruction  of  the  late  John  J. 
Dolphin,  Esq.  He  then  taught  school  for  one  term,  clerked  in  a  store  at 
Mahanpy  City  for  one  year,  loaded  coal  at  the  New  Boston  colliery  for  one 
winter,  and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in  running  a  mine  fan  engine  -and 
hoisting,  until  December,  1886,  when  he  was  apypointed  outside  foreman,  serv- 
ing in  that  capacity  up  to  1889  at  the  New  Boston  colliery,  following  which  he 
was  engaged  in  public  work,  the  driving  of  the  Jeddo  tunnel.  His  next  posi- 
tion was  that  of  master  mechanic  at  the  Buck  Mountain  and  Vulcan  collieries, 
operated  by  the  Mill  Creek  Coal  Company,  with  whom  he  continued  until  1909, 
when  those  collieries  became  the  property  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Coal  Company, 
with  whom  he  remained  as  master  mechanic  until  191 1.  His  skill  and  readiness 
in  emergencies  made  him  a  valuable  factor  in  the  operations  at  the  mammoth 
Buck  Mountain  breaker.  In  February,  191 1,  Mr.  Lattimore  became  outside 
foreman  and  master  mechanic  at  the  Morea  colliery  in  Mahanoy  township, 
carried  on  by  Weston  Dodson  &  Co.,  who  employ  about  five  hundred  men  at 
these  workings,  and  here  he  has  remained  to  the  present.  A  man  of  dependable 
qualities,  thoroughly  conversant  with  all  the  details  of  his  work,  trustworthy 
in  all  things  and  of  upright  character,  he  has  exerted  an  appreciable  influence 
in  the  successful  conduct  of  the  colliery  and  in  maintaining  satisfactory  con- 
ditions among  its  employees.    Most  of  this  is  due  to  his  strong  personality. 

Mr.  Lattimore  married  Ann  D.  Hay,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Ann  (Douth- 
waite)  Hay.  They  have  two  children,  Harry  D.,  Jr.,  and  Robert,  the  former 
now  associated  with  his  father  as  chief  machinist  for  the  Dodson  Coal  Com- 
pany at  the  Morea  colliery ;  from  1905  to  1907  he  served  an  apprenticeship  in 
the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works,  Philadelphia,  and  in  1910  associated  himself 
with  the  Midvale  steel  works,  first  in  the  engineering  department  and  later 
in  the  estimation  department,  and  in  191 1  took  his  present  position.  Robert 
Lattimore  is  engineer  in  charge  of  the  pumping  station  at  Morea  colliery. 

The  family  are  Presbyterians  in  religious  association.  Socially  Mr.  Latti- 
more belongs  to  Mahanoy  City  Lodge,  No.  357,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  to  Mahanoy 
City  Lodge,  No.  695,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  and  is  highly  esteemed  among  his  fellow 
members.    His  eldest  son  also  holds  membership  in  these  lodges. 

WILLIAM  IVY  BACHERT,  farmer  and  fpuit  grower  of  Walker  town- 
ship, is  operating  a  modem  farm  noted  especially  for  its  fine  orchard^,  to 
whose  development  and  maintenance  he  devotes  most  of  his  energies.  Mr. 
Bachert  is  a  representative  citizen  of  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  a 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  659 

member  of  one  of  its  old  families,  the  Bacherts  having  been  settled  in  East 
Brunswick  township  for  several  generations.  There  he  was  bom  July  25, 
1869,  son  of  Elias  Bachert,  now  a  prominent  farmer  and  miller  of  East 
Brunswick  township. 

George  Bachert,  the  great-grandfather  of  William  I.  Bachert,  was  a  farmer 
in  East  Brunswick  township,  where  he  owned  100  acres  of  land,  upon  which 
he  erected  a  log  bam  and  stone  house.  He  was  a  wheelwright  as  well  as 
farmer.  He  had  the  following  children:  Jacob,  John,  Henry,  Simon,  Mag- 
dalena  and  Mrs.  John  Faust.  George  Bachert  died  aged  eighty  years,  and  is 
buried  with  his  wife  in  a  private  graveyard  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  was 
a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  Frieden's  German  Lutheran  Church. 

John  Bachert,  father  of  Elias,  was  reared  and  educated  in  East  Brunswick 
township,  and  during  his  youth  assisted  his  father.  Later  he  bought  a  farm 
of  100  acres  near  the  old  homestead,  and  carried  on  farming  all  his  life. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  he  and  his  wife 
belonging  to  the  Frieden's  Church;  they  are  buried  in  its  cemetery.  Mr. 
Bachert  married  Elizabeth  Zettlemoyer,  who  was  bom  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
and  the  following  children  were  born  to  this  union:  Jacob  married  Sarah 
Miller  and  both  are  deceased;  Emmanuel  died  unmarried;  James,  deceased, 
married  Flora  Steigerwalt,  who  resides  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  this 
county;  Daniel  died  young;  Elias  is  next  in  the  family;  Elizabeth  married 
Jacob  Houser,  and  both  are  deceased;  Laura  married  Aaron  Eckroth;  Mollie 
died  unmarried;  Katie  died  young.  The  father  of  this  family  lived  to  the 
age  of  eighty  years,  the  mother  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight. 

Elias  Bachert,  son  of  John,  was  born  Aug.  14,  1843,  in  East  Brunswick 
township,  where  he  now  owns  and  operates  a  valuable  farm  and  mill  property. 
He  married  Hannah  Merkle,  and  they  have  had  a  large  family,  namely: 
Albert  Robert,  William  Ivy,  Elizabeth  (deceased  in  infancy),  Cordelia,  John 
E.,  Richard  E.,  Howard  J.,  Luther  P.,  Thomas  W.  and  Oscar  P.  A  fuller 
account  of  this  family  appears  in  the  biography  of  Elias  Bachert. 

William  Ivy  Bachert  grew  up  in  East  Brunswick  township  and  there  ob- 
tained a  good  common  school  education.  His  business  and  agricultural  train- 
ing were  highly  practical,  gained  in  assisting  his  father  with  the  farm  and 
mUl  work,  and  he  continued  thus  until  he  reached  the  age  of  thirty  years. 
Then  he  settled  on  his  present  property  in  Walker  township,  having  bought 
the  Dennis  Leiby  farm  of  fifty-three  acres.  Four  acres  are  still  in  timber, 
the  rest  under  cultivation,  partly  planted  in  fine  orchards,  the  balance  in  gen- 
eral crops.  Mr.  Bachert  has  made  fruit  growing  his  particular  care,  and 
counts  on  his  orchard  products  for  most  of  his  income,  marketing  them  prin- 
cipally at  Tuscarora  and  New  Philadelphia,  to  which  points  he  makes  two  or 
three  trip>s  weekly  during  the  season.  He  has  identified  himself  with  the  vari- 
ous local  movements  for  the  improvement  of  farms  and  farming  conditions, 
and  is  an  interested  worker  in  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  being  a  fourth 
degree  member  of  the  Lewistown  Grange.  Beyond  this,  however,  he  has 
taken  little  part  in  public  matters,  though  he  supports  good  movements  when- 
ever he  has  the  opportunity.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  a  Lutheran,  being  a 
member  and  deacon  of  Zion's  Church  at  Lewistown,  Walker  township. 

When  twenty-eight  years  old  Mr.  Bachert  married  Carrie  Edith  Leiby, 
who  was  bom  Oct.  9,  1879,  5"  Walker  township,  daughter  of  Dennis  Leiby, 
received  her  education  in  the  local  schools  there,  and  remained  at  home  until 
her  marriage.     She  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of  Zion*s 


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660  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Church,  at  Lewistown.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bachert  have  had  eight  children,  bom 
as  follows:  William  Dennis,  June  27,  1898;  Clarence  Harvey,  Dec.  10,  1899; 
Mamie  Victoria,  June  17,  1902  (died  aged  two  years,  eight  months)  ;  Harry 
Edwin,  Feb.  13,  1903;  Vema  Elizabeth,  Sept.  12,  1905;  Beulah  May,  Feb.  17, 
1909;  Leon  Stanley,  Sept  15,  191 1 ;  Elva  Margarite,  June  9,  1913. 

Daniel  Leiby,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Bachert,  was  bom  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship, this  county,  and  was  a  shoemaker  and  a  farmer.  He  was  the  owner  of 
two  farms  in  West  Penn  township,  and  later  came  to  Walker  township,  where 
he  bought  a  farm  of  over  one  hundred  acres,  much  of  which  he  cleared,  hav- 
ing about  eighty  acres  under  cultivation.  There  he  built  a  fine  bam  and 
made  other  improvements.  He  died  on  the  farm  at  the  advanced  age  of  almost 
eighty  years.  His'wife's  maiden  name  was  Steigerwalt,  and  they  had  children 
as  follows:  Dennis,  father  of  Mrs.  Bachert;  Sarah,  Mrs.  John  Schaller; 
Emma,  Mrs.  Adolph  Bemer;  Amanda,  Mrs.  Mandus  Hunsicker;  Mary,  Mrs. 
Thomas  Schock;  Jonathan,  who  married  Sarah  Reinhart;  Daniel,  who  mar- 
ried Flora  Miller;  Israel,  who  married  Lizzie  Reiman;  Alvena,  unmarried; 
Elias  (his  wife  was  Mamie)  ;  and  Susanna,  who  died  in  childhood.  The  par- 
ents are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Zion's  Reformed  Church  in  West  Penn 
township,  to  which  church  they  belonged.  Mr.  Leiby  was  a  Republican  in 
politics. 

Dennis  Leiby  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  July 
25,  1845,  ^^^  grew  up  there  and  in  Walker  township,  receiving  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  those  townships.  He  worked  for  his  father  imtil 
he  was  of  age,  later  was  stable  boss  at  Reevesdale  for  a  mining  company,  hold- 
ing that  position  two  years,  and  then  settled  down  to  farming  on  his  own 
account  in  Walker  township,  buying  land  which  is  the  farm  his  son-in-law,  Mr. 
Bachert,  now  owns.  He  carried  on  general  farming  there  until  1906,  when 
he  sold  the  farm  to  Mr.  Bachert,  and  is  now  living  retired  practically.  Mr. 
Leiby  has  always  taken  a  1/eading  part  in  township  affairs,  having  held  the 
offices  of  school  director,  constable,  supervisor  and  auditor,  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  his  fellow  citizens.  Like  his  father  he  is  a  Republican  and  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  belonging  to  the  Zion's  congregation  at  Lewistown, 
in  which  he  was  formerly  very  active.  Socially  he  holds  membership  in 
Washington  Camp  No.  57,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  Tamaqua. 

Mr.  Leiby  married  Emmaline  Yost,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Merkle)  Yost,  and  four  children  were  bom  to  them,  viz.:  Carrie  Edith, 
Mrs.  William  I.  Bachert ;  Gertrude  May,  who  is  married  to  George  Schietman 
and  resides  at  Tamaqua,  Pa.;  Harry  Preston,  who  died  aged  twenty- four 
years ;  and  Mamie  Elizabeth,  who  is  married  to  Milton  Merkle,  and  resides  at 
Lewistown,  Walker  township. 

Mrs.  Emmaline  (Yost)  Leiby  was  bom  near  Frisbie,  in  West  Brunswick 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  died  at  the^age  of  fifty-three  years.  She  is 
buried  at  Lewistown,  in  Walker  township.'  Mrs.  Leiby  was  a  member  of 
Christ  Church  at  McKeansburg,  but  after  her  marriage  to  Dennis  Leiby  con- 
nected herself  with  Zion's  Reformed  Church  at  Lewistown,  and  was  a  member 
there  until  her  death. 

Samuel  Yost,  the  matemal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  William  I.  Bachert,  was 
a  farmer  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  and 
also  conducted  a  hotel  for  many  years.  He  married  Elizabeth  Merkle,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  a  large  family:  Kitty  married  Charles  Lurwick, 
and  both  are  deceased ;  Eliza  married  Harry  Gerhard ;  Caroline  is  the  widow 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  661 

of  John  Shutt;  Sarah,  deceased,  married  William  Bretz;  Susanna  is  the 
widow  of  William  Leiser;  Mary  died  unmarried;  Emmaline  was  Mrs.  Dennis 
Leiby;  Phoebe,  deceased,  married  a  Mr.  Nagle;  Samuel  married  Sarah  Ger- 
hard; Frank  married  Kitty ;  Lewis  completes  the  family.  The  par- 
ents died  on  the  farm  and  are  buried  at  McKeansburg.  Mr.  Yost  was  a 
member  of  Christ  Reformed  Church  at  that  place  and  a  Republican  in  political 
conviction. 

WALTER  E.  UPDEGROVE,  who  is  engaged  in  business  as  a  shoe  mer- 
chant at  Muir,  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  Nov.  28,  1875,  at  Orwin,  Porter 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  son  of  Theodore  G.  and  Catherine  (Shadle) 
Updegix>ve,  grandson  of  Solomon  Updegrove  and  great-grandson  of  Conrad 
Updegrove.  ^  ^__ 

Conrad  Updegrove,  who  was  one  of  the  earhest  and  best  known  among  the 
pioneers  of  the  Williams  Valley,  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  was  a  great  hunter, 
and  many  stories  are  still  told  of  his  skill  and  prowess  in  this  direction.  Dur- 
ing the  days  when  game  of  all  kinds  was  plentiful,  he  had  many  experiences^ 
with  bears,  and  at  one  time  would  have  been  killed  by  one  of  these  beasts  had 
it  not  been  for  his  faithful  dogs.  As  it  was  he  bore  the  marks  of  this 
encounter  up  to  the  day  of  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  sturdy,  energetic, 
industrious  men  of  his  day  who  laid  broad  and  deep  the  foundation  for  ad- 
vancement and  progress,  and  lived  a  long,  active  and  useful  life,  passing  away 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-four  years,  three  months,  fifteen  days.  His 
home  at  that  time  was  on  the  present  site  of  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county. 

Solomon  Updegrove,  the  grandfather  of  Walter  E.  Updegrove,  was  bom., 
in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  early  adopted  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  which  he 
followed  off  and  on  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  although  he  also 
engaged  in  other  occupations.  He  was  a  local  preacher  of  the  Evangelical 
Church,  and  for  some  years  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Dauphin  county,  but 
in  later  life  disposed  of  his  property  and  moved  to  a  farm  in  Juniata  county, 
remaining  there  until  he  retired  from  active  work.  He  then  sold  his  farm 
and  went  to  live  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  William  Long,  at  ForkSy 
Porter  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sevent)it-five 
years.  He  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Williamstown.  Mr.  Upde- 
grove was  a  man  highly  esteemed  in  the  various  communities  in  which  he 
resided,  being  possessed  of  those  sterling  qualities  which  command  respect. 
He  married  Barbara  Rickert,  who  died  at  Williamstown,  Pa.,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  John;  Jacob;  Conrad;  Solomon,  who 
fought  in  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  of  volunteers  during  the  Civil  war; 
Oiarles;  Theodore  G. ;  Catherine,  who  married  Israel  Helt;  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Edward  Hand;  Elmira,  who  married  John  Hockenbrocht ;  Lucetta, 
who  married  Isaac  Dressier;  Sarah,  who  married  Isaac  Brooker;  and  Mary, 
who  married  William  Long._ 

Theodore  G.  Updegrove,  the  father  of  Walter  E.  Updegrove,  was  bom  at 
Williamstown,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  after  attaining  an  ordinary  educational 
training  in  the  public  schools  started  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoemaker  under  the 
instmction  of  his  father.  After  mastering  his  vocation,  he  followed  it  in 
Juniata  and  Columbia  counties,  and  at  Tower  City,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
later  came  to  the  community  of  Reiner  City  (Muir  P.  O.),  where  he  began  to 
build  up  a  trade.  Here,  as  he  prospered,  he  built  a  residence  and  store,  in 
which  latter  he  established  his  place  of  business  as  a  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes, 


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662  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  continue<J  to  be  successfully  engaged  in  this  line  right  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1899.  He  had  inherited  the  qualities  of  industry, 
honesty  and  fidelity  from  his  forebears,  and  in  all  his  business  dealings  was 
known  to  be  above-board  and  straightforward.  He  was  a  good  and  public- 
spirited  citizen,  who  took  an  interest  in  the  advancement  of  his  community 
and  who  could  be  counted  upon  to  serve  it  in  any  way  he  was  able.  Mr. 
Updegrove  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Muir.  He  married  Catherine 
Shadle,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Maria  (Guard)  Shadle.  George  Shadle 
was  a  resident  of  Porter  township,  where  he  was  stable  boss  for  the  Lincoln 
colliery,  and  met  his  death  by  being  killed  by  a  train  while  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Updegrove  became  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :  Walter  E. ;  Charles  Howard ;  Henry  O.,  who  is  deceased ;  Ella  M., 
who  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  H.  O.  Unger,  a  teslcher  in  the  public  schools  of  Muir; 
Laura  A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  George  D.  Nelson,  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Orwin ;  and  Theodore  G.  Jr.,  who  reside3  at  Muir. 

Walter  E.  Updegrove  secured  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Porter 
township,  which  he  attended  when  not  engaged  in  working  to  aid  in  his  own 
support.  An  evidence  of  his  thrift  and  industry  as  a  lad  is  found  in  the  fact 
that  from  the  time  he  was  nine  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  he,  assisted 
by  his  brothers  and  sisters,  carried  the  mail  from  Orwin  to  the  people  of 
Reiner  City,  this  being  before  the  establishment  of  the  post  office  at  Muir. 
He  also  gave  his  services  to  the  farmers  of  his  community  and  worked  at  the 
shoemaking  trade,  accepting  whatever  honorable  employment  came  his  way 
and  performing  all  his  tasks  in  an  able,  thorough  and  cheerful  manner.  When 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  he  began  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Porter 
township,  and  for  twelve  years  continued  to  be  engaged  in  work  as  an  educator. 
At  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  Mr.  Updegrove  took  over  the  management 
of  the  business,  which  he  conducted  for  his  mother  for  seven  years,  buying 
it  on  July  5,  1906,  since  when  he  has  continued  to  carry  it  on  with  much  suc- 
cess. He  has  a  carefully  selected  stock  of  the  latest  footwear,  and  is  enjoy- 
ing an  excellent  patronage  among  the  people  among  whom  he  has  lived  for  so 
longi  and  whose  wishes  and  needs  he  well  knows. 

Mr.  Updegrove  was  married  to  Nora  M.  Gamber,  daughter  of  Henry 
Gamber,  who  resided  in  Clark's  Valley,  Porter  township.  To  this  union  there 
have  been  born  the  following  children:  Prof.  Harry  H.,  a  graduate  of  the 
Keystone  State  Normal  School,  Kutztown,  Pa.,  class  of  191 5,  and  now  teach- 
ing at  Reinerton,  Schuylkill  county;  Elsie  M.,  a  member  of  the  class  of  1916, 
of  the  Porter  township  high  school;  Esther  M.,  who  is  attending  the  Porter 
township  high  school ;  T.  Walter,  who  is  attending  school ;  and  James  Arthur 
and  Norman  Henry,  at  home. 

Always. a  friend  of  education,  Mr.  Updegrove  has  long  been  well  and 
favorably  known  in  educational  circles  in  this  part  of  the  State.  During  the 
last  four  years  he  has  been  secretary  of  the  School  Directors'  Association 
of  Schuylkill  county,  and  from  the  time  he  ceased  teaching  school  has  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  Porter  township,  having  served  as  president 
thereof  and  now  being  secretary  of  that  body.  Outside  of  his  shoe  business 
he  has  other  interests,  and  for  three  years  has  been  secretary  of  the  Williams 
Valley  Savings  Fund  and  Building  Association.  Fraternally,  he  belongs  to  the 
Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America,  which  he  joined  twenty-four  years  ago,  and 
the  Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics,  of  which  he  became  a  mem- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  663 

ber  sixteen  years  ago,  and  also  holds  membership  in  the  local  lodge  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.    His  good  citizenship  has  never  been  doubted. 

SAMUEL  J.  DEIBERT,  deputy  prothonotary  of  Schuylkill  county,  Pa., 
has  been  engaged  at  the  courthouse  for  the  last  twenty  years,  in  various  capac- 
ities, and  his  obliging  service  and  long  continuance  in  public  positions  have 
made  him  a  popular  as  well  as  familiar  figure  in  the  official  circles  of  Potts- 
ville.  He  was  bom  March  31,  1858,  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  this  county,  where 
he  maintaips  his  home. , 

Samuel  Deibert,  father  of  Samuel  J.  Deibert,  was  the  son  of  John  and 
Christina  Deibert,  and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  North  Manheim 
township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  He  had  such  schooling  as  is  common  to  the 
average  country  boy.  He  was  bom  in  the  year  1818,  and  remained  beneath  the 
parental  roof  up  to  the  age  of  twenty-five,  when  he  engaged  with  his  brothers 
John  and  Jacob  at  Schuylkill  Haven  in  boatbuilding.  After  a  brief  period 
in  that  line  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  at  the  same  place,  which 
he  successfully  conducted  until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1867.  To  his  first  mar- 
riage, with  Mary  Essert,  were  bom  one  son,  Thomas,  and  one  daughter, 
Emma,  who  became  the  wife  of  Martin  Fisher.  No  heirs  came  of  this  alliance. 
His  second  wife  was  Mary  A.  Sterner,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna  Stemer, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  three  children,  viz. :  Alice,  Thomas  I.  and  Sam- 
uel J.  It  may  be  justly  recorded  that  Samuel  Deibert  was  a  most  modest 
man,  and  though  prominent  in  business  and  benefactions  shrunk  from  eulogy 
and  praise,  but  he  was  a  man  revered,  and  one  whose  place  cannot  well  be 
filled.    In  religious  affiliation  he  was  a  Lutheran. 

Samuel  J.  Deibert  obtained  a  public  school  education  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 
and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  about  twenty  years. 
During  Dr.  Daniel  Dechert's  term  as  county  treasurer  he  came  as  a  clerk  to 
his  office,  serving  there  one  year.  After  that  he  became  deputy  treasurer 
under  Elias  Davis,  holding  that  position  for  a  period  of  almost  three  years, 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Davis,  which  occurred  Nov.  11,  1899.  The  county 
commissioners  appointed  Mr.  Deibert  treasurer  for  the  unexpired  term,  and 
he  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  for  six  weeks.  In  August,  1900,  he 
became  deputy  prothonotary  under  W.  S.  Leib,  and  served  to  the  end  of  his 
term,  subsequently  serving  six  years  in  the  same  capacity  under  Samuel  H. 
Gore,  and  continuing  under  his  successor,  the  present  prothonotary,  John  W. 
Reese.  Up  to  now  he  has  been  in  the  public  service  for  twenty  years.  His 
courtesy  and  efficiency  have  combined  to  make  him  a  most  desirable  official 
in  the  office  and  sought  by  those  who  have  business  there,  his  work  being 
greatly  appreciated  by  all  who  have  had  occasion  to  call  for  his  services.  His 
political  association  is  with  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Deibert  makes  his 
home  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  at  one  time  served  as  assessor  of  that  borough. 

Mr.  Deibert  married  Lavina  Bitzer,  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Anna  Bitzer. 
and  they  have  had  four  children,  namely:  Alice,  Ralph,  Samuel  and  Willis. 
Alice  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  William  Schlappich,  of  the  Evangelical  denomination, 
now  stationed  at  Perkasie.  Pa.  Ralph  Deibert  received  his  early  education 
in  the  schools  of  Schuylkill  Haven  and  Pottsville,  later  attending  Franklin 
?nd  Marshall  College,  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  entering  the  ministry  of  the 
F.vangelical  denomination;  he  is  now  pastor  of  a  church  at  Myerstown,  Pa. 
Samuel,  who  is  at  home,  is  an  assistant  in  the  Schuylkill  Haven  Tmst  Com- 


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664  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

pany.    Willis,  also  at  home,  is  bookkeeper  or  clerk  at  the  Schuylkill  County 
Hospital  for  the  Insane. 

A,  FRANK  GEIST,  of  Hegins,  is  a  business  man  who  has  attained  honor- 
able standing  by  giving  his  patrons  the  best  accommodations  to  be  obtained 
in  the  local  market,  and  he  is  equally  esteemed  for  his  worth  as  a  man. 

The  Geist  family  to  which  he  belongs  is  of  pioneer  stock  of  Northumber- 
land county,  this  State,  where  he  and  his  father  were  bom.  His  grandfather, 
Peter  Geist,  lived  and  died  there,  following  his  trade  of  blacksmith  and  also 
engaging  in  farming.  The  history  of  the  family  has  been  lately  traced  .back 
to  the  year  1129.  From  the  Official  Register  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire,  we 
find  that  the  family  has  an  official  "Coat  of  Arms"  and  is  of  the  nobility  of 
Ravensburg,  CJermany.  A  copy  of  this  "Coat  of  Arms"  is  in  the  hands  of  A. 
F.  Geist,  of  Hegins,  Pennsylvania.  The  word  Geist  has  been  spelled  in  six 
different  ways.  We  find  it  first  Gayst — ^Van  Wildeneck,  A.  D.  1129,  King. 
In  1300  we  find  it  spelled  Geyst,  in  1590  Geist,  in  1750  Goist  in  Germany, 
and  in  the  Colonies  of  America  Geist  and  Gist.  In  1^2  and  to  the  present 
time  it  is  spelled  Guist  in  Germany  and  in  the  United  States  Guist  and  Geist. 

The  family  to  which  A.  F.  Geist  belongs  and  whose  biography  appears 
later,  emigrated  from  Lorraine,  Germany,  with  the  Schwenkf elders'  colony 
in  or  about  the  year  1725  and  settled  at  Pottstown,  Montg^omery  Co.,  Pa., 
where  A.  F.  Geist's  great-grandfather,  Andrew  Geist,  was  bom  on  Jan.  26, 
1755.  This  great-grandfather  of  A.  F.  Geist  came  to  what  was  then  and  is 
yet  known  by  some  people  as  Swoven  Creek  or  Green  Brier  post  office,  Nor- 
thumberland Co.,  Pa.,  in  or  about  the  year  1777.  He  came  to  this  place  in  his 
young  manhood  and  took  up  a  tract  of  land  from  the  United  States  govern- 
ment about  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  consisting  of  about  three  hundred 
acres  situated  half  way  between  the  Leek  Kill  and  Green  Brier  post  offices. 
He  died  Dec.  18,  1849,  ^^  ^he  age  of  ninety-four  years,  ten  months,  twenty-three 
days,  on  the  old  homestead  which  6e  obtained  from  the  United  States  govern- 
ment, and  is  buried  at  Himmel's  Church,  Roebuck's  post  office,  or  about  four 
miles  west  from  the  old  homestead.  This  church  property  consists  of  a  beauti- 
ful church  situated  on  a  tract  of  land  given  by  the  United  States  government 
to  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  congregations  for  church  and  school  purposes ; 
said  property  is  today  under  the  control  of  these  congregations  and  in  its  ceme- 
tery are  buried  some  soldiers  who  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

While  great-grandfather  Andrew  Geist  was  working  on  this  homestead  in 
Swoven  Creek,  he  had  but'one  cow  on  these  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  and 
this  cow  had  no  tail.  During  this  period  the  Revolutionary  war  was  in 
progress  and  Andrew  was  drafted  to  serve  in  this  great  war  for  freedom,  and 
not  desiring  to  serve  he  sold  this  tailless  cow  in  order  to  raise  money  to  buy  a 
substitute  to  serve  in  his  place.  It  was  during  this  time,  from  the  landing  of 
the  Schwenkfelders'  colony  to  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  that  the 
word  Geist  was  spelled  Gist,  appearing  this  way  on  official  records  and  papers 
examined  by  R.  P.  Geist,  justice  of  the  peace.  Green  Brier,  Northumberland 
Co.,  Pa.,  191 5. 

On  the  homestead  of  Andrew  Geist,  the  grandfather  of  A.  F.  Geist,  Peter 
Geist,  was  bom  Dec.  21,  1804,  and  died  at  this  place  on  Jan.  8,  1875,  aged 
seventy  years,  eighteen  days.  He  is  buried  at  St.  John's  Reformed  and 
Lutheran  Church,  Leek  Kill,  Pa.  In  his  boyhood  days  Peter  left  the  old  home- 
stead and  went  to  Washingtonville,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.    There  he  learned  his 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  665 

trade,  that  of  blacksmith.  He  also  married  at  this  place  and  soon  after  moved 
back  onto  the  old  homestead  in  Swoven  Creek,  where  he  continued  at  his  trade 
and  did  farming.    Here  Jacob,  the  father  of  A.  F.  Geist,  was  bom  Feb.  ii,  1835. 

Jacob  Geist,  father  of  A.  Frank  Geist,  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  in 
his  youth  and  followed  that  calling  all  his  life.  In  1881  he  came  to  Hegins, 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  continued  work  at  his  trade  and  resided  to  the 
end  of  his  days,  dying  in  the  year  1898.  His  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Catherine  Schwartz,  still  lives  in  Hegins  township,  near  Hegins,  on  the  Geist 
home  place.  She  was  bom  in  Hegins  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  her 
father,  Abraham  Schwartz,  engaged  in  farming  and  made  his  home  until  his 
death.  Eight  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Geist,  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  namely :  Ellen  is  the  widow  of  Samuel  E.  Schwalm  and  lives  in 
H^ns  township,  at  what  was  known  as  Kessler's  gristmill ;  S.  Calvin  resides 
at  Hegins ;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  S.  R.  Masser,  who  has  a  general  store  at 
Hegins;  Cora  is  married  to  A.  C.  Kessler,  a  farmer  of  Hegins  township;  Katie 
is  married  to  Harry  Leonard,  of  Tremont,  Schuylkill  county,  baggagemaster 
in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  XTompany ;  A.  Frank  is 
next  in  order  of  birth ;  Thomas  J.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Franklin  and  Marshall 
CoU^^,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  now  engaged  as  a  teacher  at  Ephrata,  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa. ;  Nathan  Francis  is  doing  a  general  hauling  and  teaming  business  at 
Hegins,  where  he  lives. 

A.  Frank  Geist  was  bom  in  1877  in  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  and  has 
lived  at  H^ns  from  early  boyhood.  He  began  his  education  in  the  Hegins 
township  schools,  later  attended  graded  school  at  Hegins,  and  supplemented 
his  public  school  training  with  a  course  at  the  Shamokin  (Pa.)  business  college, 
in  his  native  county.  In  his  young  manhood  he  taught  eight  terms  of  school 
in  Hegins  township,  during  the  winter  season,  finding  employment  the  rest  of 
the  year  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  learned  partly  under  his  father's 
tuition.  It  was  only  a  step  from  that  vocation  to  his  present  line.  In  1907 
he  established  the  lumber  trade  and  planing  mill  at  Hegins  which  has  since 
occupied  most  of  his  time.  His  experience  as  a  carpenter  has  proved  an  extra 
qualification  for  the  business  he  now  follows,  assisting  him  in  judging  the 
quality  of  materials  and  filling  mill  orders  intelligently.  No  doubt  his  knowl- 
edge of  building  materials  and  requirements  has  had  much  to  do  with  the 
prosperity  of  his  enterprise,  for  it  has  been  gratifyingly  successful,  and  the 
plant  is  considered  one  of  the  most  useful  industrial  establishments  in  the 
locality.  Mr.  Geist  is  looked  upon  as  a  tmstworthy  man  in  every  respect.  His 
fellow  members  in  the  1.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  at  Hegins  have  chosen  him  secretary, 
and  he  is  serving  at  present  as  treasurer  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Hegins, 
to  which  he  and  his  wife  belong.  Fidelity  to  all  his  obligations  is  one  of  the 
most  noteworthy  characteristics  he  possesses. 

In  1900  Mr.  Geist  married  Katie  Bair,  a  native  of  Hegins  township,  and  five 
children  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage :  Allen  H.,  Guy  A.,  Lloyd  W.,  TilHe 
V.  and  Eari  B. 

Cyrus  W.  Bair,  Mrs.  Geist's  father,  was  bom  in  Perry  county,  Pa.,  and 
her  grandfather,  Joseph  Bair,  was  also  a  native  of  that  county.  The  latter  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  The  father  leamed  the  trade  of  plasterer,  and  besides 
following  same  farmed  and  taught  school,  following  his  profession  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  Schuylkill  county,  and  in  Dauphin 
county.  He  died  in  1910,  and  is  buried  at  Fountain,  in  Hegins  township.  He 
was  twice  married,  first  to  Isabella  Otto,  a  native  of  Hegins  township,  daughter 


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666  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  David  Otto,  a  farmer  of  that  township.  Mrs.  Isabella  Bair  died  about 
twenty-five  years,  ago,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Fountain.  She  was  the 
mother  of  two  children,  Mrs.  Geist  being  the  elder;  the  younger,  Jesse  A.  Bair, 
lives  at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Bair  married 
Mrs.  Sarah  Smith,  of  Barry  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  three  children:  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Eckler,  of  Hegins;  Roy  S. 
and  Stephen  A.  also  live  at  Hegins,  making  their  home  with  their  sister,  Mrs. 
Eckler. 

EPHRAIM  YARNALL  owns  and  occupies  a  beautiful  farm  property  in 
Barry  township  which  has  been  developed  entirely  by  the  Yamalls.  The  fam- 
ily is  one  of  old  standing  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county  and  was  estab 
lished  here  by  Isaac  Yamall,  grandfather  of  Ephraim,  who  came  from  New 
Jersey  and  settled  in  the  Mahanoy  valley.  He  took  up  government  land  anu 
followed  farming.  His  family  consisted  of  eight  children,  viz. :  Anna,  John, 
Jonathan,  Francis,  Asa,  Elijah,  Annie,  and  one  that  died  young. 

John  Yamall,  father  of  Ephraim,  was  born  in  Mahanoy  township,  this 
county,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  He  settled  on  the  farm 
in  Barry  township  where  his  son  Ephraim  now  lives,  cleared  the  land,  and 
made  great  progress  in  the  work  of  improvement,  whiqh  he  carried  on  for 
majiy  years.  He  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  near  the  farm.  Mr.  Yamall  mar- 
ried Mary  Rodenbeier,  who  was  bom  near  Ashland,  this  county,  daughter  of 
an  old  settler  in  this  part  of  the  State,  Jacob  Rodenbeier.  He  kept  the  hotel 
known  as  the  Red  Tavern,  near  Centralia.  Mr.  Rodenbeier  had  ten  children, 
namely:  Jacob,  Solomon,  Peter,  Philip,  David,  Rebecca,  Mary,  Lydia,  Susan 
and  Sarah.  Mrs.  Yamall  died  near  Ashland.  Of  her  six  children,  Mar>', 
Martha,  John,  Ephraim,  Reuben  and  Ezra,  Ephraim  is  the  only  survivor. 

Ephraim  Yamall  was  born  in  1837  in  Barry  township  and  grew  up  on  the 
farm,  attending  school  in  an  old  log  building  nearby.  During  his  school  years 
he  gave  his  spare  hours  to  assisting  with  the  farm  duties  at  home,  and  subse- 
quently devoted  all  his  time  to  the  operation  of  the  home  place,  working  in 
partnership  with  his  father  until  the  latter  retired  because  of  advancing  age. 
Under  his  competent  management  the  home  tract  has  undergone  steady  im- 
provement, Mr.  Yamall  sparing  neither  thought  nor  labor  in  the  advancement 
of  his  work.  Modem  methods,  the  intelligent  application  of  various  up-to- 
date  ideas,  have  resulted  in  increased  production  along  diflPerent  lines,  and  Mr. 
Yarnall  has  also  taken  much  pleasure  in  beautifying  his  surroundings,  as  the 
attractive  arrangements  and  comfortable  home  conditions  testify.  His'  opin- 
ions on  public  questions,  as  in  his  chosen  calling,  are  considered  practical  and 
worthy  of  attention,  and  his  neighbors  have  shown  their  faith  in  his  views 
and  character  by  electing  him  to  represent  them  in  various  capacities.  In  the 
offices  of  township  supervisor  and  member  of  the  school  board  he  has  done 
good  work  for  the  locality. 

In  i860  Mr.  Yarnall  married  Lucy  Sigenfuse,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
part  of  Barry  township  as  himself,  her  parents,  Charles  and  Susan  (Bixler) 
Sigenfuse,  having  settled  there  many  years  ago.  Mrs.  Sigenfuse  was  bom 
in  Mahantongo.  She  and  her  husband  died  when  comparatively  young.  Their 
family  consisted  of  six  children :  Betsy,  now  the  wife  of  Elias  Slopick,  of 
Mount  Carmel;  Lydia,  wife  of  Jacob  Umlauf,  of  Mount  Carmel;  Susan,  Mrs. 
Peter  Bradbury,  of  Tamaqua.  this  county;  Charles,  a  resident  of  Allentown, 
Pa. ;  Elias ;  and  Lucy,  Mrs.  Yarnall. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  667 

Of  the  thirteen  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yamall  several  are  deceased; 
William  and  Franz  live  at  home ;  Charles  and  Irvin  are  also  located  in  Barry 
township;  Sallie  is  the  wife  of  Sam  Kessler,  a  farmer  of  Barry  township;  Cora 
is  married  to  Thomas  Hoch,  of  Barry  township;  Katie  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Moser,  of  Pottsville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yamall  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 

WILSON  R.  DINGER,  a  farmer  of  Porter  township,  was  bom  in  Hegins 
township  Feb.  26,  1850,  son  of  Jonathan  Dinger,  and  grandson  of  Peter  Dinger. 
The  great-grandfather,  Frederick  Dinger,  came  from  Berks  county,  Pa.,  to 
become  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hegins  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  Sub- 
sequently he  moved  to  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  where  he  died  upon  farm- 
ing property  owned  by  him. 

Peter  Dinger,  the  grandfather,  was  an  officer  of  the  war  of  1812.  He 
was  also  a  farmer  of  Hegins  township,  settling  on  the  homestead,  his  farm 
being  located  about  two  and  a  half  miles  above  the  borough  of  Hegins,  and 
comprising  225  acres  of  land.  There  he  died.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Magdalena  Hand,  and  they  had  these  children :  Catherine,  who  married 
Jacob  Crone;  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Horn;  Mrs.  Eliza  Seitz;  Peter; 
Daniel;  William,  and  Jonathan.  The  latter  was  a  farmer  of  Hegins  township, 
the  Dinger  family  forming  a  little  settlement  in  this  township,  and  there  he 
resided  until  his  death  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  He  is  buried  in  Fountain 
cemetery.  Jonathan  Dinger  married  Catherine  Dinger,  a  daughter  of  George 
Dmger,  of  Hegins  township,  and  their  children  were :  Joel,  who  was  a  hotel 
man  of  Pottsville,  Pa.,  died  in  1914;  Frank  is  a  resident  of  Hegins  township; 
vVilson  R.  is  mentioned  below;  Amanda  married  John  Stutzman;  Alice  mar- 
ried (first)  Aaron  Heater  and  (second)  Harvey  Kline. 

Wilson  R.  Dinger  was  reared  on  the  family  homestead,  and  made  his  home 
there  until  he  was  fifty-three  years  old,  for  many  years  having  sole  charge  of 
the  property.  In  1913,  however,  he  bought  the  Berger  farm  at  Tower  City, 
and  has  forty  acres  of  land  in  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Dinger 
married  Maria  Lucas,  a  daughter  of  Emanuel  Lucas,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Irene  Catherine,  bom  Feb.  21,  1915.  Independent  in  his  political  views, 
Mr.  Dinger  votes  for  the  man  rather  than  according  to  party  regulations. 
He  has  served  some  years  as  township  auditor.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  Mrs.  Dinger  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  God  at 
Weishample.    Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  K.  G.  E. 

Mr.  Dinger  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Hegins,  and  served  on  its  directorate  for  five  years,  but  refused  further  serv- 
ice, although  elected,  feeling  that  he  was  too  far  away  from  the  bank.  He  is 
still  a  stockholder.  The  Dinger  family  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most 
highly  respected  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  the  individual  members  are 
proving  themselves  worthy  of  their  name. 

HENRY  W.  KRAUS  is  one  of  the  leading  spirits'  in  agricultural  progress 
in  Ryon  township,  where  he  has  a  fine  farm  and  dairy,  both  branches  of  his 
business  exemplifying  his  advanced  ideas,  which  have  had  a  noticeable  eflPect 
on  raising  standards  all  over  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county. 

Mr.  Kraus  was  bom  Feb.  17,  1862,  at  Mahanoy  City,  this  county,  son  of 
William  and  Mary  (Kraus)  Kraus,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Germany, 
the  father  born  at  Seise,  the  mother  at  Reigelsdorf ,  in  the  same  vicinity.    Wil- 


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668  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

liam  Kraus  came  to  America  when  seventeen  years  old,  and  first  located  at 
Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  for  a  time  following  mining,  but  later  turning 
to  the  butcher  business.  Moving  to  Mahanoy  City  he  carried  on  business  there 
for  several  years,  until  he  purchased  the  John  Schlear  farm  in  Ryon  township, 
a  tract  of  150  acres  which  is  considered  one  of  the  finest  properties  in  the 
valley.  Most  of  the  buildings  on  that  place  are  of  his  construction,  though 
part  of  the  old  house  built  in  1829  is  still  standing.  There  Mr.  Kraus  died  in 
1888,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  and  he  is  buried  at  Tamaqua.  To  him  and 
his  wife  were  bom  nine  children,  four  of  whom  survive:  Mary,  who  married 
Mack  McMinity  and  settled  in  Meadville,  Pa. ;  Anna,  widow  of  John  Lathan ; 
William,  of  Rush  township,  this  county ;  and  Henry  W. 

Henry  W.  Kraus  received  his  education  in  the  pubhc  schools  of  Jonestown, 
Lebanon  county,  and  Mahanoy  City,  meantime  assisting  his  father  in  the 
butcher  business  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  He  has  since  been 
occupied  with  farm  work.  In  1896  he  purchased  the  homestead  place  in  Ryon 
township,  above  mentioned,  and  in  the  twenty  years  which  have  elapsed  since 
has  made  numerous  improvements  thereon,  his  place  being  one  of  the  most 
valuable  in  the  lo<^ality.  He  has  taken  pleasure  in  developing  the  property, 
which  shows  the  intelligent  interest  with  which  he  has  followed  modem  meth- 
ods, everything  about  the  farm  being  up-to-date.  He  has  been  foremost  in  en- 
terprise among  the  farmers  of  his  neighborhood  in  adopting  new  ideas  for 
economy  of  labor  and  assuring  good  results,  and  his  success  has  been  an  encour- 
agement to  others  in  many  ways.  Mr.  Kraus  has  a  fine  dairy,  operated  in 
accordance  with  modern  views  on  the  production  of  clean,  wholesome  milk, 
which  he  ships  daily.  As  a  manager  he  has  shown  business  ability  beyond  the 
ordinary,  and  he  has  not  limited  his  activities  to  his  farm  work,  supporting 
any  movements  which  hold  promise  of  benefiting  the  community.  He  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Lakeside  Rural  Telephone  Company,  whose  line  has  been  a  great 
convenience  in  the  neighborhood*.  For  six  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  town- 
ship board  of  school  directors,  and  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  promoting 
the  work  of  the  Grange  in  his  locality,  whereby  many  excellent  ideas  have 
been  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  farming  population.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  and  his  religious  connection  is  with  the 
German  Lutheran  Church.  His  neighbors  regard  him  as  one  of  the  most 
valuable  citizens  in  this  region. 

In  September,  1884,  Mr.  Kraus  married  Maude  C.  Iffert,  daughter  of 
John  Iffert,  and  the  three  children  bom  to  this  union  are  all  living  at  home, 
viz.:  Gertmde,  widow  of  Herbert  Mengle;  John  W.,  who  married  Hattie 
Matthews  (he  is  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Ryon  township  at  present)  ; 
and  Maude  C. 

ALEXANDER  THOMPSON  (deceased)  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and 
came  to  this  country  during  his  young  manhood.  The  rest  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  where  he  was  widely  and  favorably  known 
during  his  active,  useful  career.  He  first  settled  at  Middleport,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  hauling  machinery,  timber,  etc.,  and  later  lived  at  the  York  Farm, 
near  Pottsville,  which  he  bought,  cultivating  that  tract  for  many  years.  He 
also  had  small  drifts  opened  on  the  property  and  sold  coal  to  the  public,  this 
being  the  first  coal  taken  from  the  workings  later  developed  into  the  famous 
York  Farm  colliery.  After  a  long  residence  there  he  removed  to  Porter 
township,  in  1854,  being  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  section,  where  he 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  669 

bought  a  farm  of  no  acres,  from  which  he  subsequently  sold  a  number  of 
building  lots  for  the  town  of  Sharadin,  which  was  laid  out  in  1869.  This  was 
his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  4,  1873;  he  is  buried  in  the 
Greenwood  cemetery  in  Porter  township.  Besides  farming,  Mr.  Thompson 
ako  engaged  in  milling  in  Porter  township,  building  a  gristmill  upon  his  tract 
which  was  known  in  his  day  as  Thompson's  mill.  It  was  sold  to  Grimm  & 
Womer,  and  later  to  the  Reading  Company,  the  present  owners  of  the  land. 
Mr.  Thompson  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  strong  character,  and  in  his 
day  was  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  this  section. 

By  his  first  marriage,  to  Isabella  Pennman,  Mr.  Thompson  had  nine  chil- 
dren: George  was  killed  at  York  Farm;  David  P.,  deceased,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Civil  war;  Elizabeth,  deceased, 'was  the  wife  of  Hiram  Kimmel;  Janette 
married  Benjamin  Houtz;  William  died  while  serving  in  the  Civil  war;  Alex- 
ander is  living  at  Lykens,  Pa.;  Robert  is  deceased;  Isabella  is  the  widow  of 
George  Powell;  James  is  living  in  West  Virginia.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Thompson  married  Mary  Bast,  daughter  of  Isaac  Bast,  and  by  this  union  there 
was  also  a  large  family:  Isaac  B. ;  George,  who  is  now  living  in  Alaska; 
Mary,  wife  of  Daniel  Stout ;  John,  residing  at  Sharadin,  Pa. ;  Andrew,  a  resi- 
dent of  Michigan;  Charles,  deceased;  Abraham,  deceased;  Winfield  S.,  of 
Michigan ;  William  U.  S.  G.,  deceased ;  Elmer  E.,  of  Sharadin ;  and  Rebecca 
M.,  wife  of  Hoplin  Evans,  living  on  the  old  Thompson  homestead  in  Porter 
township. 

Hon.  Alexander  Thompson,  eldest  surviving  son  of  Alexander  Thompson, 
has  been  a  very  prominent  man  in  his  district,  a  member  of  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  and  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  State  Senate.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  served"  in  the  Urfion  army.  His  home  is  at  Lykens,  Dauphin  county, 
and  he  is  also  very  well  known  in  Schuylkill  county.  Since  191 2  he  has  been 
blind,  having  lost  his  sight  in  an  explosion  on  his  farm  at  Lykens. 

Isaac  B.  Thompson,  eldest  son  of  Alexander  and  Mary  (Bast)  Thompson, 
was  bom  Dec.  26,  1853,  at  York  Farm,  and  had  ordinary  school  advantages 
during  his  early  boyhood.  When  twelve  years  old  he  began  picking  slate,  and 
he  continued  to  be  employed  about  the  mines  for  a  period  of  twenty-eight 
years.  Then  he  turned  to  carpenter  work,  which  he  has  been  following  ever 
since.  His  home  is  at  Sharadin,  in  Porter. township,  and  he  is  one  of  the  well 
known  citizens  of  the  valley,  having  taken  an  active  interest  in  local  affairs 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Porter  township  school 
board,  and  served  the  township  as  tax  collector  for  twelve  years.  Socially  he 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Tower  City.  Mr.  Thompson  was  one  of 
the  executors  of  his  father's  estate,  serving  with  his  brothers  David  P.  and  A. 
F.  Thompson. 

Mr.  Thompson  married  Mary  Goodman,  daughter  of  William  Goodman, 
and  the  following  children  were  bom  to  them:  Cora,  wife  of  Francis  W. 
Shomber;  Arthur;  Charles;  Ralph;  Lillie,  deceased;  Roy;  Mary  wife  of 
Wilbur  Kaufman;  Carrie,  wife  of  Harry  Shomber;  Russell;  Lester,  deceased; 
and  Leona,  wife  of  Clarence  Lenkert.  The  family  are  Methodists  in  religious 
connection.  Mrs.  Thompson  died  in  January,  191 1,  and  is  buried  in  the  Green- 
WDod  cemetery  in  Porter  township. 

GABRIEL  B.  DERR,  an  old  resident  of  the  borough  of  Tremont,  now 
living  retired  after  many  years  in  the  service  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railway  Company,  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county  and  of  old  Pennsylvania 


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670  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

stock.  His  grandfather,  John  Derr,  was  bom  in  this  State,  where  the  family 
has  been  established  since  the  pioneer  period,  the  earlier  generations  living  in 
Lehigh  county  for  many  years  and  moving  thence  to  Northumberland  county. 
John  Derr  settled  in  the  Shamokin  valley  in  Northumberland  county,  remain- 
ing there  until  his  death.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  also  followed 
farming.  Besides  James,  the  father  of  Gabriel  B.  Derr,  his  children  were: 
Benjamin,  the  eldest,  who  lived  to  be  ninety-two  years  old ;  Peter,  the  second, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years ;  Jacob,  who  attained  the  age  of  ninety ; 
George,  who  died  when  fifty  years  old;  Kate;  Matilda;  Elizabeth,  who 
reached  the  age  of  ninety-six  years ;  one  that  died  in  infancy ;  and  Mary. 

James  Derr,  son  of  John,  was  bom  in  the  Shamokin  valley  in  Northum- 
berland county  in  the  year  1818,  and  moved  thence  to  Schuylkill  county,  set- 
tling in  the  Mahantongo  valley  in  1836.  Afterwards  he  moved  to  Porter  town- 
ship, and  from  there  in  i860  to  Tremont,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  days,  dying  May '9,  1890.  During  his  residence  in  this  county  James  Derr 
engaged  in  farming,  and  also  followed  the  lumber  business.  In  Porter  town- 
ship he  married  Catherine  Haertter,  who  was  bom  in  Bavaria,  Germany, 
daughter  of  Christ  Haertter.  Her  father  was  also  bom  in  Bavaria,  Germany, 
and  when  he  came  to  America  first  located  at  Reading,  Pa.,  later  moving  to 
Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  and  then  to  Porter  township,  this  county, 
where  he  died  in  1852.  By  trade  he  was  a  brushmaker,  and  he  followed  farm- 
ing as  well.  His  children  were:  Christ,  Jacob,  Casper,  Mary,  Barbara  and 
Catherine.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Derr  had  the  following  children :  Regina, 
the  eldest,  now  deceased ;  Gabriel  B. ;  John,  who  lives  at  Tremont ;  Catherine, 
deceased;  Mary,  deceased;  Emma,  deceased;  and  George,  deceased.  All  but 
Catherine  died  at  Tremont,  where  they  are  buried. 

Gabriel  B.  Derr  was  bom  June  13,  1844,  in  Porter  township,  this  county, 
where  he  was  reared.  In  his  early  boyhood  he  helped  with  the  farm  work  at 
home.  When  thirteen  years  old  he  came  to  Tremont,  where  he  worked  with 
his  father  in  the  timber  business  until  1868,  in  which  year  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company.  He  began  rail- 
road work  as  a  trackman,  later  became  brakeman,  and  worked  up  to  the  posi- 
tion of  conductor  and  baggageman,  being  so  engaged  for  some  time.  He  was 
retired  July  i,  1914,  and  is  now  on  the  pension  list. 

Mr.  Derr  is  respected  by  all  his  fellow  citizens,  among  whom  he  had  a  wide 
acquaintance.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
being  commander  of  the  post  at  Tremont.  In  1864  he  enlisted  from  Tremont, 
joining  Company  D,  i6th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Cavalry,  with  which  he 
served  until  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  being  mustered  out  at  Richmond,  Va., 
in  August,  1865.  He  took  part  in  the  actions  around  Petersburg  and  in  other 
importanf  battles.  Mr.  Derr  also  holds  membership  in  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  and 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Tremont,  and  is  especially  interested  in  the  Odd  Fellows, 
having  passed  all  the  chairs  in  the  local  lodge.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  the  borough. 

On  March  2y,  1873,  Mr.  Derr  married  Sarah  Betz,  and  they  have  had 
children  as  follows:  Emma  and  George  (twins),  Edward,  Rutherford, 
Charles,  Martha,  and  William,  the  last  named  deceased.  George,  who  is  living 
at  Tremont,  was  in  the  service  during  the  Spanish-American  war.  having 
enlisted  from  Philadelphia;  Rutlterford,  who  lives  at  Pottsville,  this  county, 
also  served  in  the  Spanish- American  war;  Edward  is  a  resident  of  AUentown, 
Pa. ;  Charles  lives  at  Tremont ;  Martha  is  the  wife  of  Leo  Frille,  of  Tremont. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  671 

Peter  and  Esther  (Bowen)  Betz,  Mrs.  Derr's  parents,  settled  in  Potts- 
ville,  Schuylkill  county,  in  1875,  and  he  followed  the  trade  of  painter  there 
for  many  years.  The  family  subsequently  moved  to  Berwick,  Pa.,  where  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Betz  ended  their  days,  her  death  occurring  in  March,  1905,  his  in 
July,  1913.  He  was  one  of  a  large  family,  among  his  brothers  being  Daniel 
and  Charles.  Mrs.  Betz  was  also  a  member  of  a  large  family,  her  parents  hav- 
ing children  as  follows :  James,  Henry,  William,  Charles,  Sarah,  Katherine, 
Susan,  Esther  and  Emma.  We  have  the  following  record  of  the  children  bom 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Betz:  Henry  the  eldest,  is  deceased;  Edward  is  deceased; 
Howard  is  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  Haven;  George  lives  at  Pottsville,  this 
county;  Charles  is  located  at  Berwick;  Sarah,  who  was  born  at  Lehighton, 
Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  is  Mrs.  Gabriel  B.  Derr;  Frank  is  in  Philadelphia.  The  last 
named  is  a  veteran  of  the  Spanish-American  war.  Peter  Betz,  the  father, 
served  three  years  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war. 

JOHN  C.  SCHILLING  has  been  engaged  in  business  at  Ashland  since  1900. 
He  bears  a  name  highly  respected  in  this  section,  being  a  grandson  of  Peter 
Schilling,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  from  Germany  in  1855,  settHng  at 
Ashland  when  it  had  but  five  houses  on  the  present  town  site.  He  was  em- 
ployed at  the  mines.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served  in  the  Union  army, 
and  he  was  a  man  of  solid  worth  cfnd  one  of  the  esteemed  citizens  of  this 
region  to  the  end  of  his  days.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  living  in  Cen- 
tralia,  just  over  the  line  in  Columbia  county.  He  was  the  father  of  three 
children,  Philip,  John  and  Peter,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  John  moved 
out  to  Minnesota,  where  he  took  up  government  land,  became  wealthy,  and 
remained  there  until  the  end  of  his  days. 

Peter  Schilling,  son  of  Peter  Schilling,  was  bom  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  and 
was  but  a  boy  when  the  family  came  to  America.  He  was  soon  afterwards 
bound  out  to  a  farmer,  and  continued  to  follow  agricultural  work  until  he 
became  a  young  man,  after  which  he  was  engaged  on  the  railroad  for  forty 
years  as  foreman  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company.  In  this  capacity 
he  built  the  Mine  Hill  railroad,  the  first  railroad  in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Ashland,  where  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Washington  Fire  Company  and  interested  in  all  the 
aflfairs  of  the  locality.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and 
helped  to  build  the  first  German  Catholic  Church  at  Ashland.  PoHtically  he 
was  a  stanch  Democrat.  Mr.  Schilling  married  Emma  Schmidt,  who  was  bom 
at  Reading,  Pa.,  and  died  April  12,  1897,  at  Ashland.  Of  the  children  bom 
to  this  union  all  died  in  infancy  but  John  C.  The  father  died  at  Ashland  March 
10,  191 1.  ^ 

Theodore  Schmidt,  father  of  Mrs.  Peter  Schilling,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  leamed  the  business  of  painting  and  decorating  there,  acquiring 
considerable  reputation  before  his  emigration  to  America.  He  settled  at  Read- 
ing, Pa.,  and  afterwards  came  to  Ashland,  and  followed  his  calling  very  suc- 
cessfully, being  one  of  the  finest  in  his  line  in  this  section  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
died  at  Ashland  when  sixty-three  years  old.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Webber.     He  was  the  father  of  twenty-four  children. 

John  C.  Schilling  was  bom  Sept.  t.j,  1874,  at  Ashland,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated.  In  1900  he  commenced  business  on  his  own  account,  establish- 
ing himself  at  his  present  location  at  No.  1839  Centre  street.  He  has  always 
carried  a  complete  general  stock  and  in  1904  he  added  a  meat  market,  which 


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672  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

has  been  continued  ever  since.  By  honorable  methods  and  his  accommodat- 
ing disposition  Mr.  Schilling  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  profitable  trade 
which  has  shown  a  wholesome  jncrease  from  the  beginning,  and  he  has  estab- 
lished himself  among  the  substantial  merchants  of  the  borough.  His  thrift  and 
reliability  in  business  have  attracted  the  attention  of  his  fellow  citizens,  who 
have  honored  him  with  election  as  member  of  the  council,  in  which  body  he 
has  served  two  years,  1912-1914.  His  official  duties  are  discharged  with 
characteristic  consideration  for  the  best  interests  of  his  constituents.  He  is 
a  member  of  St.  Mauritius'  Church  at  Ashland,  and  is  a  grand  knight  of  Sarto 
Council,  Knights  of  Columbus. 

On  May  26,  1896,  Mr.  Schilling  married  Mary  Llewellyn,  who  was  bom 
in  Ashland,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Rhoades)  Llewellyn,  the  former 
of  whom  died  Nov.  21,  1901.  He  was  an  engineer  at  the  mines.  Mrs.  Llewel- 
Ivn,  now  (1914)  sixty-one  years  of  age,  makes  her  home  at  Ashland.  Their 
family  consisted  of  sixteen  children,  and  we  have  record  of :  David,  who  is 
foreman  at  the  Excelsior  colliery;  Harr)^,  a  mason  contractor;  Mary,  Mrs. 
Schilling;  Hannah;  William,  head  mechanic  of  the  Excelsior  colliery;  Charles; 
Abraham,  a  graduate  of  Girard  College,  now  engaged  as  a  civil  engineer. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  C.  Schilling  have  been  bom  seven  children,  of  whom 
but  three  survive:  Leo  (now  aged  thirteen  years),  Emma  and  Catherine. 
The  others  died  in  infancy. 

VALENTINE  W.  QUIGEL,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Hegins, 
is  considered  one  of  the  ablest  financiers  of  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  His 
reputation  has  been  built  up  in  years  of  exemplary  service  in  positions  of  great 
responsibility,  his  present  connection  dating  from  the  *  establishment  of  the 
bank,  in  igo8, 

Mr.  Quigel  is  a  worthy  representative  of  old  Pennsylvania  stock,  the  fam- 
,  ily  having  been  founded  here  during  the  Provincial  period.  The  name  itself 
has  been  anglicized,  its  original  form  being  Quickel.  Quigel  and  its  earlier 
variations  are  mentioned  in  a  work  on  the  "Teutonic  Name  System,"  by  a  Ger- 
man author,  who  claims  that  the  root  of  the  name  is  found  in  the  ancient  Norse 
language,  the  original  meaning  being  "sword."  The  founder  of  the  family  was 
evidently  a  maker  of  swords  or  very  dexterous  in  handling  them,  hence  the 
surname.  In  the  year  1736  there  arrived  at  the  port  of  Philadelphia,  in  the 
ship  "Fantana,"  a  number  of  German  emigrants,  among  the  passengers  over 
sixteen  years  old  being  John  M.  and  John  P.  Quigel,  as  well  as  other  members 
of  the  family,  including  Christian,  George  and  Peter  Quigel.  The  "Fantana** 
sailed  from  Rotterdam,  Holland,  and  it  is  probable  the  Quigels  came  to  that 
port  down  the  Rhine  from  their  home  in  the  Palatinate,  in  the  Grand  Duchy 
of  Baden,  where  many  bearing  the  name  of  Quickel  are  still  to  be  found.  Chris- 
tian Quigel  was  a  son  of  John  P.  Quigel,  and  they  settled  in  Lancaster,  the 
others  in  York  county,  Pa.  (York  cotmty,  however,  was  not  separated  from 
Lancaster  until  the  late  forties.) 

Christian  Quigel,  who  came  to  this  country  in  the  "Fantana"  with  his  father, 
John  P.  Quigd,  was  the  ancestor  of  Valentine  W.  Quigel.  He  lived  in  Man- 
heim  township,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  enlisted  from  that  township  for  service 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  Aug.  27,  1776.  He  was  a  soldier  in  Colonel  Swope's 
battalion,  part  of  the  troops  of  the  celebrated  "Flying  Camp"  commanded  by 
General  Washington  on  Long  Island.  Reference  to  his  service  may  be  found 
in  the  Pennsylvania  Archives.    Christian  Quigel  had  six  children :    Peter,  who 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  673 

was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution;  Balzer,  who  removed  to  that  part  of  North- 
umberland county  now  known  as  Lycoming,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  the  fam- 
ily at  Quigelville;  Nicholas,  ancestor  of  the  McElhattan  (Pa.)  Quigels;  Philip, 
a  Revolutionary  soldier,  ancestor  of  the  branch  of  the  family  found  at  Pine 
Station,  Clinton  Co.,  Pa.;  Michael,  who  settled  in  Northumberland  county  (he 
was  the  ancestor  of  Hon.  A.  J.  Quigley) ;  and  Catherine,  who  married  John 
Myers. 

The  descendants  of  these  six  children  of  Christian  Quigel,  as  well  as  the 
other  Quigels  and  Quickels  who  came  to  this  coimtry  in  the  early  days,  have 
become  scattered  all  over  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  the  West  and  the  South,  and 
include  a  number  of  persons  of  dictinction  and  renown,  notably  Hon.  William 
B.  Allison,  United  States  senator  from  Iowa,  and  Hon.  Hoke  Smith,  secre- 
tary of  th^  Interior  in  Cleveland's  cabinet.  The  Maclaurin  family  of  South 
Carolina,  and  the  Montgomery,  Allen,  Crawford,  Crane,  Stewart,  McCormick, 
White,  Williams,  Grier,  Baird,  Welsh,  Guise,  Mobly,  Hess,  Simons,  Shaw, 
Hanna  and  other  well  known  families  of  this  section  of  Pennsylvania,  are  also 
connected  with  the  Quigels. 

Balzer  Quigel,  son  of  Christian,  married  Rosanna  Fink,  by  whom  he  had 
children :    George,  John  and  Michael. 

George  Quigel,  son  of  Balzer,  died  in  1884,  aged  ninety-six  years.  He  mar- 
ried Leah  Kinley,  and  their  children  were:  Michael,  Jesse,  John,  Ambrose, 
Mary  Ann,  Catherine,  Lydia  and  Sophia. 

John  Quigel,  son  of  George,  was  bom  July  9,  1838,  at  Quigelville,  Lycom- 
ing Co.,  Pa.,  and 'was  reared  there.  He  had  the  conmion  school  advantages 
afforded  in  the  home  neighborhood,  and  followed  farming  throughout  his 
active  years.  In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran,  in  politics  a  Democrat.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  was  in  the  Union  service  from  September,  1862,  to  August, 
1863,  belonging  to  Captain  Dodd's  company,  of  the  77th  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  Mr.  Quigel  married  Julia  Ann  Capple,  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  when  two  years  old  with  her  parents,  George  and  Mar- 
garet Capple,  both  now  deceased;  the  Capples  resided  in  Lewis  township, 
Lycoming  coimty.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Quigel  had  three  children,  Valentine 
W.,  Sylvester  and  Margaret. 

Valentine  W.  Quigel  was  bom  April  i,  1862,  at  Quigelville,  Lycoming  Co., 
Pa.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  schools  of  his  native  county,  and 
included  instruction  in  the  normal  school  at  Muncy,  Pa.  In  his  early  manhood 
he  taught  for  three  terms,  but  bookkeeping  was  his  business  profession,  and  he 
was  engaged  in  that  kind  of  work  for  years.  In  1879  he  went  to  WjUiams- 
port,  Lycoming  county,  and  entered  the  employ  of  J.  C.  Green  &  Co.,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  1885.  That  year  he  became  connected  with  the  railway  mail 
service,  in  which  he  continued  during  Cleveland's  administration.  For  four 
years  he  was  with  the  Gazette  &  Bulletin  Publishing  Association  at  Williams- 
port,  served  for  five  years  as  secretary  of  the  Pennsylvania  Beneficial  Associa- 
tion, and  in  1908  came  to  Hegins,  where  he  has  since  been  established.  His 
comprehensive  knowledge  and  understanding  of  financial  questions  was  so  gen- 
eraiy  recognized  that  he  was  called  upon  to  serve  the  city  of  Williamsport  as 
treasurer  and  the  county  of  Lycoming  as  auditor,  filling  each  office  for  two 
terms  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Hegins  was  organized  April  23,  1908,  with  local 
capital,  F.  P.  Bamd  of  Hegins  being  the  first  president  and  one  of  the  original 
board  of  directors,  his  fellow  members  being :    H.  William  Bressler,  R.  R.  Artz, 
Vol.  II— 5 


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674  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr.  D.  E.  Kurtz,  W.  R.  Dinger,  S.  W.  Kessler,  G.  W.  Baum,  S.  A.  Buffington, 
H.  H.  Geist,  Dr.  W.  D.  Karterman,  Moses  Schadel  and  John  W.  Heckert.  Dr. 
Kartemian  is  now  president,  and  serving  with  him  on  the  board  of  directors 
are  H.  W.  Bressler,  W.  R.  Dinger,  H.  H.  Geist,  W.  W.  Haas,  M.  W.  Kessler, 
S.  E.  Kessler,  H.  Fred  Lauer  (of  Ashland,  Pa.),  V.  W.  Quigel,  Moses  Schadel, 
L.  L.  Snyder  and  C.  F.  Otto.  Mr.  Lauer  is  secretary  of  the  board.  Mr.  Quigel 
has  filled  the  position  of  cashier  uninterruptedly  since  the  bank  was  organized, 
and  his  services  and  advice  have  been  of  inestimable  value  in  the  direction  of 
its  aflfairs.  The  capital  stock  is  $50,000,  and  there  is  at  present  a  surplus  of 
$12,000,  the  undivided  profits  amounting  to  over  $2,000.  The  sound  principles 
which  have  characterized  the  operation  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Hegins 
from  the  beginning  have  had  an  appreciably  beneficial  influence  upon  business 
activities  in  the  town  and  adjacent  territory  in  Schuylkill  county.  Much  of 
the  credit  for  the  wholesome  conditions  it  has  helped  to  create  and  maintain 
must  be  assigned  to  Mr.  Quigel's  clear-headedness. 

Mr.  Quigel  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  in  which  he  takes  a  real  interest,  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  socially  connected  with  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  Modem  Woodmen  of  America. 

On  July  8,  1886,  Mr.  Quigel  married  Jennie  L.  Smith,  who  died  Jan.  5, 
1887.  On  Jan.  3,  1889,  he  married  (second)  Caroline  Hadtner,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Beatrice  E.,  now  an  employee  in  the  First  National  Bank  at  Hegins ; 
Miss  Quigel  holds  a  commission  as  notary  public. 

CHARLES  A.  SCHROPE,  who  is  engaged  in  business  at  Tower  City  as  a 
contracting  miner,  was  bom  at  Valley  View,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1882,  and 
is  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Schrope,  grandson  of  Amos 
Schrope,  great-grandson  of  John  Schrope,  and  great-great-grandson  of 
Andrew  Schrope. 

Andrew  Schrope  was  bom  in  Germany,  and  at  about  the  time  of  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  became  a  pioneer  of  Valley  View,  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land.  His  operations  were  very  extensive 
in  scope,  as  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  his  property,  now  cut  up,  con- 
tained what  is  now  six  farms,  all  of  great  size.  There  he  passed  the  remain- 
ing years  of  his  life,  one  of  the  substantial  and  reliable  men  of  his  community, 
an  influential  voice  in  civic  affairs  and  a  force  for  progress  and  advancement 
along  all  lines.  He  died  and  was  buried  in  the  Sacramento  community  of 
Hubley  township.    He  was  the  father  of  two  sons,  John  and  Andrew. 

John  Schrope,  son  of  the  pioneer,  followed  in  his  father's  footsteps  and 
when  ready  to  adopt  an  occupation  of  his  own  took  up  farming.  Through 
thrift,  industry  and  good  management  his  affairs  prospered,  and  he  became 
^he  owner  of  325  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Hegins  township  and  a  man  of 
worth  and  substance  in  his  locality.  His  life  was  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil,  and  his  death  occurred  near  Sacramento,  where  he  was  laid  to  rest. 
Mr.  Schrope  married  Maud  Halderman,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Amos,  Jacob,  Maria  and  Kate.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
Mr.  Schrope  was  again  married,  to  Lydia  Haas,  but  there  were  no  children 
bom  to  this  union. 

Amos  Schrope,  the  grandfather  of  Charles  A.  Schrope,  was  bom  on  his 
father's  homestead  in  Hegins  Township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there  received 
his  education  and  grew  to  manhood.  When  ready  to  establish  a  home  of 
his  own  he  secured  a  part  of  the  homestead  place,  105  acres,  to  the  cultivation 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  675 

and  development  of  which  he  devoted  the  entire  period  of  his  active  life.  He 
still  survives,  in  comfortable  retirement,  at  his  home  at  Valley  View.  Mr. 
Schrope  has  upheld  the  family  name  for  public-spirited  participation  in  civic 
affairs,  and  has  served  capably  and  faithfully  in  various  offices,  including 
those  of  school  director  and  tax  collector.  Always  a  man  of  the  strictest 
integrity,  he  has  well  merited  the  esteem  and  confidence  in  which  he  is  held 
by  those  among  whom  his  Hfe  has  been  passed.  Mr.  Schrope  married  Harriet 
Haas,  daughter  of  Isaac  Haas,  of  Mahantongo  Valley,  and  four  children  were 
bom  to  this  union :  Monroe,  who  is  deceased ;  George  W. ;  Ellen,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Emanuel  Schmeltz;  and  Webster,  who  resides  with  his  father  at  Val- 
ley View. 

George  W.  Schrope,  father  of  Charles  A.  Schrope,  was  bom  at  Valley 
View,  Hegins  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  lo,  1864,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  community.  He  remained  at  home  on 
the  farm,  assisting  his  father,  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  at  which 
time  he  secured  employment  as  a  laborer  at  the  Brookside  colliery.  Later  he 
turned  his  attention  to  mining,  at  which,  he  was  engaged  for  about  fifteen 
years,  then  returning  to  the  homestead  and  engaging  in  farming  for  eight 
years.  Then  he  again  went  to  the  Brookside  colliery,  where  for  three  years 
he  was  a  miner,  and  through  his  eflForts  won  promotion  to  the  position  of 
assistant  inside  foreman,  a  capacity  in  which  he  acted  for  seven  years.  In  1912 
he  was  made  foreman  at  the  East  Brookside  colliery,  and  this  post  he  continues 
to  fill,  being  one  of  his  company's  most  trusted  men.  Mr.  Schrope  married 
Elizabeth  Smith,  daughter  of  John  Smith,  of  Mahantongo  Valley,  and  to  this 
union  there  were  bom  the  following  children :  Charles  A. ;''  John,  whose 
death  occurred  when  he  was  seven  years  old;  Kate,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Long;  Lillie, 'who  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Miller;  George,  who  resides 
at  Tower  City;  Robert,  also  a  resident  of  that  community;  Minnie,  who  is 
the  wife  of  A.  Hoffler;  Jacob,  who  is  a  student  at  Haverford  College;  Eva, 
wife  of  Charles  Shuey;  Mabel,  who  resides  with  her  parents;  and  Harriet, 
who  died  when  nine  months  old.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  April, 
1913,  deeply  mourned  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  Mr.  Schrope  is  one  of  the 
well  known  men  of  his  community  and  an  influential  factor  in  civic  affairs. 
He  has  served  capably  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Tower  City.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  affiliated  with  the  local  lodges  of  the  Junior  Order  United  Amer- 
ican Mechanics,  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  and  the  Loyal  Order  of 
Moose. 

Charles  A.  Schrope  was  still  a  lad  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Tower 
City,  and  here  his  education  was  secured  in  the  public  schools.  He  was  but  a 
boy  when  he  secured  employment  in  the  mines,  and  when  only  seventeen  years 
of  ape  began  to  cut  coal,  a  business  at  which  he  has  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  For  three  years  he  was  fire  boss  at  the  Silver  Creek  colliery,  at  the 
end  of  that  time  returning  to  Tower  City,  and  he  is  now  employed  at  the  West 
Brookside  colliery,  where  he  is  known  as  a  highly  efficient,  reliable  and  faith- 
ful workman  and  skilled  miner.  As  a  citizen  he  has  been  a  leader  in  move- 
ments which  have  made  for  progress  and  advancement,  and  has  willingly  given 
of  his  services  in  behalf  of  the  elevation  of  educational  standards,  having 
served  for  some  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Porter  township. 
He  also  took  the  census  of  that  township  in  igio.  Fraternally  Mr.  Schrope  is 
a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics,  Improved  Order 


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676  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  Red  Men,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  in  all  of  which 
orders  he  has  numerous  warm  friends^ 

Mr.  Schrope  was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna  May  Heartter,  daughter  of 
David  Heartter,  of  Reinerton,  Pa.,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been  bora 
five  children,  namely:  Susie,  Annie,  Charles,  Eva  and  Beatrice,  who  died 
when  seven  months  old. 

WILLIAM  W.  KAUP  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  best  known  residents  of 
Rush  township,  where  he  has  a  good  farm  which  he  cultivates,  and  also  acts 
as  mail  carrier  on  Rural  Route  No.  2,  out  of  Tamaqua,  covering  his  home 
township  and  part  of  Ryon.  township.  He  has  filled  a  number  of  public 
offices  in  the  township,  and  in  the  discharge  of  all  his  responsibilities  has  shown 
consistent  integrity  and  fidelity  to  the  interests  of  his  fellow  citizens,  in  whose 
respect  he  feels  well  rewarded.  Mr.  Kaup  is  a  native  of  the  township,  bom 
July  16,  185 1,  son  of  William  Kaup  and  grandson  of  John  Kaup. 

John  Kaup  was  bom  Dec.  23,  1783,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  when 
he  came  to  America  settled  in  Schuylkill  counter.  Pa.,  first  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship, whence  he  removed  to  Rush  township  m  the  year  1830.  He  owned  a 
farm  of  forty-seven  acres  about  two  miles  from  Tamaqua,  which  he  cleared, 
and  the  stable  which  he  built  there  in  1831  is  still  standing.  He  also  erected 
a  log  house  on  the  property.  His  death  occurred  Jan.  21,  1853,  in  his  seven- 
tieth year,  and  he  is  buried  at  Dutch  Hill,  Xamaqua.  His  wife,  Anna  (Ben- 
singer),  bom  in  April,  1788,  died  in  January,  1849.  Their  children  were: 
Lucetta,  Mrs.  William  Kramer;  William;  Levi,  who  died  in  Illinois;  Solomon, 
who  died  in  Ohio;  Priscilla,  Mrs.  Harry  Bischoif;  Benjamin,  who  died  in 
Ohio;  Maltida,  Mrs.  Abraham  Boocher;  Daniel,  who  died  at  Williamsport, 
Pa. ;  and  Sarah  Ann,  Mrs.  Charles  Phillips. 

William  Kaup,  son  of  John,  was  bom  in  181 1,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.  He  was  buried  in  the  White  Church  cemetery  in  Rush 
township.  He  followed  farming  on  his  father's  homestead,  in  Rush  township, 
continuing*  to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his  life.  He  was  one 
of  three  men  who  had  charge  of  the  teams  that  hauled  the  first  engine,  from 
Philadelphia,  shipped  from  England  for  the  Little  Schuylkill  Mining  Com- 
pany at  Tamaqua.  His  progressive  spirit  is  shown  in  his  advocacy  of  the 
public  school  system,  in  the  establishment  of  which  he  took  an  active  part. 
He  married  Lydia  Lindner,  daughter  of  Samuel  Lindner,  whose  wife  was  a 
Sensensdorfer,  member  of  a  Revolutionary  family;  the  Lindners  were  of 
German  origin.  Children  as  follows  were  bom  to  this  union :  Isabella,  who 
married  Thomas  Baker;  Sevilla,  who  married  William  Reinhart;  Solomon, 
who  died  when  twenty-two  years  old;  Mary  M.,  who  married  Lewis  Kline; 
Sarah  Ann,  who  died  in  infancy ;  William  W. ;  and  Lydia  E. 

William  W.  Kaup  was  reared  upon  the  homestead  farm,  where  he  now 
makes  his  home.  He  has  not  devoted  all  his  life  to  agriculture,  having  for 
several  years  been  associated  with  the  American  Ice  Company  as  superintend- 
ent of  their  Schuylkill  county  plant.  After  his  parents  died  he  took  the  home 
property,  which  he  has  been  improving  materially  ever  since,  having  built  a 
fine  dwelling  thereon  in  1903.  In  1904  Mr.  Kaup  was  appointed  to  his  posi- 
tion of  mral  mail  carrier,  in  which  capacity  he  has  served  efficiently  since. 
Mr.  Kaup  has  been  a  prominent  worker  in  the  Republican  party  for  many 
years,  and  he  has  been  elected  to  several  local  offices,  having  served  for  a 
iong  period  as  township  clerk,  and  for  twenty  years  he  was  general  assessor. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  677 

In  February,  1876,  Mr.  Kaup  married  Catherine  Walter,  and  the  follow- 
ing children  have  been  born  to  them:  John  W.;  Claude  C,  who  married 
Annie  Harris;  Mary  Ellen;  Charles  G.,  who  married  Minnie  Parry;  Eliz- 
abeth May;  Bessie  B.;  and  William  Walter,  who  died  young.  The  family 
are  Lutherans. 

John  Walter,  father  of  Mrs.  William  W.  Kaup,  was  bom  June  6,  1829,  in 
France,  came  to  the  United  States  in  young  manhood,  and  first  settled  at 
Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  Later  he  removed  to  Rush  township,  locating 
at  Stone  Tavern.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Union 
army,  and  his  death,  which  occurred  March  2,  1867,  was  caused  by  exposure 
while  in  the  army.  He  is  buried  at  Tamaqua.  His  wife,  Catherine  (Bladel), 
was  bom  in  Germany,  came  to  America  when  eighteen  years  old,  and  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  They  had  four  .chil- 
dren: Catherine,  Mrs.  Kaup;  Rachel,  Mrs.  Charles  Morgans;  John,  who 
died  when  thirty-seven  years  old ;  and  Margaret,  who  married  Francis  Job,  of 
England.    The  father  of  this  family  was  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment. 

JAMES  DEIBERT,  a  lifelong  resident  of  North  Manheim  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  recently  deceased,  was  a  citizen  especially  helpful  in  local 
affairs  by  his  efficient  services  on  the  school  board.  He  was  probably  one  of 
the  most  widely  known  men  in  his  part  of  the  county,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  for  many  years  on  land  which  has  been  owned  and  occupied  by 
his  family  since  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

Michael  Deiver  (as  his  generation  spelled  the  name),  great-grandfather  of 
James  Deibert,  was  the  founder  of  this  branch  of  the  family  in  Schuylkill 
county.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  America, 
the  family  settling  in  Bern  township,  Berks  county,  in  the  then  Province  of 
Pennsylvania,  near  Michael's  Church.  There  were  five  children,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Michael,  Christopher,  Wilhelm,  Mrs.  George  Hunt- 
zinger  and  Mrs.  John  Gevert.  When  the  sons  were  grown  they  moved  to 
Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  married,  Wilhelm  to  a  daughter  of 
John  Renchler,  from  Bern  township,  Berks  county,  Michael  to  Elizabeth 
Waver.  In  the  year  1744  the  brothers  Wilhelm  and  Michael  bought  in  part- 
nership three  hundred  acres  of  land  in  North  Manheim  township,  at  the  road 
leading  from  Schuylkill  Haven  to  Landingville,  Wilhelm's  part  being  at  the 
location  occupied  by  Edward  Peale  in  1884,  and  Michael's  where  John  Filbert 
lived  at  that  time.  The  third  brother,  Christopher,  went  to  Virginia  in  his 
yotmger  years,  and  the  family  did  not  hear  from  him  afterwards. 

In  the  beginning  Wilhelm  and  Michael  Deiver  had  the  Indians  for  their 
neighbors,  and  were  molested  considerably.  Deer  and  bears  were  plentiful  in 
the  region  at  that  day,  and  as  they  divided  the  meat  with  the  savages  when 
they  shot  any  the  Indians  became  more  friendly.  In  the  pamphlet  published 
in  1884  by  Daniel  Deibert,  a  grandson  of  Wilhelm  Deibert,  we  find  this  para- 
graph: "My  grandfather  said  after  the  Indians  went  away,  some  of  them 
came  back  again  to  rob  them  of  their  planting  fruits.  My  grandfather  and  his 
brother  Michael  had  to  flee  over  the  Blue  mountain  to  their  father's  home. 
They  buried  their  implements  on  the  other  side  of  the  Schuylkill  river,  in 
the  woods,  that  the  Indians  could  not  get  them;  but  when  they  came  back 
Ihey  didn't  find  them  any  more.  And  they  didn't  find  them  till  the  Schuylkill 
canal  was  made,  then  they  dug  them  out  again." 

Michael  Deiver  (according  to  the  same  pamphlet)  had  five  sons  and  three 


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678  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

daughters  (only  two  daughters  are  named,  however),  Henry,  Andrew,  Michael, 
Christian,  John,  Catharine  and  Elizabeth.  Henry  married  Miss  Kriner; 
Andrew,  Miss  Luckenbill;  Michael,  Miss  Luckenbill  (they  had  no  children)  ; 
Christian,  Miss  Miller ;  Catharine,  John  Dewald ;  Elizabeth,  Daniel  Repp.  The 
father,  Michael,  died  on  his  property  in  North  Manheim  township,  and  is 
buried  at  the  Red  Church  in  this  county. 

John  Deibert,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  in  North  Manheim  township,  and 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Schuylkill 
Haven.  He  was  twice  married,  the  maiden  name  of  his  first  wife  being 
Renchler,  of  his  second  Wagner.  His  children  were  as  follows:  Daniel, 
who  lived  in  Schuylkill  Haven ;  George ;  Jacob,  who  died  at  Schuylkill  Haven ; 
John,  who  died  at  Schuylkill  Haven ;  Benjamin,  who  died  at  Pottsville ;  Wil- 
liam, who  died  in  the  Upper  Mahantongo  Valley,  Schuylkill  county;  Samuel; 
Hannah,  who  married  John  Humel,  of  Selinsgrove,  Pa.;  and  Christine,  who 
married  Henry  Shelly  and  lived  at  Pottsville. 

George  Deibert,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of  Michael,  bom  at  the  old 
homestead  of  his  parents,  followed  farming  all  his  life.  He  is  buried  in  the 
Union  cemetery.  He  had  many  interesting  experiences  in  the  early  days.  His 
father  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  where  Fishbach  is  now  located  (near 
Pottsville),  then  thickly  wooded.  When  the  timber  was  cut  it  was  floated  down 
the  Schuylkill.  One  day,  while  going  past  what  is  now  known  as  Mount 
Carbcn,  he  was  followed  by  a  wolf,  and  hastened  to  reach  the  river  so  that 
the  animal  might  lose  his  scent  when  he  forded  the  stream.  When  somewhat 
older  he  had  another  exciting  time  while  plowing  on  the  homestead,  on  the 
Second  mountain.  A  deer  ran  out  and  got  into  a  pond,  and  Mr.  Deibert, 
thinking  he  could  kill  it,  went  into  the  water  after  it,  but  the  animal  almost 
drowned  him.  He  also  had  some  adventures  with  panthers.  Mr.  Deibert 
married  Susanna  Reed,  daughter  of  James  Reed,  and  she  lived  to  the  age  of 
seventy-one.  The  following  children  were  born  to  them :  Charles  V.  B.,  of 
Schuylkill  Haven;  Sarah,  who  married  Abraham  Sharadin;  Mahlon,  who 
died  when  nine  years  old;  Amanda,  who  married  Harrison  Berger;  James, 
who  settled  on  the  old  homestead  in  North  Manheim  township ;  Frank ;  George, 
living  at  Landingville ;  Hannah,  who  married  Edward  Schappell;  Elwin, 
living  at  Schuylkill  Haven ;  and  William,  who  died  when  sixteen  years  old. 

James  Deibert,  son  of  George,  above,  was  bom  Oct.  i8,  1847,  on  the 
homestead  near  the  Half  Way  House  in  North  Manheim  township,  and  attended 
the  local  public  schools.  When  fifteen  years  old  he  entered  the  employ  of 
W.  D.  Kline,  at  Landingville,  for  whom  he  clerked  three  months,  receiving 
six  dollars  a  month.  As  his  father  needed  his  assistance  he  returned  home, 
and  thereafter  cultivated  the  Deibert  property,  after  his  marriage  renting 
the  land,  and  purchasing  the  homestead  upon  his  father's  death.  He  had 
eighty-nine  acres  of  valuable  farming  land  situated  along  the  State  road,  near 
Orwigsburg.  He  continued  to  reside  there  after  retiring  from  the  active  work 
of  cultivation,  in  1909,  but  was  preparing  to  remove  to  Orwigsburg  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  had  leased  the  property.  There  was  no  more  highly 
respected  citizen  in  the  township.  His  activity  in  the  promotion  of  all  measures 
intended  for  the  betterment  of  the  locality,  his  upright  life  and  well  balanced 
ideas,  were  influences  for  good  these  many  years.  During  the  twelve  years  he 
was  on  the  school  board  he  showed  his  sincere  desire  to  secure  the  best  pos- 
sible advantages  for  his  township  in  the  way  of  educational  facilities,  and 
spared  neither  time  nor  eff^ort  to  fill  his  office  with  the  highest  regard  for  its 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  679 

responsibilities.  He  was  president  of  the  board  several  years,  and  also  acted 
as  treasurer.  Mr.  Deibert  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  Lutheran  in 
religious  connection.  His  death  occurred  at  his  home  on  the  farm  Feb.  9, 
191 5,  after  a  few  days'  illness. 

Mr.  Deibert's  wife,  Mary  C.  (Faust),  died  in  1908,  and  is  buried  in  the 
Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Faust. 
Of  the  children  born  to  this  union  four  survive,  all  married:  Newton  A., 
who  is  a  shoe  manufacturer  at  Orwigsburg,  this  county;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
William  H.  Brommer,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Lillie  B.,  wife  of  Milton  Rohrer, 
a  shoe  manufacturer  of  Orwigsburg ;  and  James  R.,  a  draftsman,  and  also 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  Harrisburg. 

JOSEPH  H.  LAUDIG,  of  Ringtown,  is  doing  a  thriving  business  in  that 
borough  and  the  neighboring  territory  as  a  general  carpenter  and  contractor, 
and  has  many  substantial  structures  to  show  for  his  activity  in  the  quarter 
of  a  century  he  has  been  operating  on  his  own  account.  For  thrift  in  busi- 
ness and  honorable  dealings  with  all,  he  is  considered  a  worthy  representative 
of  the  Laudig  family,  which  has  been  established  in  this  region  since  the  time 
of  his  great-grandfather. 

Peter  Laudig,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  was  bom  Jan.  28,  1760,  and  died 
Aug.  6,  1837.  On  May  16,  1780,  he  married  Catherine  Lantzer,  who  was  born 
in  Philadelphia  June  12,  1760,  and  died  Oct.  6,  1835.  They  are  buried  at 
the  Old  White  Church  near  Ringtown,  Schuylkill  county. 

Jacob  Laudig,  son  of  Peter,  was  bom  Sept.  28,  1786,  and  died  July  17, 
1863.  The  greater  part  of  his  active  life  was  spent  in  Union  township, 
whither  he  moved  from  Middleport,  this  county,  and  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  milling,  having  a  tract  of  about  forty-eight  acres  and  a  gristmill  where 
T.  W.  Rumbel  now  lives.  This  mill  and  farm  he  sold  to  John  Maurer  and 
then  bought  the  place  where  W.  H.  Rumbel  is  now  located,  remaining  there 
tmtil  his  death.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  faith,  and  his  religious  cori- 
nection  was  with  the  German  Reformed  congregation  of  the  Old  White  Church 
near  Ringtown,  in  whose  cemetery  he  and  his  wife  are  buried.  Mr.  Laudig 
married  Elizabeth  Wetstone,  who  was  bom  Jan.  13,  1794,  and  died  Sept.  26, 
1863.  Their  children  were:  Solomon  married  Susan  Zimmerman;  William 
married  Rebecca  Rumbel;  Frank  died  in  young  manhood;  Jacob  married  a 
Stauffer;  Leah  married  John  Zimmerman. 

Jacob  Laudig,  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Wetstone)  Laudig,  was  bom 
Feb.  15,  1836,  in  Union  township,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  assisted 
his  father  with  the  farm  work  and  remained  with  him  until  his  death,  on  the 
place  now  owned  by  William  H.  Rumbel,  continuing  to  live  at  the  old  home- 
stead until  1880,  when  he  removed  to  Zion  Grove,  in  North  Union  township. 
There  he  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  (the  farm  now  owned  by  Edward 
Lindermuth),  about  three  acres  of  which  were  in  timber,  and  he  followed  gen- 
eral farming  on  that  land  until  his  death.  Mr.  Laudig  was  an  expert  butcher, 
and  his  services  as  such  were  in  great  demand  among  all  the  farmers  in  this 
section.  In  politics  he  gave  his  support  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
religion  he  clung  to  the  faith  of  the  German  Reformed  denomination,  belong- 
ing to  the  Old  White  Church,  ^near  Ringtown.  He  died  July  17,  1898,  and  is 
buried  at  that  church. 

Mr.  Laudig  married  Rachel  (or  Rebecca)  Stauffer,  who  was  bom  March 
6, 1837,  in  Locust  Valley,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  George  and  Catherine 


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680  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

(Swank)  Stauffer,  and  survives  him,  living  in  Ring^own.  Children  as  follows 
were  bom  to  them:  Joseph  H.;  Benjamin  F.,  born  June  15,  1864,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  R.  Lessig  and  lives  in  Scranton,  Pa. ;  George,  bom  Dec.  2,  1865, 
of  Ringtown,  who  married  Mary  A.  Hom;  Charles,  born  Dec.  3,  1867,  who 
married  Emma  Mummey  and  lives  at  Zion  Grove,  this  county;  Elizabeth  C, 
bom  Jan.  31,  1873,  wife  of  William  Deebel,  of  Ringtown;  and  Rose,  bom  Oct. 
28,  1874,  wife  of  Henry  Reich,  of  Ringtown. 

Joseph  H.  Laudig  was  bom  Aug.  8,  1861,  in  Union  township,  his  birth- 
place being  now  included  in  Ringtown  borough.  He  worked  with  his  father 
on  the  home  place  until  1880,  meantime  receiving  good  educational  advantages 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  township,  and  then  became  a  carpenter's  appren- 
tice with  J.  B.  Kester,  of  Ringtown,  with  whom  he  remained  for  a  period  of 
eight  years.  During  that  time  he  had  obtained  a  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  general  carpenter  work,  bam  and  house  building,  and  he  felt  competent  to 
start  out  on  his  own  account  as  a  contractor.  His  success  has  fully  justified 
.  the  venture.  Much  of  the  most  creditable  constmction  work  in  and  around 
Ringtown  has  been  intmsted'  to  him,  and  he  is  usually  kept  busy  with  his 
contracts  in  that  vicinity.  One  summer  he  worked  at  Shenandoah  for  Mr. 
O'Heam,  lumber  dealer  and  contractor,  and  he  built  a  house  for  his  brother 
in  Scranton.  Personally  he  is  able  to  perform  any  kind  of  carpenter  work, 
being  very  proficient  with  the  tools  of  the  trade  and  competent  to  do  any  of 
the  skilled  labor  necessary  in  the  erection  of  a  building.  His  familiarity  with 
the  practical  end  of  the  business,  combined  with  executive  capacity,  makes 
him  a  shrewd  judge  of  workmen,  and  no  one  in  the  business  hereabouts 
stands  higher  for  reliability  and  responsibility  in  anything  he  undertakes. 
Aifairs  of  local  interest  .have  always  received  their  due  share  of  his  attention. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Ringtown  Fire  Company,  and  was  one  of  its  tmstees 
for  several  years.  He  belongs  to  Washington  Camp  No.  265,  P.  O.  S.  of  A., 
of  Ringtown,  of  which  he  was  formerly  recording  secretary;  and  was  a 
charter  member  of  Ringtown  Lodge,  No.  287,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  of  which  he  is  a 
past  grand,  and  he  was  its  first  secretary.  Mr.  Laudig  is  independent  in 
politics,  supporting  the  candidates  and  measures  he  thinks  best,  r^ardless  of 
party.  In  his  earlier  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Old  White  Church  (Re- 
formed) near  Ringtown,  where  he  held  the  office  of  deacon  for  nine  years,  but 
he  is  now  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Ringtown.  For  some  time  he 
taught  in  the  Sunday  school  at  Zion  Grove,  and  he  has  always  been  a  gener- 
ous contributor  to  religious  enterprises  of  all  kinds. 

Mr.  Laudig  married  Susan  Kersteder,  who  was  born  Oct.  18,  1861 ;  her 
father  and  mother,  Adam  Kersteder  and  Hannah  Long,  were  both  natives  of 
Schiiylkill  county,  bom  in  Mahanoy  Valley.  Seven  children  have  been  bom 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laudig:  Mattie  May,  bom  July  27,  1884,  is  married  to 
Elmer  Kreiger,  and  has  five  children,  Clarence  E.,  Mary  R.,  Roy  A.,  Emily 
M.  and  Joseph  D. ;  Daniel  A.,  bom  Sept.  21,  1886,  married  Carrie  Laudig  and 
has  two  children,  Guy  H.  and  Grace;  Sadie  E.  was  bom  March  30,  1889: 
lames  A.  was  bom  May  31,  1891 ;  Jacob  W.,  bom  Dec.  8,  1893,'  married 
lEva  Home;  Allen  R.  was  bom  July  23,  1896;  Perl  R.  was  bom  Nov.  12, 
1904.  Mrs.  Kreiger,  Daniel,  Sadie  and  James  are  graduates  of  the  Ringtown 
high  school. 

MORRIS  UPDEGRAVE,  proprietor  of  the  'Tower  City  House,"  at 
Tower  City,  Pa.,  was  bom  Dec.  13,  1873,  ^^  Hubley  township,  near  Sacra- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  681 

mento,  Schuylkill  county,  son  of  Samuel  and  Lucinda  (Undercoffler)  Upde- 
grave,  and  a  grandson  of  Jacob  Updegrave. 

United  States  in  search  of  his  fortune,  settling  as  a  pioneer  in  Pine  Valley, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  There  his  affairs  prospered,  he  became  the  owner  of  a 
good  farm,  was  known  as  a  substantial  and  reliable  citizen,  and  passed  all 
his  life  He  died  there,  and  was  buried  at  the  cemetery  at  Sacramento.  Mr. 
Updegrave  married  Catherine  Kimmel,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Henry  K.;  Anetta,  who  married  John  Deibler;  Ceceha, 
who  married  Daniel  Geist;  Catherine,  who  married  John  Pritchard;  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Frank  Stutzmari;  Jacob;  Samuel;  and  Sevilla,  who  married 
Wilson  Geist.  Of  these  children,  Henry  K.  Updegrave  was  connected  with 
the  early  history  of  the  coal  industry  in  the  West  End,  and  was  a  large  con- 
tractor m  the  supplying  of  timber  for  the  mines.  Later  he  became  proprietor 
of  the  'Tower  City  House,"  which  he  conducted  for  a  niunber  of  years.  He 
looked  after  the  land  for  Mr.  Tower  at  a  time  when  the  entire  locality  was 
little  more  than  a  wilderness  and  later  supplied  the  first  timber  for  the  Brook- 
side  colliery.  His  death  occurred  at  Tower  City  when  he  was  well  advanced 
in  years.  Jacob,  son  of  Jacob,  and  brother  of  Henry  K.  Updegrave,  was  a 
miner  and  the  victim  of  one  of  the  early  accidents  in  this  locality,  in  which  his 
back  was  broken.  He  lived  for  nine  years  thereafter,  eventually  passing  away 
at  Tower  City. 

Samuel  Updegrave,  father  of  Morris  Updegrave,  was  in  early  life  em- 
ployed with  his  brother,  I^enry  K.,  and  Henry  Row,  in  driving  team,  hauling 
timber.  He  subsequently  turned  his  attention  to  farming  operations  in  Pine 
Valley,  Hubley  township,  and  in  1874  came  to  Tower  City,  where  he  was 
employed  to  drive  a  team  at  the  mines.  Later  he  was  advanced  to  stable  boss 
at  the  Brookside  colliery  and  held  that  position  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
June  29,  1909.  Mr.  Updegrave  was  well  kijown  in  this  locality  and  was  the 
possessor  of  a  host  of  friends.  'He  married  Lucinda  Undercoffler,  who  died 
in  191 1,  and  both  are  buried  at  Greenwood  cemetery.  Tower  City.  They  had 
the  following  children:  Elmer;  Morris;  Oara,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife 
of  Samuel  Stephens;  Fred;  Cora,  who  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Artz;  Walter; 
Edith,  who  is  the  wife  of  Allen  Schreiner;  Harper;  and  Estella,  who  is  the 
wife  of  S.  Bruggy. 

The  education  of  Morris  Updegrave  was  secured  in  the  public  schools  of 
Tower  City,  and  his  boyhood  was  passed  in  much  the  same  manner  as  that 
of  his  youthful  companions,  who  early  learned  the  lessons  of  industry  and 
thrift,  and  who  were  taught  to  be  self-reliant.  He  was  only  nine  years  of 
age  when  he  began  contributing  to  his  own  support  as  a  slate  picker,  and  one 
year  later  went  inside  to  work,  gradually  becoming  experienced  in  various 
lines.  Eventually  he  became  a  miner,  a  vocation  which  he  followed  until 
reaching  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  when,  having  accumulated  some  capital, 
he  left  the  mines  and  entered  the  draying  business  by  buying  out  Charles  Mas- 
terson,  at  Tower  City.  For  thirteen  years  Mr.  Updegrave  followed  this 
business  with  a  full  measure  of  success,  and  then  disposed  of  his  interests  to 
Troutman  Brothers  and  removed  to  Atlantic  City,  N.  J.  A  short  time  later 
he  went  ix>  Philadelphia,  where  he  spent  eighteen  months  and  was  employed 
as  a  station  agent  by  the  Rapid  Transit  Company,  returning  to  Tower  City, 
where,  April  13,  1914,  he  took  charge  of  the  "Tower  City  House."  He  has 
continued  to  conduct  this  hotel  with  success,  and  is  very  popular  with  the 


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682  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

traveling  public.  A  solicitous  host,  he  is  eager  to  meet  the  wishes  of  his 
guests,  and  as  a  result  this  hostelry  is  gaining  much  reputation  and  patronage. 

Mr.  Updeg^ve  married  Agnes  Brown,  daughter  of  Samuel  Brown,  and 
they  have  five  children :    Mae,  Allen,  Vivian,  Hazel  and  Dorothy. 

Always  progressive  and  ent^erprising,  Mr.  Updegrave  has  contributed  to 
the  entertainment  facilities  of  this  locality  by  the  erection  of  what  is  known 
as  Palace  Hall,  a  structure  56  by  76  feet,  located  in  the  rear  of  the  **Tower 
City  House,"  which  has  been  fitted  up  with  a  splendid  dance  floor,  with  all 
modem  equipment,  and  accommodations  for  basket-ball  matches  and  other 
entertainments.  It  is  well  lighted  and  heated,  has  a  large  seating  capacity, 
and  being  the  only  structure  of  its  kind  it  is  largely  patronized  by^the  pleasure- 
loving  public.  It  has  been  frequently  the  scene  of  entertainments  given  by 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Tower  City,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  of  Muir,  and  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  of  Lykens,  of  which  orders 
Mr.  Updegrave  is  a  popular  member. 

SHAPPELL  FAMILY.  In  Perry  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  which  until 
1853  was  a  part  of  Windsor  township,  is  a  prominent  family  bearing  the 
name  of  Shappell,  which  is  sometimes  variously  spelled  Schappelle,  Choppelle, 
Schobbel,  Shobel,  Schappel  and  Schappell.  The  original  home  of  the  family 
was  in  France,''  but  through  religious  persecution  its  members  sought  refuge 
in  Germany,  making  their  home  at  Wittenberg.  Among  the  108  passengers 
on  the  good  ship  "Patience,"  which  arrived  at  the  port  of  Philadelphia  Sept. 
^7*  1753*  was  a  Jeremie  Chappelle,  and  one  Jean  Pierre  Chappelle.  The 
kinship  of  these  two  emigrants  is  unknown,  but  it  is  doubted  that  they  were 
relatives.  What  became  of  Jean  Pierre  after  landing  in  the  New  World  is 
unknown.  Jeremias  Schappelle  (as  it  appears  on  the  tombstone)  or  Schobel, 
and  Eberhart  Schoppel,  brothers,  were  residents  in  Windsor  township,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  in  1754  (see  Rupp's  history). 

According  to  the  tombstone  inscription  at  Zion's  Church,  in  Perry 
(formerly  Windsor)  township,  Jeremias  Schappelle  was  bom  in  1715,  and 
he  died  Oct.  15,  1804.  His  wife,  Catherine,  bom  in  1724,  passed  away  June 
8,  1 801.  The  will  of  Jeremiah  Shappel  (sic)  is  on  record  in  the  Berks  county 
courthouse  in  Will  Book  A,  page  505.  It  was  made  Feb.  11,  1803,  and 
probated  Jan.  7,  1805.  At  the  time  the  will  was  made  he  was  a  resident  of 
Windsor  township.  The  following  children  were  mentioned  in  the  will: 
Jacob  (who  was  made  executor  of  his  father's  estate),  Matthias,  Jeremiah, 
Magdalena  and  Catherine.  In  the  cemetery  at  Zion's  Church  is  a  tombstone 
bearing  the  following  inscription:  "Elizabeth  Schappelle,  wife  of  Jeremias, 
formerly  of  Deutschland,  bom  Feb.  16,  1771,  died  July  9,  181 7,  aged  forty- 
six  years,  five  months,  twenty-three  days."  This  probably  refers  to  the  wife 
of  Jeremias  or  Jeremiah,  son  of  Jeremias  (i). 

No  records  of  the  descendants  of  Eberhart  Schoppel  are  in  evidence  at 
Zion's  Union  Church.  He  may  have  left  Windsor  township  after  1744,  in 
which  year  he  hewed  his  name  on  a  stone  now  in  the  southeastern  wall  of  the 
old  graveyard.  Tradition  says  that  the  stones  upon  which  these  names  are 
carved  (one  bears  the  name  of  Jeremias)  were  once  part  of  the  wall  of  the 
first  church.    The  fourth  church  was  in  process  of  construction  in  1908. 

Jacob  Schappell,  son  of  Jeremias,  was  better  known  as  "]oc\iity,''  a  nick- 
name evidently  taken  from  the  German  pronunciation  of  his  name.  He  was 
bom  in  Wittenberg,  Germany,  Feb.  2,  1744,  and  died  Sept.  11,  1826.    As  stated 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  683 

above  he  was  the  executor  of  his  father's  will  in  1805.  His  wife,  Susanna, 
was  bom  Feb.  2,  1751,  and  died  July  24,  1828.  They  are  buried  at  Zion's 
Church.  Jeremias,  Eberhart  and  Jockey  Schappell  were  founders  of  the  orig- 
inal Zion's  Church.  Tradition  says  Jacob  and  Susanna  had  a  large  family, 
some  of  their  children,  however,  dying  in  infancy  and  childhood.  Of  these 
may  be  mentioned  those  of  wlu)m  there  is  record :  Peter,  bom  April  19,  1770; 
Col.  Jeremiah,  bom  March  20,  1774;  Daniel,  mentioned  below;  and  Hannah, 
who  married  Georg  Hoffman,  a  farmer  of  Perry  township.  There  is  a 
valley  in  Perry  township  known  as  Schappell's  Dale,  because  of  the  many 
Shappells  living  there. 

Daniel  Shappell  was  born  in  Longswamp,  Berks  county,  and  followed  farm- 
ing all  of  his  active  life.  He  came  to  Schuylkill  county  at  an  early  date,  set- 
tling between  Schuylkill  Haven  and  Orwigsburg,  where  he  purchased  500  acres 
of  land.  He  was  a  taxable  resident  of  North  Manheim  township  in  1790, 
where  he  died,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  His 
children  were:  John,  Charles,  Daniel,  Jacob,  Mrs.  Tobias,  Mrs.  Dengler, 
Mrs.  Potts,  Mrs.  Roudenbush,  Mrs.  Miller,  Mrs.  Krebs  and  Mrs.  Waitman. 

John  Shappell  was  bom  on  the  homestead  and  was  reared  a  farmer.  He 
came  into  possession  of  136  acres  of  the  homestead,  which  he  continued  to  cul- 
tivate until  his  death.  For  a  short  time  he  followed  the  occupation  of  boat- 
builder  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  also  making  several  trips  down  the  canal.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-nine,  his  wife,  Caroline  Bowen,  passing  to  rest  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years.  They  are  interred  in  the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuyl- 
kill Haven.  Mr.  Shappell  was  a  man  of  high  repute  throughout  the  country- 
side and  his  death  was  regretted  by  all  with  whom  he  had  intercourse  in  life. 
His  children  were :  Edwin,  living  in  Cressona ;  James,  of  Schuylkill  Haven ; 
Hannah,  wife  of  Elijah  Boyer ;  Albert,  living  in  Pottsville ;  John,  who  resides 
in  Omaha,  Nebr. ;  Daniel;  Charles,  who  died  in  Cressona;  Andrew  J.;  and  a 
son  who  died  in  infancy. 

Andrew  J.  Shappell  was  bom  on  the  homestead  in  North  Manheim 
township  Feb.  12,  1859,' has  followed  farming  all  of  his  life,  and  is  now  half 
owner  of  his  father's  homestead.  He  was  married  to  Ella  Weaver,  daughter 
of  Charles  Weaver,  and  to  this  union  were  bom  children  as  follows :  Luther, 
Helen,  Florence,  Ida,  Lester,  Claude  (deceased),  and  a  daughter  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Daniel  Shappell  was  bom  on  the  homestead  in  North  Manheim  town- 
ship Dec.  19,  1854.  He  is  now  the  possessor  of  half  of  his  father's  homestead 
of  136  acres,  and  in  partnership  with  his  brother  Andrew  J.  carries  on  a 
general  farming  and  tmcking  business  there,  disposing  of  his  produce  in  the 
Pottsville  and  Schuylkill  Haven  markets.  He  married  Anna  Bubeck,  daughter 
of  John  Bubeck,  and  their  children  are:  Lottie,  wife  of  Morris  Becker; 
Clair;  Daniel,  Jr.;  and  Howard  and  Bird  D.,  both  deceased. 

TIMOTHY  F.  BERNEY,  postmaster  at  Tower  City,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
was  bom  at  Minersville,  this  county,  Oct.  25,  1879,  son  of  Patrick  Bemey. 
His  father,  who  resides  at  Tower  City,  has  for  many  years  been  connected 
with  the  Brookside  colliery,  and  is  adjudged  one  of  the  valued  and  reliable 
foremen  in  the  employ  of  the  Reading  Company. 

Timothy  F.  Bemey  was  six  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Tower  City,  and  here  his  education  was  secured  in  the  public  schools.  He 
was  still  a  lad  when  he  took  employment  at  the  West  Brookside  colliery,  and 


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684  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

continued  to  work  there  for  about  two  years,  or  until  he  learned  the  art  of 
telegraphy  at  the  Brookside  station  of  the  Reading  railroad.  This  he  followed 
as  a  vocation  for  one  year,  and  was  then  promoted  to  a  clerical  position  in 
the  Brookside  office  of  the  company,  having  since  that  time  been  advanced 
to  a  place  of  importance.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  has  been  prominent 
in  the  councils  of  his  party  in  this  locality.  As  a  public  servant  he  has  served 
very  satisfactorily  in  the  capacities  of  member  of  the  board  of  health,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  held  for  five  years,  and  as  auditor  of  Tower  City  borough,  and 
on  June  27,  19 13,  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Tower  City  borough  by  Presi- 
dent Woondrow  Wilson.  He  has  worked  faithfully  in  an  endeavor  to  better 
the  service  from  his  office,  and  has  proved  a  most  popular  official  with  the 
people  there.  Formerly  he  was  a  director  and  secretary  of  the  Franklin  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Association  of  Tower  City.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  at  present  he  is  a  director  of  the  Knights  of  Saint  George, 
of  Tower  City,  as  well  as  president  of  the  local  organization  of  the  A,  O. 
H.  In  business,  official  and  fraternal  circles  he  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
young  men  of  Tower  City. 

Mr.  Bemey  married  Cecilia  A.  McDonald,  a  daughter  of  Archibald  F. 
McDonald,  of  St.  Qair,  Pa.,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Florence  Rita. 

IVOR  DAVID  FENTON,  M.  D.,  is  one  of  the  younger  physicians  at 
Mahanoy  City,  but  nevertheless  a  trustworthy  member  of  the  profession,  and 
personally  he  bears  the  enviable  refutation  which  has  become  attached  to  the 
name  of  Fenton  in  this  part  of  Schuylkill  county.  His  father,  Patrick  C. 
Fenton,  has  attained  by  his  own  efforts  an  honored  position  in  mining  circles. 
His  grandparents  were  James  and  Mary  (Phillips)  Fenton,  natives  of  Scotland 
and  Wales,  respectively,  who  lived  and  died  in  the  latter  country.  James 
Fenton  passed  away  in  1871,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  his  widow  in  1904,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six. 

Patrick  C.  Fenton  was  bom  Jan.  3,  i860,  in  Glamorganshire,  Wales,  and 
was  reared  in  his  native  country.  His  early  educational  opportunities  were 
meagre,  for  he  began  work  in  the  mines  when  a  boy,  but  he  was  ambitious 
and  attended  night  school,  both  in  Wales  and  after  coming  to  this  country. 
In  1878  he  turned  to  America  to  improve  his  forttmes.  After  landing  he  pro- 
ceeded directly  to  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  arriving  there  in  Septem- 
ber, and  immediately  sought  work  at  the  mines.  He  was  employed  at 
Shenandoah  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century,  during  which  time  he  won 
several  promotions  on  his  merits.  For  ten  years  he  was  a  fire  boss,  inside  fore- 
man six  years,  and  assistant  superintendent  two  years.  When  he  had  been  in 
this  country  eighteen  years  he  made  a  visit  to  his  old  home  in  Wales,  spending 
two  and  a  half  months  on  the  trip.  Returning  to  Shenandoah  he  resumed  work 
as  inside  foreman  of  the  Packer  colliery.  No.  3,  where  he  continued  until 
1903,  since  when  he  has  been  engaged  as  a  mine  inspector.  The  duties  of  the 
mine  inspectors  are  arduous  and  highly  important  to  operators  as  well  as 
employes.  The  company  is  divided  into  four  districts,  the  Tenth,  Eleventh, 
Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Anthracite  districts,  each  in  charge  of  an  inspector, 
and  Mr.  Fenton  has  held  the  position  in  the  Eleventh  district  (known  as 
the  Mahanoy  district)  continuously  since  first  chosen,  now  serving  his  fifth 
term.  Though  there  has  been  official  mine  inspection  since  1870,  the  Act  of 
Assembly  under  which  the  Department  of  Mines,  as  at  present  constituted, 
was  established  was  not  approved  until  April  14,  1903.     The  office  of  mine 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  685 

inspector  is  elective,  the  term  three  years,  the  responsibility  great,  the  require- 
ments very  exacting.  Supplementing  his  practical  experience,  Mr.  Fenton  in 
order  to  qualify  thoroughly  took  the  full  correspondence  course  in  mining  of 
the  International  Correspondence  Schools,  Scranton,  Pa.,  familiarizing  him- 
self with  the  theory  of  many  details.  At  the  general  election  in  1903  he  was 
the  successful  candidate  in  the  Eleventh  district,  where  his  ability  was  well 
known,  and  so  well  satisfied  were  the  people  with  his  performance  of  the 
duties  intrusted  to  him  that  he  was  reelected  without  opposition  in  1906.  He 
has  been  the  choice  of  the  voters  at  each  election  smce.  There  are  nine 
collieries  in  the  district,  with  about  ten  thousand  employes,  whose  safety  to  a 
large  extent  is  dependent  upon  the  thoroughness  of  the  inspector.  He  keeps 
a  record  of  the  ventilation — the  condition  of  the  mines  with  relation  to  the 
presence  of  gas  and  the  methods  employed  to  obviate  its  effects,  the  number 
of  cubic  feet  of  air  supplied  to  each  man,  and  the  means  employed  to  supply 
it;  the  extension  of  tunnels;  abandonment  of  workings;  installation  of  each 
new  machine,  and  the  reason  for  every  change.  All  new  workings  are  prose- 
cuted under  his  direct  supervision,  and  he  must  keep  track  of  all  the  details 
of  the  working  of  every  mine  in  his  district,  above  and  below  ground.  The 
information  must  all  be  embodied  in  his  annual  report  to  the  chief  of  the  De- 
partment of  Mines  of  Pennsylvania.  When  we  state  that  Mr.  Fenton  has 
passed  several  examinations  with  high  marks,  it  is  only  doing  justice  to  his 
comprehensive  knowledge  of  mines  and  mining  in  the  anthracite  region  and 
his  conscientious  interpretation  of  duty.  His  genial  nature  has  made  him 
many  friends.  He  has  his  official  headquarters  on  East  Centre  street,  Mahanoy 
City,  at  his  handsome  home.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Mahanoy-Mecholin 
Coal  Company,  whose  mines  are  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio. 

On  April  20,  1882,  Mr.  Fenton  married  Elizabeth  Thomas,  daughter  of 
John  T.  and  Mary  Ann  Thomas,  then  living  at  Shenandoah.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  are  natives  of  Glamorganshire,  Wales.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fenton  have 
had  five  children:  Mary  graduated  from  high  school  and  taught  school  in 
Mahanoy  City  before  her  marriage  to  Charles  Richards,  now  division  super- 
intendent of  the  mines  at  Mahanoy  City ;  Ivor  David  is  next  in  the  family ; 
Edith,  a  graduate  of  the  Mahanoy  City  high  school,  lives  at  home ;  Caroline  is 
attending  high  school;  John  is  also  at  school.  The.  family  are  members  of 
the  Welsh  Congregational  Church.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
always  been  active  in  party  affairs  and  a  leader  in  the  locality.  He  is  on 
the  library  committee  which  selects  the  public  school  books.  Fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  the  Ivorites,  B.  P.  O.  Elks  and  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles. 
Mr.  Fenton  is  fond  of  music  and  a  good  singer,  and  has  been  active  in  musical 
circles  for  many  years.  His  numerous  and  various  associations  have  brought 
him  into  contact  with  a  large  number  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  he  commands 
their  respectful  esteem  by  his  many  admirable  qualities.  He  is  a  self-made 
man,  and  has  gained  his  high  standing  by  the  most  commendable  methods. 

Ivor  David  Fenton  was  bom  Aug.  3,  1889,  at  Buck  Mountain,  Schuyl- 
kill county.  He  received  his  literary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Mahanoy  Qty  and  Bucknell  University,  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  graduating  from  the 
academy  there  and  spending  one  year  in  the  college.  He  then  matriculated 
at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  and  after  his  graduation  in  1^12 
was  stationed  for  eighteen  months  in  the  Fountain  Springs  hospital  at  Ash- 
land, Pa.,  where  he  had  many  advantages  for  supplementing  his  college  work 
with  actual  experience.    Since  entering  upon  independent  practice  he  has  been 


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686  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

established  at  Mahanoy  City,  where  he  is  building  up  a  creditable  patronage. 
His  success  is  the  reward  of  devoted  labor,  and  well  deserved.  Dr.  Fenton  is 
a  Mason,  belonging  to  Mahanoy  City  Lodge,  No.  357,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a 
member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks  and  Improved 'Order  of  Red  Men.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Welsh  Congregational  Church. 

JAMES  M.  SHELLHAMMER,  of  Pottsville,  at  present  a  member  of  the 
city  council,  was  engaged  in  the  confectionery  trade  there  throughout  his 
business  career.  He  attained  a  substantial  position  entirely  through  his  own 
efforts,  having  begun  life  a  poor  boy,  but  he  had  the  ambition  and  determination 
necessary  to  make  headway  against  obstacles,  and  his  success  was  well  earned. 
Thus  he  merits  the  confidence  which  his  fellow  citizens  have  placed  in  him, 
and  which  he  has  never  betrayed  either  in  his  performance  of  public  duties 
or  discharge  of  any  of  the  obligations  of  daily  life. 

The  Shellhammers  are  of  German  origin,  Isaac  Shellhammer,  grandfather 
of  James  M.,  having  been  born  in  Germany.  When  he  came  to  America  he 
established  his  home  in  Schuylkill,  where  he  lived  and  died.  His  children  were 
Benneville,  Jared,  Samuel  H.  and  Mary  (Mrs.  Jonas  Rerig). 

Samuel  H.  Shellhammer  was  born  at  West  Penn,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
spent  all  his  life  in  the  county.  In  early  life  he  did  farm  work,  and  after- 
wards became  a  mine  worker,  acting  as  inside  and  outside  boss  at  the  Myers- 
ville  colliery  (owned  by  Henry  Myers),  near  Mahanoy  City,  where  he  was 
employed  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years.  For  about  four  years  after  giving 
up  this  work  he  was  on  a  farm  in  the  same  vicinity,  at  Locust  Valley,  from 
there  moving  to  the  Daniel  Hummel  farm,  near  Orwigsburg.  He  remained 
on  that  property  until  his  death,  which  occurred  there  in  1887.  M^-  Shell- 
hammer  is  buried  at  McKeansburg,  this  county,  near  Orwigsburg.  He  married 
Priscilla  Correll,  of  West  Penn,  this  county,  who  survived  him,  dying  in  1889. 
They  had  the  following  family :  Charles,  who  is  living  at  Bowraansville,  Pa. ; 
Mary,  Mrs.  William  Mills;  James  M. ;  Clara  and  Elizabeth,  both  of  whom  died 
young;  Joseph,* living  at  Port  Carbon,  Pa.;  Samuel,  a  resident  of  Schuylkill 
county;  and  Elizabeth  (2),  who  married  Emerson  Trout  and  (second)  Joseph 
Mengle. 

James  M.  Shellhammer  was  born  Oct.  31,  i860,  in  Schuylkill  county,  near 
the  Berks  county  line.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm.  His  educational  advantages 
were  limited,  as  he  was  only  a  boy  of  eight  years  when  he  commenced  picking 
slate  at  a  breaker.  He  was  employed  about  the  mines  at  that  and  other  work 
until  sixteen  years  old,  after  which  he  farmed  with  his  father  for  two  years. 
He  then  came  to  Pottsville,  where  he  feamed  the  candy  business  with-  Henry 
Loechel,  with  whom  he  continued  for  about  nine  years,  until  ready  to  go  into 
the  business  for  himself.  He  was  located  at  No.  15  North  Centre  street,  and 
worked  up  a  profitable  trade  by  honest  methods  and  satisfactory  goods.  Dur- 
ing the  fifteen  years  he  carried  on  the  business  Mr.  Shellhammer  made  a 
reputation  for  reliability  which  has  evidently  gained  him  a  permanent  place 
in  the  regard  of  his  townsmen.  He  retired  in  1905,  and  has  enjoyed  thor- 
oughly the  leisure  which  his  release  from  business  allows,  taking  a  leading 
part  in  the  social  organizations  of  the  city  and  devoting  some  of  his  time  to 
the  public  service.  In  1910  he  was  elected  to  the  city  council,  and  in  Nov^^m- 
ber,  1913,  was  reelected,  with  the  largest  vote  given  to  any  candidate  for  the 
office  on  that  occasion.  As  there  was  a  hard  contest  in  1913,  this  indorsement 
of  his  good  work  was  especially  creditable.    Though  a  Republican  in  principle, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  687 

Mr.  Shellhammer  votes  independently,  supporting  the  men  he  deems  best 
fitted  for  the  places  to  be  filled. 

Socially  Mr.  Shellhammer  holds  membership  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  (Lily  of 
the  Valley  Lodge),  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  (Washington  Camp  No.  36),  K.  G.  E., 
Red  Men,  Heptasophs  and  B.  P.  O.  Elks  (Lodge  No.  207),  all  of  Pottsville; 
in  the  Ridgley  Protective  Association  and  Preferred  Accidental.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  the  English  Lutheran  Church. 

On  Sept.  I,  1887,  Mr.  Shellhammer  married  Minnie  H.  Lord,  daughter  of 
Henry  Lord.  They  have  no  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shellhammer  occupy  the 
handsome  residence  at  the  corner  of  Jackson  and  Greenwood  avenues,  on 
Greenwood  Hill,  which  he  built  at  the  time  of  his  retirement  from  business. 
The  lot  is  no  by  160  feet  in  dimensions,  and  beautifully  situated,  affording  a 
fine  view  which  adds  greatly  to  the  attractions  of  this  beautiful  home. 

Elijah  Lord,  Mrs.  Shellhammer's  grandfather,  was  a  pioneer  settler  in 
Pottsville,  and  died  in  the  borough.  He  is  buried  in  the  Presbyterian  ceme- 
tery. His  children  were:  Seth,  Charles,  Peggin,  Henry,  Jeremiah,  Isaac, 
William  and  Frank,  all  of  whom  lived  and  died  at  Pottsville. 

Henry  Lord,  father  of  Mrs.  Shellhammer,  was  bom  Dec.  23,  1819,  at 
Pottsville,  and  passed  all  his  life  there,  dying  Feb.  7,  1889,  as  the  result  of 
injuries  received  in  an  accident.  He  was  a  carpenter,  and  followed  contract- 
ing to  the  end  of  his  days.  His  first  wife,  Ann  (Williams),  born  Dec.  7,  1822, 
died  Nov.  7,  1855,  leaving  four  children:  William,  who  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg;  Susan,  who  married  Charles  Seaman,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war ;  Ellen,  wife  of  Joseph  R.  Sowers ;  and  Albert,  now  living  at  Shamo- 
kin.  Pa.  Mr.  Lord  subsequently  married  (second)  Lucretia  Hagar,  of  Orwigs- 
burg.  Pa.,  born  Jan.  15,  1834,  daughter  of  Peter  Hagar.  She  survived  him  a 
year,  dying  March  19,  1890.  To  this  union  also  were  born  four  children: 
Minnie  H.,  Mrs.  James  M.  Shellhammer;  Carrie,  wife  of  Edward  Boyer; 
Lulu,  Mrs.  Charles  Hummel ;  and  Hagar,  who  married  Emma  Brennaman. 

WILLIAM  G.  STITZER,  proprietor  of  Stitzer's  Cafe  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 
was  bom  in  that  borough  May  27,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  William  F.  Stitzer. 
The  family  is  of  German  ancestry. 

David  Stitzer,  the  first  of  the  family  on  record  in  America,  was  bom 
March  12,  1750,  in  Nova  Scotia,  whence  he  came  to  Philadelphia.  He  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  at  its  close  moved  to  Reading,  Berks  Co.,  Pa. 
His  wife,  Barbara  Ann  Elizabeth  (Pafenhouser),  was  a  native  of  Nova 
Scotia,  bom  March  10,  1754,  and  came  to  Philadelphia  in  1757.  Among  the 
children  of  this  couple,  was  John  D.,  the  grandfather  of  William  G.  Stitzer. 

John  D.  Stitzer  was  bom  at  Reading,  April  18,  1799,  and  learned  the  trade 
of  shoemaker.  For  a  time  he  lived  at  Rehrersburg,  Berks  county,  removing 
thence  in  1844  to  Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  died  at  Mahanoy  City,  June  27,  1879,  aged  eighty  years. 
He  was  originally  a  Whig,  but  became  a  Republican  after  the  ^formation  of 
that  party,  although  he  took  no  active  part  in  politics.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  On  Sept.  22,  1822,  Mr.  Stitzer  was  married  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Muhlenberg,  of  Reading,  to  Sarah  Hockaman,  who  was  born  Jan.  29, 
1806,  in  Tulpehocken,  Berks  county,  and  died  Sept.  18,  1884,  at  Minersville, 
Schuylkill  county.  Her  father,  Henry  Hockaman,  of  Stouchsburg,  Berks 
county,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in  1833  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stitzer  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children: 


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688  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

George  W.,  born  Nov.  17,  1823,  at  Reamstown,  Lancaster  county,  died  Oct. 
28,  1901 ;  Amelia  E.,  born  Nov.  19,  1825,  married  Morton  Swartz,  and  died 
Jan.  6,  1906;  Mary,  bom  Feb.  28,  1827,  married  Anthony  Lerch,  and  died  in 
Ohio,  June  14,  1904;  Harriet  S.,  bom  Oct.  31,  1828,  died  unmarried,  April 
6,  1847;  Sarah  Frances,  bom  Jan.  21,  1831,  married  En|^elbert  Geiger,  and 
died  Oct.  14,  1902;  John  Andrew,  bom  Feb.  i,  1833,  died  June  14,  i860; 
William  Foster  was  bom  Jan.  2,  1835;  a  daughter,  bom  Feb.  6,  1837,  died  in 
infancy;  Ann  Delilah,  bom  April  19,  1838,  lives  in  the  South;  Francis  A., 
born  Aug.  29,  1840,  at  Rehrersburg,  became  a  private  in  the  Union  army 
April  17,  1861,  and  served  throughout  the  war,  being  mustered  out  as  a  major 
July  27,  1865  (he  served  as  deputy  collector  of  internal  revenue  at  Easton,  Pa., 
for  fifteen  years,  and  Feb.  20,  1886,  removed  to  Cheyenne,  Wyo.,  becoming 
active  in  business  and  military  circles  in  that  State,  and  is  at  present  servii^f 
as  mayor  of  Laramie)  ;  David  Henry,  bom  June  7,  1843,  served  throujghout  the 
Civil  war,  afterwards  had  charge  of  the  Gordon  Plane  in  Schuylkill  county 
for  a  time,  and  then  removed  to  Kansas  and  engaged  in  farming,  dying  in 
that  State  Sept.  17,  191 1 ;  Catherine  E.,  bom  Sept.  25,  1845,  married  Solomon 
HoflFas  and  is  living  in  the  South;  Samuel,  bom  E^.  21,  1847,  di^d  Dec- 
6,  1900. 

William  Foster  Stitzer  was  bom  at  Rehrersburg,  Berks  county,  and 
attended  the  common  schools  there.  When  he  was  but  nine  years  of  age  he 
became  driver  of  a  towing  team  on  the  Schuylkill  canal,  following  that  line 
of  work  for  the  next  twenty-three  years,  becoming  a  captain  in  1855.  His 
boats  plied  between  Schuylkill  Haven  and  New  York  City.  In  1868  Mr. 
Stitzer  was  elected  constable  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  served  thereafter  for 
twenty-four  consecutive  years,  until  he  resigned.  In  1869  he  became 
borough  tax  collector,  discharging  his  duties  with  such  ability  as  to  be  chosen 
tax  collector  of  North  Manheim  township  three  times  and  of  Port  Qinton 
once.  In  1878  he  collected  $10,000  in  Shenandoah,  and  he  attained  the  repu- 
tation of  an  expert  collector  of  public  money.  He  also  followed  auctioneer- 
ing and  real  estate  selling,  for  eighteen  years  being  special  officer  for  the 
Reading  Railway  Company,  part  of  the  time  being  active  in  the  prosecution 
of  the  **Molly  Maguires,"  a  dangerous  business  in  those  times.  On  Feb.  9, 
1892,  Mr.  Stitzer  became  proprietor  of  a  hotel  and  restaurant — Stitzer  s 
Cafe — ^which  soon  developed  into  a  popular  place  under  his  management. 
In  1904  he  sold  out  to  his  son  William  G.  and  retired. 

In  1858  William  F.  Stitzer  was  married  to  Emma  Hammas,  daughter  of 
the  late  John  Hammas,  of  Oley,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  afterwards  of  Pottsville, 
where  he  died.  To  this  marriage  have  been  bom  eleven  children,  viz.: 
Charles  A.,  bom  Jan.  11,  1859,  a  dmggist,  living  in  Nebraska,  married  Grace 
Traver;  Horace  E.,  bom  June  i,  i^,  a  saddler,  is  residing  in  Nebraska? 
Sarah,  bom  March  7,  1869,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen ;  Annie  E.,  bom  Sept. 
21,  1863,  married  Benjamin  Kline,  of  Philadelphia;  a  daughter,  bom  June 
23,  1865,  died  in  infancy;  William  G.  is  mentioned  below;  Katie  M.,  bom 
Oct.  24,  1867,  married  Lewis  A.  Graeff,  of  Pottsville;  Emma  R.,  bom 
April  14,  1870,  died  in  infancy;  Mrs.  Frank  Heiser,  bom  Nov.  14,  1871, 
died  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  leaving  three  children ;  Ella  L.,  bom  July  8,  1874, 
is  a  deaconess  at  the  Lutheran  Mother  House  at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Carrie, 
bom  Jan.  18,  1876,  is  at  home;  Garfield  J.  A.  was  bom  March  4,  1881. 

William  F.  Stitzer  has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.    He 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  689 

has  been  a  lifelong  Republican,  and  has  taken  much  interest  in  local  politics. 
He  enlisted  for  the  Union  cause  July  4,  1863,  in  Company  I,  Thirty-ninth 
R^ment,  was  honorably  discharged  in  August  of  that  year,  and  is  a  member 
of  Hehns  Post,  No.  26,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

William  G.  Stitzer  attended  public  scHool  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  began 
his  business  career  by  clerking  in  the  hardware  store  of  J.  F.  Thompson  of 
that  town.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  went  to  Long  Tree  or  Central  City,. 
Nebr.,  where  he  spent  five  years  as  a  drug  clerk  and  five  years  as  a  clerk  in 
a  hardware  store.  Returning  to  Schuylkill  Haven  he  worked  with  his  father 
for  three  and  a  half  years,  going  then  to  Pottsville  to  work  for  Benjamin 
Zimmerman  for  a  time,  and  subsequently  for  six  years  with  Joseph  Klitch. 
In  1904  he  bought  the  cafe  in  Schuylkill  Haven  established  by  his  father 
and  conducted  it  at  the  old  stand  for  three  and  a  half  years.  He  next  pur- 
chased the  "Union  House,"  which  he  operated  for  a  year,  and  then  in 
November,  19 12,  bought  the  Huntzinger  property  on  Main  street,  which  is  a 
fine  location  for  his  business.  Here  he  has  developed  a  large  and  lucrative 
trade.  Mr.  Stitzer  is  a  member  of  the  Retail  Liquor  Dealers'  Association 
of  the  State  and  county,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Schuylkill  Haven  Hose 
Company. 

William  G.  Stitzer  was  married  Nov.  3,  1897,  to  Sarah  A.  Leitzel,  daugh- 
ter of  M.  E.  and  Elizabeth  (Weiser)  Leitzel,  the  latter  a  direct  descendant 
of  Conrad  Weiser,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
To  this  couple  has  been  bom  one  daughter,  Marion  Leitzel,  bom  at  Pottsville 
May  23,  1901. 

CAPT.  HANS  C.  CHRISTESON,  deceased,  who  was  for  many  years  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  his  part  of  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  in  Denmark 
March  13,  1825.  He  came  of  a  sea- faring  family,  and  was  brought  up  on  a 
vessel,  so  that  he  was  familiar  with  his  calling  from  childhood.  For  many 
years  he  followed  the  sea,  rising  to  be  captain,  and  became  the  owner  of  a  ves- 
sel that  carried  merchandise  between  San  Francisco  and  China  ports,  and 
between  New  York  and  South  American  ports,  and  also  made  several  voyages 
round  the  world.  When  the  gold  excitement  was  at  its  height,  in  1849,  Cap- 
tain Christeson  went  to  Calif omia,  and  for  several  years  thereafter  was  en- 
gaged in  prospecting.  Until  after  his  marriage  he  followed  the  sed,  and  then 
spent  some  time  in  New  York  City.  Subsequently  he  came  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  with  Charles  E.  Molly  embarked  in  general  merchandising  at  Pine  Grove. 
He  was  also  interested  in  a  furnace  at  this  point,  and  became  a  man  of  large 
affairs.  After  disposing  of  his  mercantile  interests  Captain  Christeson  went 
to  Mifflin,  now  Suedberg,  where  he  bought  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  opened 
a  general  store.  He  also  conducted  a  hotel,  and  took  an  active  part  in  hav- 
ing the  Lebanon  &  Tremont  branch  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  built  through 
this  section  of  the  county.  Not  only  did  he  secure  a  post  office  for  the  station, 
but  served  as  postmaster  until  his  death,  on  Jan.  26,  1878.  The  name  of  the 
post  office  was  changed  from  Mifflin,  as  it  was  originally  known,  to  Suedberg 
in  1882. 

Captain  Christeson  was  married  to  Louisa  Wies,  of  New  York  City,  who 
was  bom  in  Alsace-Lorraine,  France,  Nov.  24,  1836,  and  died  at  Suedberg, 
Pa.,  Feb.  3,  1912.  She  succeeded  her  husband  in  the  post  office,  and  continued 
to  operate  his  other  lines  of  business,  being  a  woman  of  unusual  capability. 


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690  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

The  following  children  were  born  to  this  couple :  Charles,  who  is  a  traveling 
salesman  living  at  Annville,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  was  at  one  time  postmaster  at 
Suedberg;  George  lives  at  St.  Louis;  Louisa,  who  spends  a  portion  of  her  time 
in  the  old  homestead  at  Suedberg,  was  appointed  postmistress  of  the  post 
office  at  this  point  April  i,  191 5;  six  other  children  are  deceased. 

Captain  Christeson  was  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. In  religious  faith  he  was  a  Lutheran,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in 
the  Lutheran  cemetery  at  Pine  Grove.  Few  people  of  their  day  stood  any 
higher  in  public  esteem  than  these  two,  and  they  are  remembered  with  affec- 
tionate reverence  by  those  who  had  the  honor  of  their  acquaintance. 

SAMUEL  OHI-  ranks  among  the  progressive  farmers  in  Rush  township, 
where  he  is  operating  a  valuable  farm  of  150  acres.  He  was  born  in  West 
Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  the  family  has  long  been  established 
in  this  section,  his  grandfather,  Samuel  Ohl,  having  lived  at  Lizard  Creek,  near 
the  border  line  of  Schuylkill  and  Carbon  counties.  He  followed  farming,  and 
died  there. 

John  Ohl,  son  of  Samuel  Ohl,  lived  for  a  number  of  years  in  West  Penn 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was  engaged  at  farming  and  carpenter 
work.  He  afterwards  moved  to  Ohio,  where  he  died.  To  his  marriage  with 
Sarah  Behler  were  bom  the  following  children :  Christina,  who  lives  in  Ohio ; 
Moses,  living  in  Berks  county,  Pa. ;  Samuel ;  Charles ;  Rosie ;  and  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  William  Balliett,  living  in  Ohio. 

Samuel  Ohl,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Behler)  Ohl,  was  bom  in  1857,  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  township,  becoming  fahiiliar  with  agricultural 
work  as  his  father's  assistant  on  the  home  place.  When  twenty  years  old  he 
married  and  went  out  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  a  time,  returning  to 
Schuylkill  county  and  locating  in  Tamaqua,  in  which  borough  he  resided  for 
eight  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  moved  to  Rush  township,  where  he 
had  bought  a  farm  of  150  acres  from  Schmit  &  Campion,  and  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  general  farming.  He  is  favorably  known  among  his  neighbors, 
who  appreciate  his  substantial  qualities  and  the  enterprise  he  has  shown  in 
developing  his  own  property,  which  reflects  credit  upon  the  entire  locality. 

Mr.  Ohl  married  Sarah  Dietrich,  daughter  of  Jacob  Dietrich,  and  seven 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely :  Cora,  who  is  living  in  the  South ; 
Gertrude,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Rank,  of  Mahanoy  City;  Earl,  Roy, 
Emma,  Dewey  and  Carrie,  all  living  at  home.  The  family  attend  the  Reformed 
Church. 

ALBERT  BALDINGER,  proprietor  of  a  general  store  and  confectionery 
at  Cressona,  in  North  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  Jan. 
16,  1862,  in  Albany  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Frederick  Baldinger,  a 
native  of  Germany. 

Frederick  Baldinger,  the  father  of  Albert  Baldinger,  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man  and  settled  at  Jacksonville,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a 
tailor  by  trade,  and  conducted  an  establishment  in  Jacksonville  until  his  death. 
He  married  Polly  Bolmer,  who  died  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county.  To 
this  marriage  was  bom  but  one  child,  Albert. 

Albert  Baldinger  was  reared  to  farm  work,  and  was  employed  by  neighbor- 
ing farmers  throughout  his  childhood.     Until  six  years  old  he  lived  with 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  691 

George  Greenawald,  and  he  was  employed  in  Albany  township  until  twelve 
years  old.  He  then  came  to  Auburn,  Schuylkill  county,  and  followed  carpet 
weaving  for  one  year,  and  was  with  Dr.  Quail  for  a  year.  He  next  turned  to 
railroad  work,  being  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
Company  from  Jan.  lo,  1881,  until  July  28,  1913.  He  came  to  Cressona 
April  25,  1896,  and  opened  his  present  store  on  Railroad  street  in  191 1.  Mr. 
Baldinger  carries  a  complete  line  of  goods  such  as  are  usually  found  in  a  gen- 
eral store,  besides  handling  ice  cream  and  confectionery. 

Mr.  Baldinger  was  married  at  Jefferson,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  to  Alice  Wike, 
of  this  county,  and  /to  them  have  been  bom  five  children :  Charles,  Irvin, 
Foster,  William  and  Frederick;  the  two  last  named  are  deceased.  Mr.  Bald- 
inger is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  was  elected  councilman  of  Cressona  in 
^91 3»  ^y  ^  large  majority,  and  takes  a  keen  interest  in  local  politics.  He  is  a 
popular  man  in  his  borough  and  is  known  as  an  enterprising  and  progressive 
citizen.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Relief  Association,  and  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Railroad  Trainmen. 

J.  F.  MINOGUE,  attorney  at  law,  Ashland,  Pennsylvania. 

JOSEPH  E.  BOE,  of  Tower  City,  who  has  recently  taken  the  position  of 
inside  foreman  at  the  West  Brookside  colliery,  has  had  a  thorough  experience 
in  that  capacity  in  the  course  of  his  long  employment  at  local  operations.  He 
is  very  well  known  in  fraternal  circles,  and  highly  esteemed  among  all  his 
acquaintances.  ^ 

Daniel  Boe,  father  of  Joseph  E.  Boe,  was  bom  in  the  Lebanon  valley,  in 
this  State,  whence  he  removed  to  Schuylkill  county.  He  had  followed  the 
blacksmith's  trade  for  some  time,  and  was  here  employed  as  engineer  at  vari- 
ous collieries,  first  at  the  Lorberry,  later  at  Rausch  Creek  and  the  Lincoln 
colliery.  He  died  at  Joliett,  in  Porter  township,  this  county.  To  his  marriage 
with  Mary  Fessler  were  bom  the  following  children:  Ida,  who  married  Henry 
Harvey;  Thopolius,  deceased;  Annie,  wiJFe  of  John  Minnig;  Joseph  E. ;  and 
Ellen  Amanda,  wife  of  Frank  Schell. 

Joseph  E.  Boe  was  bom  Jan.  3,  1870,  in  Tremont  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  attended  public  school  there  and  aliso  in  Porter  township.  He 
b^^n  mine  work  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  picking  slate  at  the  breaker,  and 
was  advanced  to  more  responsible  jobs  as  he  became  competent  until  he  reached 
the  grade  of  regular  miner,  being  so  engaged  for  about  ten  years.  He  was 
then  made  assistant  inside  foreman  at  the  Lincoln  colliery,  serving  as  such 
until  1902,  when  he  was  promoted  to  inside  foreman  there,  holding  that  posi- 
tion to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned  until  July,  191 5,  when  transferred 
to  a  similar  post  at  the  West  Brookside  colliery.  Mr.  Boe  has  attended  to 
his  duties  intelligently  and  conscientiously,  adding  constantly  to  his  good  repu- 
tation by  his  strict  adherence  to  the  highest  standards  of  efficiency  in  the  work 
carried  on  under  his  direction.  He  has  won  his  way  forward  entirely  on  his 
own  merit,  and  deserves  all  the  credit  for  his  steady  advancement.  Socially 
he  has  numerous  connections,  belonging  to  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  the  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Eagle,  Knights  of  Malta,  Red  Men  and  Royal  Arcanum. 

Mr.  Boe  married  Daisy  Shellenberger,  daughter  of  Alonzo  Shellenberger, 
of  Shenandoah,  this  county,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children :  Daniel, 


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692  /      SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

William,  Jennie  and  Grace.    Their  home  is  at  Tower  City.    The  family  are 
members  of  the  English  Lutheran  Church. 

E.  C.  MALARKEY,  Girardville,  Pennsylvania,  district  manager  for  the 
Cunningham  Piano  Company. 

HARRY  p.  REED,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  belongs  to  a  family  which  has 
been  resident  in  Schuylkill  county  for  several  generations  and  at  all  times  repre- 
sented among  the  best  citizenship  of  this  region.  He  himself  has  made  a  sub- 
stantial success  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  for  though  he  has  been  in  business 
on  his  own  account  only  a  few  years  he  has  established  a  reputation  for- 
reliable  work  and  conscientious  attention  to  his  obligations  which  inspires  the 
confidence  necessary  to  steady  patronage. 

John  Reed,  great-grandfather  of  Harry  D.  Reed,  lived  at  Reedsville,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  was  one  of  the  well  known  farmers  of  that  section  in  his  day. 
He  owned  the  tract  now  in  the  possession  of  Oscar  Mengle.  He  was  twice 
married,  his  second  wife  being  named  Kimmel,  and  they  are  buried  at  Reeds- 
ville. To  this  marriage  were  bom  children  as  follows :  George,  William,  Daniel 
K.,  Elias,  Hannah  (married  Peter  Reed)  and  Elizabeth  (married  William 
Fehr). 

I>anfiel  K.  Reed,  son  of  John,  above,  was  bom  at  Reedsville  and  like  his 
father  followed  farming.  He  was  also  an  auctioneer,  his  services  being  in 
great  demand.  After  his  marriage  he  removed  to  Wayne  township,  where 
he  had  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  he  died  there  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years; 
he  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Friedensburg.  He  married  Susan  Berger, 
daughter  of  Ludwig  Berger,  of  North  Manheim  township,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Lyman  G.  is  mentioned  below ;  Mendon 
died  at  Friedensburg,  this  county;  Elizabeth  married  Lewis  J.  Brown,  who 
lived  at  Cressona  ( he  was  a  school  teacher  for  sixteen  years,  served  as  steward 
at  the  county  almshouse,  was  at  one  time  county  commissioner,  and  was  a  justice 
of  the  peace)  ;  Arabella  married  William  W.  Berkheiser,  and  is  living  in  South 
Manheim  township;  Ida  married  Lewis  E.  Brown,  of  Washington  township, 
and  both  are  deceased;  Gordon  D.,  who  was  also  steward  at  the  Almshouse, 
is  the  father  of  Frederick  B.  Reed,  present  postmaster  of  Schuylkill  Haven; 
Sherman  H.  is  a  farmer  and  auctioneer,  living  near  Cressona  (he  was  jury 
commissioner  for  six  years),  Annie  married  George  Emerich. 

Lyman  G.  Reed  was  bom  at  Friedensburg,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  con- 
tinues to  resic^e,  engaged  in  farming  and  as  an  auctioneer,  in  the  latter  line 
having  been  in  partnership  with  his  brother  Shermjin  H.  Reed  for  over  thirty 
years ;  their  services  are  in  great  demand.  Lyman  G.  Reed  has  also  had  the 
contract  as  Star  route  carrier  from  Friedensburg  to  Schuylkill  Haven  for  eight 
years.  He  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Werner),  have  spent  all  their  married 
life  on  the  farm.  Eight  children  have  been  bom  to  them,  namely :  ( i )  Harry  D. 
is  mentioned  below.  (2)  Ida  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Dietrich,  who  lives  on  the  old 
Neri  Dietrich  farm  near  Friedensburg  and  is  a  very  successful  agriculturist. 
They  have  one  son,  Claudie.  (3)  Katie  is  married  to  Robert  Fenstermaker, 
and  has  two  children,  Norman  and  Elizabeth.  They  reside  on  Centre  avenue, 
in  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  Mr.  Fenstermaker  is  engaged  as  a  carpenter  at  the 
Pottsville  Union  Traction  car  barn,  Palo  Alto,  holding  a  responsible  position; 
(4)  James  L.,  who  lives  with  his  parents,  is  engaged  as  a  carpenter  for  his 
brother,  Harry  D.  Reed,  and  gives  every  indication  of  becoming  a  successful 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  693 

mechanic.  (5)  Estella  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  L.  Weidner,  who  holds  a  lucrative 
position  in  an  iron  foundry  at  Reading,  and  they  reside  there,  at  No.  1654  North 
Tenth  street.  They  have  two  children,  Williard  and  Elizabeth.  (6)  George  L., 
who  is  living  at  home  on  the  farm,  first  attended  the  schools  of  Wayne  town- 
ship, graduated  from  Cressona  high  school,  subsequently  studied  at  the  Key- 
stone State  Normal  School  (Kutztown,  Pa.),  and  took  a  course  at  Conway 
Hall,  one  of  the  departments  of  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  graduating 
therefrom.  For  three  terms  he  taught  school,  l^ing  engaged  at  the  Reed's 
school  at  Friedensburg,  the  Drehersville  school  and  the  grammar  school  at 
Quakake,  and  is  now  a  law  student,,  reading  in  the  office  of  Charles  E.  Berger, 
Esq.,  one  of  the  best  lawyers  at  the  Schuylkill  county  bar.  For  a  brief  period 
he  was  employed  by  the  Rakestraw  Pyle  Company,  of  Kenneh  Square,  Pa.,  as 
salesman,  and  had  splendid  success.  During  the  existence  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Chestnut  Blight  Commission  he  was  appointed  as  field  agent  and  located 
in  western  Pennsylvania,  where  he  served  with  credit.  (7)  Robert  R.,  the 
youngest  son,  living  at  home,  helps  on  the  farm,  serves  as  assistant  mail  driver, 
and  has  also  put  in  considerable  time  at  carpenter  work  under  his  brother's 
direction.  (8)  Edna  M.,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  also  lives  at  home,  helping 
her  mother  and  following  dressmaking.  She  is  a  pianist  of  great  promise.  All 
of  the  family  but  Mrs.  Reed  and  Edna  have  affiliated  with  the  Reformed 
Church,  the  others  being  Lutherans. 

Harry  D.  Reed  was  bom  Aug.  i,  1877,  at  Friedensburg,  Schuylkill  county, 
was  reared  upon  the  home  farm,  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  locality. 
When  twenty-one  years  old  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter,  at  which 
occupation  he  has  since  been  engaged,  following  it  in  the  employ  of  others 
until  1910,  the  year  he  commenced  business  on  his  own  responsibility.  He  has 
had  a  number  of  contracts  for  houses  and  barns,  having  done  considerable 
work  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  which  stands  as  a  credit  to  his  workmanship  and 
intelligent  understanding  of  up-to-date  methods  and  ideas  in  his  calling.  He 
keeps  several  men  regularly  eipployed.  Mr.  Reed  has  his  residence  and  shop 
on  the  same  property,  at  Union  street  and  Avenue  A.  He  has  every  promise 
of  a  prosperous  cfereer. 

Mr.  Reed  is  married  to  Estella  Hughes,  daughter  of  Isaac  Hughes,  and 
they  have  three  children :  Melvin,  Gertrude  and  Frederick.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  fraternally  belongs  to  Washington  Camp,  No. 
264,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  Friedensburg ;  to  Page  Lodge,  No.  270,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  and 
to  the  Owls  and  Heptasophs  at  Schuylkill  Haven. 

IRVIN  L.  LAUTENBACHER,  member  of  the  firm  of  Schwenk  &  Co., 
whose  underwear  mill  at  Schuylkill  Haven  is  one  of  the  growing  industrial . 
plants  of  the  borough,  is  at  present  giving  all  his  time  to  the  direction  of  its 
operation,  though  until  recently  he  was  carrying  other  business  responsibilities 
as  well.  Mr.  Lautenbacher  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill  Haven  and  of  German 
descent,  being  the  youngest  son  of  the  late  Charles  Lautenbacher. 

Charles  Lautenbacher  was  born  July  15,  1832,  in  Germany,  being  a  native 
of  Ballafengen,  in  the  grand  duchy  of  Baden.  Coming  to  America  when  nine- 
teen years  old,  he  first  located  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  living  there  for  some  time, 
and  he  was  employed  in  the  construction  of  the  stone  work  of  the  well  known  ^ 
"Continental  Hotel'*  in  that  city.  Thence  he  removed  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  and 
subsequently  to  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  Camden,  N.  J.,  his  next  location  being  at 
Kutztown,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  some  time  and  married.     From  there  he 


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694  SChUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

came  to  Schuylkill  Haven,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  made  a  permanent 
home,  engaging  in  his  calling  of  marble  and  stone  cutter  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Aug.  9,  1881.  At  Kutztown  he  met  and  married  Sarah  Ann  Graeff, 
who  was  bom  Dec.  17,  1831,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Kutz)  GraeflF,  and 
died  Aug.  17,  1904.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lautenbacher  were  bom  three  children: 
Jeremiah  C,  Irvin  L.  and  Flora. 

Mrs.  Lautenbacher  was  a  native  of  Kutztown,  Berks  county,  which  place 
was  so  named  in  honor  of  her  maternal  ancestors,  who  were  early  pioneers  of 
that  county.  They  experienced  the  usual  hardships  and  dangers  of  the  days 
when  the  Indians  were  numerous  and  hostile,  and  there  is  a  well  established 
tradition  in  the  family  that  her  great-grandfather  had  a  secret  cave  to  which 
he  could  retire  with  his  family  in  emergency,  and  that  the  Indians  never  suc- 
ceeded in  locating  this  hiding  place.  George  Kutz  bought  a  tract  of  130  acres 
from  Peter  Wentz  in  1755,  and  there  in  1779  laid  out  the  town  which  has 
developed  into  one  of  the  important  boroughs  of  Berks  county  and  still  bears 
his  name.  The  first  tax  list  of  the  borough,  made  in  1817,  records  the  follow- 
ing Kutzes:  Peter,  tinsmith;  Adam,  carpenter;  Jacob,  mason;  John,  tailor; 
Peter  (who  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier)  ;  Daniel ;  and  Solomon,  butcher. 

Solomon  Kutz,  the  last  named,  was  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lautenbacher. 
He  was  long  engaged  as  a  butcher  at  Kutztown,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety- 
two  years.  Among  his  children  were  the  following :  Mary,  Mrs.  John  GraeflF, 
died  at  Kutztown  when  seventy-nine  years  old ;  her  children  were  Daniel,  John, 
Catherine  (Mrs.  John  Stickman)  and  Sarah  Ann  (Mrs.  Charles  Lautenbacher). 
Lydia,  who  died  at  West  Pemi,  Pa.,  was  the  wife  of  Oscar  Sheetz  and  mother 
of  Oscar,  Buchanan,  Tillie  and  Sara.  Reuben  lived  and  died  at  Ktitztown. 
Louisa  married  Daniel  Kutz,  son  of  Benjamin,  and  lived  at  Kutztown,  now 
(1914)  aged  eighty-six  years.  Susanna  married  Harry  Shide  and  lives  at 
Kutztown,  now  aged  eighty-four  years. 

Irvin  L.  Lautenbacher  was  bom  at  Schuylkill  Haven  Feb.  21,  1862,  and 
received  his  preparatory  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  borough,  attend- 
ing high  school.  He  then  took  a  course  at  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Phar- 
macy, graduating  in  1885,  and  followed  his  calling  at  Schuylkill  Haven  for  the 
three  years  succeeding.  Removing  to  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county,  this 
State,  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  on  his  own  account,  and  was  estab- 
lished there  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  re- 
tumed  to  his  native  place,  where  he  went  into  business  as  a  confectioner  and 
ice  cream  manufacturer,  continuing  in  this  line  until  the  fall  of  1913,  when  he 
sold  out  to  give  all  his  attention  to  the  knitting  mill  in  which  he  had  become 
interested  in  the  meantime.  It  was  in  1910  that  he  took  up  the  manufacture 
of  underwear  in  partnership  with  M.  G.  Schwenk,  and  they  have  since  been 
doing  business  as  Schwenk  &  Co.,  having  a  well  equipped  plant  at  Schuylkill 
Haven.  Their  building  is  40  by  75  feet  in  dimensions,  and  from  thirty  to  forty 
people  are  given  steady  employment  in  the  production  of  ladies'  Swiss  ribbed 
underwear,  for  which  the  firm  has  found  a  steady  demand.  Mr.  Lautenbacher 
and  his  partner  are  men  of  high  business  principle,  and  their  conscientious  en- 
deavors to  put  a  high-grade  product  on  the  market  have  met  with  substantial 
approval  in  the  form  of  wide  patronage.  Mr.  Lautenbacher  has  proved  his 
executive  qualities  and  versatility  in  the  success  he  has  made  of  his  various 
ventures,  diflfering  so  widely  in  nature,  and  in  all  his  associations  he  has  shown 
the  spirit  of  accommodation  to  patrons  and  efforts  to  meet  their  wants  which 
cannot  fail  to  attract  trade.    He  is  a  man  of  commendable  personal  character, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  -695 

a  credit  to  a  name  which  has  always  been  synonymous  in  the  community  with 
honesty  of  purpose  and  dignified  labor. 

Mr.  Lautenbacher  married  Kate  E.  Schwenk,  daughter  of  Jacob  R.  and 
Mary  A.  (Crebs)  Schwenk  and  member  of  an  old  family  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 
They  have  had  three  children:  Ivan  L.,  now  a  clerk  in  the  railway  mail 
service  and  located  at  Tyrone,  Pa. ;  Ruth  A.  and  Kathryn,  both  at  home.  The 
family  reside  on  Main  street.  They  are  members  of  the  United  Evangelical 
Church. 

JAMES  H.  FISTER,  late  of  Pottsville,  passed  most  of  his  life  in  that 
borough,  having  moved  here  in  boyhood.  He  was  a  native  of  Bloomsburg, 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  bom  in  183 1,  and  finished  his  schooling  at  Pottsville.  For 
several  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  his  uncle,  Mr.  Silliman,  who  was  a  large 
coal  operator,  acting  for  some  time  as  superintendent  of  his  mines.  He  then 
became  a  mail  agent»  between  Pottsville  and  Philadelphia,  on  the  railroad, 
leaving  Pottsville  at  eight  in  the  morning  and  returning  at  eight  in  the  even- 
ing. He  was  so  engaged  for  many  years.  At  one  time  he  was  agent  for  the 
old  Howard  Express  Company,  when  its  offices  were  on  South  Centre  street, 
Pottsville,  where  the  Miller  automobile  store  is  now  located.  The  business 
of  this  company  was  eventually  taken  over  by  the  Adams  Express  Company. 
However,  he  was  best  known  as  justice  of  the  peace,  to  which  office  he  was 
first  elected  in  1890,  succeeding  Charles  G.  Reed,  who  had  been  appointed 
by  Governor  Beaver  to  succeed  his  father  upon  the  latter's  death.  Mr.  Fister 
continued  to  serve  as  justice  of  the  peace  until  that  office  was  abolished  several 
years  ago,  by  a  new  charter  which  Pottsville  received,  at  the  time  of  the 
annexation  of  Yorkville.  He  then  took  out  a  conmiission  as  notary  public, 
and  continued  to  act  as  such  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  3,  1914,  at 
his  home.  No.  300  Mahantongo  street.  Mr.  Fister  also  maintained  his  office 
at  that  location,  where  he  had  been  established  for  many  years,  and  he  was 
widely  acquainted  in  Pottsville,  his  upright,  unassuming  life  gaining  him  the 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Mr.  Fister  was  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  Republican  on  political  questions. 
He  never  married.  He  had  several  brothers  and  sisters  who  lived  in  Schuylkill 
county,  but  all  predeceased  him. 

CHARLES  K.  BOWEN,  engaged  in  the  coal  washing  business  at  Adams- 
dale,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  in  North  Manheim  township,  that  county, 
Sept.  16,  1884,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  K.  Bowen,  grandson  of  Martin  Bowen, 
and  great-grandson  of  John  Bowen,  the  latter  a  forgeman  and  pioneer  farmer 
of  Port  ainton,  Schuylkill  county. 

Marfin  Bowen  was  a  farmer  during  all  of  his  active  years.  At  the  death  of 
his  father  he  inherited  a  third  of  the  homestead  (sixty-five  acres),  which  he 
cultivated,  later  buying  the  old  Kershner  farm  of  fifty-four  acres.  Both  of 
these  properties  were  in  North  Manheim  township.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Jemsalem  Union  Church 
at  Schuylkill  Haven,  of  which  he  was  an  active  Lutheran  member  and  one  of 
the  building  committee  which  supervised  its  erection.  Mr.  Bowen  was  wedded 
to  Mary  Kershner,  and  to  them  these  children  were  bom:  Charles  K. ; 
Amanda,  deceased,  who  was  married  to  Jacob  Kirk ;  Matilda,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty-nine  years;  Louis,  unmarried,  living  in  North  Manheim  town- 


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696  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ship;  John  A.,  living  in  Schuylkill  Haven;  and  Morris  W.,  a  prominent  fanner 
of  North  Manheim  township. 

Charles  K.  Bowen,  father  of  Charles  K.  Bowen,  was  bom  on  the  home- 
stead in  North  Manheim  township,  and  was  an  agriculturist  all  of  his  days. 
He  married  Mary  Staller,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children,  viz. :  Harry,  Gussie, 
Edward,  William,  Howard,  Samuel,  Elsie,  Charles  K.,  and  two  who  died  young. 
Charles  K.  Bowen  died  in  his  forty-fifth  year,  and  after  his  death  the  widow 
married  Morris  W.  Bowen,  his  brother.  To  this  latter  union  two  children  were 
bom,  Warren  and  Lister. 

Charles  K.  Bowen,  son  of  Charles  K.,  attended  the  schools  of  North  Man- 
heim township  and  worked  upon  the  home  farm  for  a  time.  He  then  went  to 
Moimt  Carbon  and  worked  in  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  car  shops  for  four 
years,  after  which  he  took  up  the  occupation  of  coal  washing,  which  he  has 
followed  ever  since.  He  has  his  washery  at  Landingville,  fitted  with  all  the 
latest  machinery,  and  is  doing  a  large  business,  selling  his  coal  both  wholesale 
and  retail.    He  was  formerly  associated  in  business  with  Irvin  Alsbach. 

Mr.  Bowen  is  a  public-spirited  man  and  is  popular  with  all  classes  of  pec^le 
in  his  vicinity.  He  resides  in  a  beautiful  home  at  Adamsdale.  He  is  fond 
of  automobiling  and  owns  a  fine  seven-passenger  touring  car,  from  which 
he  and  his  wife  obtain  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  and  recreation.  Mr.  Bowen 
was  married  to  Anna  Aulenbach,  daughter  of  Pierce  and  Mary  (Moyer)  Aulen- 
bach.  They  have  no  children.  He  is  a  member  of  Christ's  Lutheran  Church 
of  Schuylkill  Haven,  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Patriotic 
Order  Sons  of  America  at  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Pierce  Aulenbach,  father  of  Mrs.  Bowen,  resided  at  Adamsdale  and  was  a 
carpenter  by  occupation.  He  married  Mary  Moyer,  of  Bernville,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  and  they  had  children:  Samuel,  of  Schuylkill  Haven;  Anna,  wife  of 
Charles  K.  Bowen;  Cora,  wife  of  Irvin  Alsbach;  Sadie;  Robert;  Hartie;  Ray- 
mond, and  Hannah.  Mr.  Aulenbach  died  May  5,*  1906,  at  Adamsdale,  and  is 
buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Zion's  (Red)  Cliurch. 

CHARLES  QUANDEL,  at  present  serving  as  fire  chief  of  Minersville,  is 
also  one  of  the  respected  business  men  of  that  borough,  where  he  has  built 
up  a  profitable  contracting  business.  Formerly  he  was  also  engaged  in  the 
burning  of  lime.  He  was  bom  at  Minersville,  April  3,  1875,  son  of  Emil  Quan- 
del.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Berlin,  Germany,  came  to  America  when  a 
young  man,  and  first  settled  at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  Later  he  removed 
to  Minersville,  where  he  became  engaged  in  lime  burning,  following  this  busi- 
ness for  many  years.  His  death  occurred  suddenly  at  Shenandoah,  this  county, 
and  he  is  buried  at  Minersville.  By  his  marriage  to  Wilhelmina  Vonder-Heiden 
he  had  three  children :  F.  J.  R.,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. ; 
William,  of  New  Jersey ;  and  Charles. 

Charles  Quandel  grew  up  to  manhood  at  Minersville  and  attended  the 
public  schools  in  his  boyhood.  In  his  early  life  he  became  employed  at  lime 
burning  for  a  time,  and  also  in  the  cement  and  concrete  business,  and  in  191 2 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  to  which  he  has  since  added  contracting  and 
building.  His  combined  interests  oflfer  him  steady  employment,  and  he  is  well 
known  in  his  line  for  reliable  dealings  and  uprightness  in  all  his  transactions. 
Since  191 2  Mr.  Quandel  has  been  fire  chief  at  Minersville,  an  honor  which 
indicates  unquestionably  the  confidence  which  his  fellow  citizens  repose  in  him. 
He  is  well  known  in  the  local  fratemal  bodies,  being  a  member  of  Minersville 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  697 

Lodge,  No.  222,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  of  the  chapter  at  Minersville ;  commandery  at 
Pottsville,  and  Philadelphia  Consistory,  having  attained  tfie  thirty-second 
d^ee;  he  also  belongs  to  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  at  Reading,  Pa. 
Besides  his  Masonic  connections  he  holds  membership  in  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 

Mr.  Quandel  married  Bessie  Noble,  of  Pottsville,  daughter  of  William 
Noble,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.,  and  granddaughter  of  the  late  John  T.  and  Sarah 
Noble;  John  T.  Noble  was  the  proprietor  of  the  iron  works  which  bore  his 
name.  The  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Quandel  are :  Adda  M.,  Doris  May 
and  C.  Nobel. 

MAJ.  JOHN  F.  OWENS,  of  Pottsville,  has  the  distinction  of  being  the 
oldest  member  of  the  National  Guard  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  He  has 
been  on  the  retired  list  of  that  body  since  1909,  but  he  is  still  connected  with 
the  service,  being  at  present  caretaker  of  the  new  State  Armory  at  Pottsville. 
Major  Owens  was  bom  in  this  city  Aug.  16,  1851,  son  of  Thomas  Owens,  a 
native  of  Wales,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in  young  manhood  and  settled 
in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed  mining.  He  died  at  Potts- 
ville, and  is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  there.  His  wife  was  Hannah 
Mitchel. 

Major  Owens  received  a  common  school  education,  and  in  his  youth  did 
day^s  work  until  he  entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  Spark,  with  whom  he  learned  the 
trade  of  boilermaker.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  shops  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Company,  where  he  was  employed  at  boilermaking  until  191 1 — a 
long  period  of  service  with  the  same  concern.  Then  for  a  few  years  he  was 
tipstaff  at  the  courthouse,  and  in  January,  1914,  he  became  caretaker  at  the 
new  State  Armory  in  Pottsville,  which  position  he  now  holds.  Major  Owens 
is  particularly  well  known  in  his  long  association  with  the  Pennsylvania  National 
Guard,  in  which  he  enlisted  Oct.  i,  1870,  as  a  member  of  Company  G,  7th  Regi- 
ment, Light  Infantry  of  Pottsville.  His  record  is  as  follows :  "Corporal,  Com- 
pany G,  7th  Regiment,  N.  G.  of  Pa.,  Feb.  10,  1877;  Corporal,  Company  F, 
1st  R^ment,  Inf.  Vol.,  Aug.  23,  1877;  Sergeant,  Company  G,  7th  Regiment, 
N.  G.  of  Pa.,  Dec.  8,  1877 ;  First  Sergeant,  Company  H,  8th  Regiment,  N.  G. 
of  Pa.,  June  5,  1882;  second  lieutenant,  Company  H,  8th  Regiment,  N.  G.  of 
Pa.,  July  2,  1889 ;  first  lieutenant.  Company  H,  8th  Regiment,  N'.  G.  of  Pa,,  July 
19,  1889;  captain,  Company  H,  8th  Regiment,  N.  G.  of  Pa.,  April  23,  1894; 
Major,  8th  Regiment,  Oct.  18,  1892."  On  Aug.  12,  1909,  Major  Owens  was 
placed  on  the  retired  list.  He  has  a  fine  medal,  presented  to  him  in  recognition 
of  his  extended  service.  His  association  with  Good  Intent  Fire  Company  has 
covered  almost  as  long  a  period,  he  having  joined  that  organization  forty  years 
ago. 

On  Dec.  16,  1875,  Major  Owens  married  Mary  McGinley,  by  which  union 
he  had  three  children:  Frances,  John  and  Anna  (deceased).  His  second  mar- 
riage was  to  Emma  Heffner,  daughter  of  the  late  Edward  Heffner,  who  at  one 
time  served  as  burgess  of  Pottsville,  and  to  them  were  bom  two  children: 
Harry,  a  civil  and  mining  engineer,  now  located  at  Wiikes-Barre,  Pa.;  and 
Arthur,  a  machinist,  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  and 
Iron  Company  at  Pottsville.  For  his  third  wife  Major  Owens  married  Mary 
Flummer,  and  four  children  were  bom  to  this  marriage:  William,  Anna, 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth. 

The  Major  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.    He  does  not  identify 


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698  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

himself  with  any  political  party,  voting  independently  on  all  questions.  He  is 
a  citizen  who  holds  the  unqualified  respect  of  his  fellow  men  wherever  known, 
and  has  made  a  record  of  faithful  service  in  every  capacity  of  which  he  may 
well  be  proud  and  which  entitles  him  to  high  regard. 

ELVIN  W.  KEITH,  M.  D.,  of  Minersville,  though  just  at  the  outset  of 
his  professional  career  has  every  promise  of  success  in  his  chosen  calling,  for 
which  he  has  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  thoroughly  prepared.  He  is  a  native 
of  Luzerne  coimty,  Pa.,  born  Aug.  26,  1886,  at  Stockton.  His  father,  George 
Keith,  came  to  America  from  Germany  when  a  child  and  made  his  home  in 
Luzerne  coimty,  Pa.,  for  many  years.  By  trade  he  was  a  carpenter,  and  for 
many  years  was  engaged  in  contracting  in  that  line  where  he  now  resides. 
He  is  carpenter  foreman  at  the  Pine  Hill  coUiery.  He  married  Martha  Schnei- 
der, and  they  have  the  following  children :  Orthia,  Mrs.  Georee  Pettit ;  Anna, 
Mrs.  Eilus  Saylor ;  George,  of  Nazareth,  Pa. ;  Regina,  wife  of  Frank  Snyder, 
postmaster  of  Minersville;  Harry,  of  Minersville;  Elvin  W.;  Stanley,  of  South 
Bethlehem,  Pa. ;  and  Hilda,  Mrs.  Fred  German,  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey. 

Elvin  W.  Keith  attended  public  school  and  was  graduated  from  the  Miners- 
ville high  school  in  the  class  of  1907.  He  then  took  his  professional  course, 
at  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  from  which  inkitution  he  was 
graduated  in  1913.  During  the  year  following  he  was  stationed  at  the  Potts- 
ville  Hospital,  on  June  i,  1914,  locating  at  Minersville,  where  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  general  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Schuylkill  County  Medical 
Society  and  the  American  Medical  Association.  Dr.  Keith  has  made  an 
excellent  start  and  is  gaining  steadily  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  resi- 
dents of  Minersville  and  vicinity.  He  is  married  to  Helen  C.  Dougherty.  The 
Keith  family  are  Methodists  in  religious  faith. 

MANUEL  W.  BROMMER,  of  Landingville,  Schuylkill  county,  seems  to 
have  found  the  solution  of  being  "pleasantly  and  profitably  employed"  for  him- 
self, at  any  rate,  and  his  beautifully  kept  little  property  is  one  of  the  features 
of  the  neighborhood,  where  enterprises  similar  to  his  are  rare.  For  a  ntunber 
of  years  Mr.  Brommer  was  an  employee  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Rail- 
road Company,  and  in  that  capacity  and  as  hotelkeeper  at  Landingville,  he  has 
a  very  wide  acquaintance.  Bom  Nov.  6,  1857,  in  South  Manheim  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  he  is  a  son  of  Lewis  Brommer  and  grandson  of  Henry 
Brommer.  The  latter  came  to  this  country  from  Germany  with  his  wife  and 
one  child,  and  settled  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  By  trade  he 
was  a  carpenter,  and  as  such  was  employed  at  the  locks  when  the  Schuylkill 
canal  was  under  construction. 

Lewis  Brommer,  father  of  Manuel  W.  Brommer,  was  bom  in  Wayne 
township.  While  living  in  Schuylkill  county  he  followed  farming,  and  in  1879 
he  moved  out  to  Missouri,  settling  at  Boonville,  where  he  continued  agricultural 
pursuits,  also  making  a  specialty  of  hog  raising.  He  prospered  and  continued 
to  reside  there  until  his  death.  His  wife  was  Eliza  Reber,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Reber,  and  they  had  children  as  follows :  Manuel  W.,  Morris,  Harry,  Robert, 
Francis,  Fulton,  Carrie,  Jennie  and  Pearl. 

Manuel  W.  Brommer  attended  public  school  during  his  boyhood,  and  later, 
in  1874-75,  was  a  student  of  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown, 
Pa.  In  his  young  manhood  he  taught  six  terms  of  school  in  Schuylkill  county, 
after  which  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  699 

Company.  Following  a  short  experience  as  brakeman  he  became  conductor  of 
a  freight  train,  and  soon  afterwards  a  passenger  train,  for  eight  years  being 
so  engaged  on  the  best  train  on  his  division,  the  "Cannon  Ball,"  running 
between  Pottsville  and  Philadelphia.  His  emplo)mient  with  the  railroad  com- 
pany extended  over  a  period  of  twenty  vears,  and  he  retired  in  1899,  at  which 
time  he  bought  the  hotel  at  Landingville.  He  conducted  it  as  proprietor  for 
seven  years,  leasing  the  property,  and  made  a  thorough  success  of  his  business, 
but  gave  it  up  to  enter  his  present  line,  the  raising  of  high-grade  chickens. 

Mr.  Brommer  has  bought  the  small  piece  of  ground  on  the  road  running 
west  from  Landingville,  a  short  distance  from  the  railroad  station,  two  and  a 
quarter  acres,  which  was  all  woodland  when  it  came  into  his  possession.  He 
put  up  a  little  two-story  house,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and  during  the  inter- 
vening years  has  improved  the  place  with  the  idea  of  making  it  an  ideal  poultry 
establishment.  Most  of  his  land  is  on  a  hillside,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  is 
a  fine  stream  of  clear  water,  a  great  advantage  for  his  purpose.  He  has  eight 
pens,  8  by  10  feet  in  size,  with  wire  inclosures  10  by  100  feet  for  each,  the 
latter  extending  down  the  slope  of  the  hill  to  the  creek  at  the  bottom.  The 
houses  are  of  the  open  front  variety,  protected  in  the  winter  by  muslin  curtains. 
After  considerable  study  of  the  various  breeds  of  poultry,  Mr.  Brommer 
decided  on  the  White  Leghorns,  which  he  keeps  exclusively,  and  after  import- 
ing a  pen  of  Tom  Barron  Single  Comb  White  Leghorns  from  Preston,  England, 
he  had  such  favorable  results  that  he  has  tried  no  other  kind  since.  At  present 
he  has  about  one  himdred  and  fifty  chickens,  old  and  young,  and  the  effect 
of  scientific  feeding  and  unremitting  care  is  very  well  demonstrated,  for  often, 
even  during  the  winter  season,  he  gathers  as  many  eggs  daily  as  there  are  hens 
in  the  pens.  The  ^gs  are  always  very  large,  averaging  nearly  two  pounds  to 
the  dozen,  and  he  has  been  unable  to  supply  the  demand  for  hatching  purposes. 
In  one  season  from  his  small  flock  he  has  disposed  of  more  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  worth  in  eggs  for  hatching  purposes.  Mr.  Brommer  has  made 
a  thorough  study  of  feed,  housing  and  the  ideal  conditions  for  his  stock,  and 
though  he  has  taken  infinite  pains  and  neglected  no  precautions  to  keep  the 
chickens  in  the  best  condition,  his  arrangements  have  been  so  perfected  that  he 
is  able  to  accomplish  all  the  necessary  work  with  the  minimum  of  labor. 
Qeanliness  is  the  prime  consideration,  whitewash  is  used  plentifully  wherever 
needed,  and  all  of  the  property  is  kept  in  a  most  attractive  state,  neatness  and 
true  economy  being  the  most  conspicuous  characteristics.  The  feed  house  is  one 
of  the  best  arranged  in  the  country.  Mr.  Brommer  erected  it  especially  for  his 
purpose  and  it  is  admirably  equipped,  about  20  feet  square  and  three  stories 
high.  The  lower  floor  is  used  for  the  mixing  of  the  feed  and  provided  with 
two  large  mixing  troughs,  a  grinder  and  a  gasoline  engine.  After  being  mixed 
in  the  trough  the  feed  is  ground,  and  then  placed  in  the  hopper  and  fed.  The 
hoppers  are  large  enough  to  hold  a  week's  supply  of  grain,  thus  eliminating 
much  of  the  work  of  feeding.  The  second  floor  is  so  arranged  that  a  team  can 
back  up  against  the  front  from  the  road  and  deliver  the  bags  of  feed  right  on 
the  floor.  The  bins,  six  in  number,  with  a  capacity  of  400  bushels,  are  on  this 
floor,  three  on  either  side  of  the  aisle.  These  bins  are  equipped  on  the  bottom 
with  chutes,  leading  into  and  operated  from  the  basement,  and  when  Mr. 
Brommer  wants  a  certain  kind  of  grain,  he  simply  taps  it  from  the  bin.  The 
third  floor  is  used  for  storage  purposes.  Here  he  keeps  his  incubators  when 
not  in  use,  and  various  other  articles. 

Along  with  the  raising  of  poultry  Mr.  Brimmer  has  continued  the  clearing 


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700  SCHUYLKILL  QOUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  his  land  and  its  improvement  in  other  lines.  He  plants  a  fair  sized  garden, 
raising  enough  vegetables  for  his  own  use,  and  he  has  set  out  fifty  peach  trees, 
principally  to  supply  shade  for  the  chickens  when  the  brush  and  trees  originally 
on  the  land  have  all  been  cleared  away.  Last  year  he  set  out  a  strawberry  bed, 
20  by  100  feet  in  size.  His  little  establishment  is  a  model  of  its  kind,  and 
though  he  has  expended  much  time  and  means  on  its  development  the  venture 
is  paying  him  weU.  Combining  study  with  intelligent  labor  he  has  worked  out 
many  problems  of  the  business  to  which  he  now  devotes  his  time,  making  experi- 
ments which  assist  his  neighbors  as  well  as  himself,  and  showing  the  possibili- 
ties of  the  industry  in  this  section  he  has  accomplished  at  least  one  thing  of 
distinct  value  to  his  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Brommer  is  a  skillful  watchmaker  and  jeweler,  and  while  on  the  rail- 
road he  was  well  known  as  a  reliable  repairman,  many  of  his  fellow  trainmen 
bringing  their  watches  to  him  for  care  and  adjustment.  He  continues  to  follow 
this  trade  as  occasion  demands.  Mr.  Brommer  is  a  member  of  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men. 

JOHN  F.  SCHNEIDER,  late  of  Pottsville,  was  a  typical  member  of  the 
thrifty  German  stock  from  which  he  came,  a  skillful  tradesman,  industrious, 
honorable  in  all  his  dealings  and  prosperous  in  business,  as  a  result  of  trust- 
worthy methods  and  steady  service  to  his  patrons.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of 
five  children,  of  whom  August  died  at  Minersville,  Pa. ;  Lena  married  a  Mr. 
Burkhart ;  Sophia  married  Carl  Spaulding ;  Catherine  married  August  Orf . 

Mr.  Schneider  was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  in  1840.  He  grew  up  in  his 
native  country  and  was  a  young  man  when  he  came  to  America.  From  the 
time  of  his  settlement  in  this  country  he  lived  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  first 
at  Minersville  and  later  at  Pottsville,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  A  shoe- 
maker by  trade,  he  followed  that  occupation  throughout  his  active  years,  and 
by  frugality  and  good  management  he  became  the  owner  of  several  valuable 
pieces  of  property.  Mr.  Schneider  was  a  man  of  fine  qualities  and  became  well 
and  favorably  known  in  this  regioi,  for  whose  interest  he  always  had  close 
concern.  His  death  occurred  Jan.  22,  1914,  at  his  residence  in  Pottsville,  No. 
214  North  Third  street,  and  he  is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery.  He  was 
a  zealous  member  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  and  in  his  will  bequeathed  one 
hundred  dollars  to  that  church  and  a  like  amount  to  the  Third  Brigade  Band 
of  Pottsville. 

Mr.  Schneider  married  Elizabeth  Klein,  who  was  bom  June  17,  1855,  ^^  the 
northwestern  part  of  Germany,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret  (Barnhart) 
Klein,  both  of  whom  died  in  Germany ;  they  had  six  children,  Mrs.  Schneider's 
brothers  and  sisters  being :  Frederick,  John,  Bernhart,  Josephine  and  Catherine. 
Mrs.  Schneider  came  to  America  when  fourteen  years  old,  and  lived  in  New 
York  City  for  five  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  coming  to  Pottsville,  where 
she  has  since  made  her  home.  She  continues  to  occupy  the  old  residence  on 
North  Third  street.  Five  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schneider:  John 
Frederick,  who  lives  at  Pottsville ;  August  F.,  who  died  when  twenty-two  years 
old ;  Charles,  who  died  young ;  Mary  EHzabeth,  who  married  John  W.  Brown, 
and  has  two  children :  Elma  E.  and  Robert  P. ;  and  Charles  F.,  living  at  home. 
The  family  are  members  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  at  Pottsville. 

CHARLES  H.  KRAMMES,  proprietor  of  the  "Auburn  Hotel,''  was  bom 
in  Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  12,  1851,  son  of  Benjamin  B. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  701 

Krammes  and  grandson  of  Andrew  Krammes.  The  family  is  one  of  the  oldest 
of  Gennan  ancestry  in  the  State.  Andrew  Krammes  lived  in  Wayne  township 
and  followed  farming  until  the  end  of  his  days.  He  is  buried  at  Summer  Hill 
cemetery.  His  children  were:  Moses,  Daniel,  Benjamin  B.,  Sarah,  Elizabeth, 
Louisa  and  Matilda. 

_  Benjamin  B.  Krammes  was  bom  in  Wayne  township,  and  followed  boating 
on  the  Schuylkill  canal  during  all  of  his  active  life.  He  died  in  Wayne  town- 
ship, and  is  buried  near  the  old  Summer  Hill  Church  there.  By  his  marriage 
to  Lucy  Ann,  daughter  of  Daniel  Krammes,  he  had  these  children :  Benjamm 
L.,  W.  W.,  Frank  S.,  Levi  (deceased),  Charles  H.,  James,  David,  Milton  and 
Polly  Ann  (who  married  Levi  Ditzler,  of  Washington  township).  After  the 
death  of  Mr.  Krammes  Mrs.  Krammes  married  Benjamin  Heimbach.  She  is 
now  deceased. 

Charles  H.  Krammes  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
followed  boating  on  the  canal  for  eight  years,  after  which  he  took  up  the 
occupation  of  carpenter,  which  he  continued  for  ten  years.  He  then  went 
into  the  hotel  business,  which  he  has  carried  on  for  the  past  nineteen  years  at 
the  following  places :  Summit  Station ;  "Red  Lion  Hotel,"  Washington  town- 
ship; Rock  Station;  Friedensburg ;  "Half- Way  House,"  North  Manheim  town- 
ship; "Springer  Hotel,"  Cressona;  and  the  "Auburn  House,"  which  he  bought 
of  John  H.  Fahl  Feb.  i,  191 1.  He  is  conducting  the  most  popular  house  in  the 
borough  of  Auburn  and  caters  to  the  best  trade  of  the  county.  Mr.  Krammes 
is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Auburn  and  in  every  way  is  a  citizen 
of  public  spirit  and  enterprise.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  at 
Summit  Station,  and  also  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp  at  the  same  place.  In 
religious  affiliation  he  is  a  Lutheran.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  with  member- 
ship at  Pottsville. 

Mr.  Krammes  was  married  to  Sarah  Jane  Roeder,  daughter  of  Anthony 
Roeder,  of  Wayne  township,  and  they  have  had  twelve  children,  as  follows: 
( I )  Carrie  V.  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  W.  Qauser,  of  Auburn,  Pa.  (2)  Mabel  A., 
wife  of  Frank  Wilson,  is  living  in  Reading,  Pa.  (3)  Qora  M.,  wife  of  J.  D. 
Kantner,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  (4)  Sallie  A.  married  Henry 
H.  Emerich,  of  Summit  Station.  (5)  Fronie  J.  is  the  wife  of  Alvin  Maiden- 
ford,  of  Washington  township,  this  county.  (6)  Richard  E.  lives  at  Frack- 
ville.  Pa.  (7)  Rufus  V.  lives  at  Schuylkill  Haven  and  is  the  proprietor  of  the 
"Columbus  Hotel."  (8)  Mary  L.  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Moyer,  of  Pine 
Grove.  (9)  Elerttie  E.  married  Walter  Fegley,  of  Palo  Alto,  Pa.  (10)  Brua 
C.  lives  at  Pottsville,  Pa.  (11)  Curtis  E.  lives  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  (12) 
Hattie  F.  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

HENRY  YERGER,  retired  resident  of  Palo  Alto,  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  for  about  forty-eight  years. 
Mr.  Yerger  was  bom  April  i,  1844,  at  Leesport,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  George 
B.  Yei^er,  and  his  grandfather  lived  and  died  at  Reading,  Berks  county.  The 
latter  had  a  family  of  six  children,  namely :  John,  Benjamin,  George  B.,  Mary, 
Lydia  and  ElizatKBth. 

George  B.  Yerger,  father  of  Henry  Yerger,  was  bom  March  15,  1820,  at 
Reading,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  butchering.  In  1845  ^^  came  to 
Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  found  employment  with  Mr.  Spohn,  who 
had  a  meat  market  here  for  many  years.  Mr.  Yerger  finally  entered  the  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account,  and  continued  it  until  his  death,  in  1893.    He  married 


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702  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Esther  Shuck,  and  their  family  consisted  of  twelve  children:  Henry  is  the 
eldest;  Ellen,  born  May  26,  1845,  niarried  a  Mr.  Marshall;  Annie,  bom  April 
30,  1846,  married  Philip  Smith,  and  is  deceased;  Frank,  bom  Feb.  i,  1848,  is 
living  at  Norristown,  Pa.;  Charles,  born  Oct.  17,  1849,  died  in  Iowa;  Mary, 
bom  Feb.  7,  1853,  married  Edw.  Taylor,  of  Illinois ;  Alice,  bom  Jan.  16,  1855, 
married  a  Mr.  Applegate,  and  is  living  in  Iowa ;  Agnes,  twin  of  Alice,  is  un- 
married and  makes  her  home  at  Pottsville;  William  B.,  bom  Nov.  24,  1857, 
lives  near  Reading,  Pa.;  George,  bom  Feb.  2,  i860,  is  living  in  Iowa;  Sallie 
married  Thomas  C.  Williams,  of  Pottsville;  John,  bom  June  5,  1866,  died 
in  1913  in  Iowa. 

Henry  Yerger  was  but  one  year  old  when  his  parents  came  to  Pottsville, 
and  he  grew  up  here,  attending  the  public  school  during  his  boyhood.  He  found 
his  first  regular  employment  in  the  Snyder  foundry,  and  did  that  kind  of 
work  for  about  three  years.  He  then  spent  one  year  in  the  rolling  mill  at 
Palo  Alto,  was  at  the  car  shop  in  the  employ  of  the  Reading  Company  one 
year,  and  for  another  year  held  the  position  of  brakeman.  He  afterwards 
served  successfully  as  conductor  and  fireman,  and  in  1874  began  running  an 
engine,  continuing  with  that  company  in  that  capacity  until  his  retirement, 
April  I,  1914.  He  is  now  on  the  pension  list.  For  about  twenty  years  he  ran 
an  engine  on  the  Frackville  and  Mahanoy  division,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
oldest  engineers  on  the  road  at  the  time  of  his  retirement.  His  trustworthiness 
and  his  intelligent  attention  to  his  important  work  were  properly  valued  by  his 
employers.  He  is  a  member  of  Anthracite  Lodge,  No.  285,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
of  Mountain  City  Chapter,  No.  196,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.  By  reason  of 
his  service  in  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Yerger  is  entitled  to  membership  in  the 
G.  A.  R.,  belonging  to  Gowen  Post,  No.  23,  of  that  body,  as  well  as  to  Union 
Veteran  Legion,  No.  19,  of  which  he  is  a  past  colonel.  He  has  also  been  prom- 
inent in  the  "First  Defenders"  Association,  serving  as  president  in  1900.  and 
as  vice  president  from  1969  to  1914: 

On  April  18,  1861,  Mr.  Yerger  enlisted  in  Company  D,  25th  Regiment, 
National  Light  Infantry,  for  three  months,  under  Captain  McDowell,  being 
one  of  the  "first  defenders."  He  was  discharged  July  27,  1861,  at  the  expiration 
of  this  term,  and  reenlisted  Oct.  ist,  following,  for  three  years,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  G,  48th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  from  which  he  received 
his  discharge  Oct.  i.  1864.  From  Sept.  i,  1861,  to  Oct.  i,  1864,  it  was  attached 
to  Batteries  L  and  M,  3d  Artillery,  U.  S.  A.  Mr.  Yerger  received  one  slight 
wound  while  in  the  service,  being  wounded  at  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  in  the  right 
ankle.  In  1866  Mr.  Yerger  was  married  to  Sarah  Jane  Lashom,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Lashom,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  Five  children  have  been  bom 
to  this  marriage :  William  D.  is  an  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Company,  and  resides  at  Reading,  Pa. ;  Morris  E.  is  a  member  of 
the  well  known  firm  of  Yerger  &  Jones,  clothiers  at  Pottsville ;  George  H.,  who 
lives  at  home,  is  a  machinist  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Com- 
pany ;  Frank  H.  is  a  telegrapher  in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company ;  Mary  E.  is  the  widow  of  Harry  G.  Miller,  and  resides  at  home.  Mr. 
Yerger  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  council  of  Palo  Alto. 

ELWOOD  T.  FILER  has  been  a  recognized  influence  in  the  musical  circles 
in  Schuylkill  Haven  for  a  number  of  years,  devoting  practically  all  of  his  life 
to  such  interests,  for  he  is  not  only  a  musician,  but  also  engaged  in  business 
as  a  dealer  in  musical  instmments  and  such  merchandise.     Mr.  Eiler  is  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  703 

leader  of  the  Schuylkill  Haven  Band  and  also  plays  comet  in  the  Third  Brigade 
Band  of  Pottsville. 

The  Eiler  family,  to  which  Elwood  T.  Eiler  belongs,  traces  its  ancestry 
to  Johannes  Eyler,  who  was  bom  Dec.  6,  1772,  and  died  Dec.  21,  1843.  He 
settled  at  what  became  known  as  Eyler's  Hollow  (in  Pennsylvania  German  as 
"Noosadaul"),  in  North  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  followed  farm- 
ing, and  died  upon  his  farm,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Schuylkill 
Haven.  His  children  were:  John;  Daniel  (1811-1869)  ;  Henry;  Betsy,  wife  of 
Frank  Mellon;  and  Kate,  wife  of  Peter  Strause.  His  children  changed  the 
name  to  its  present  form. 

John  Eiler,  grandfather  of  Elwood  T.  Eiler,  and  son  of  John,  above,  was 
a  large  landowner  in  what  is  now  known  as  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  also  at  Eiler's 
Hollow.  He  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  North  Manheim  township,  and  died 
in  that  township  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years.  He  leamed  the 
trade  of  carpet  weaver  and  followed  it  throughout  his  active  life.  His  wife, 
Hannah  (Schappell),  daughter  of  Jacob  Schappell,  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six 
years,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  They  had 
the  following  family :  Mary  married  John  Bubeck ;  Maria  married  Levi  Reich- 
ert ;  Hannah  married  John  Krietzel,  who  was  killed  during  the  Civil  war,  while 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  48th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  she  afterwards 
married  Samuel  Bonberger,  who  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war ;  Emaline 
married  Joseph  Freeman ;  Susan  married  William  Killian,  a  soldier  of  the  Civil 
war ;  Israel  died  while  serving  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war ;  Frank  is  the  father 
of  Elwood  T.  Eiler.     Three  children  died  young. 

Frank  Eiler,  son  of  John  and  Hannah  Eiler,  was  born  April  13,  1840,  in 
North  Manheim  township,  and  is  now  living  retired  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  after 
a  long  service  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Company. 
He  began  work  for  that  company  as  a  switchman,  later  becoming  brakeman, 
and  three  years  afterwards  was  promoted  to  fireman,  finally  becoming  an 
engineer.  He  was  thus  engaged  for  thirty-five  years,  most  of  the  time  on  the 
Mine  Hill  road,  and  he  brought  the  old  yellow  cars  then  in  use  to  the  Mine 
Hill  crossing,  where  they  were  loaded  on  the  canalboats.  Thus  he  has  seen 
the  development  of  the  railroads  from  the  complicated  but  inferior  methods  of 
the  early  aays  to  the  splendid  system  now  in  operation.  Mr.  Eiler  was  retired 
by  the  company  April  13,  1910.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Veterans  since  the  organization  of  that  body,  and  has  also  belonged 
to  the  Relief  Association  since  its  organization.  Mr.  Eiler  married  Leah 
Baker,  daughter  of  John  Baker,  and  the  following  children  were  bom  to  their 
union :  Elwood  T.  Eiler  is  mentioned  below ;  Harry  and  Clayton  are  barbers 
at  Schuylkill  Haven ;  George  died  young ;  Frank  is  a  barber  and  music  dealer 
at  Spring  City,  Pa. ;  Robert,  also  a  barber,  is  located  at  Landingville,  Pa. ;  May 
is  married  to  Arthur  Rich,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.  The  mother  died  Dec.  11,  1909, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Elwood  T.  Eiler  was  bom  Nov.  24,  1861,  and  obtained  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  When  a  youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  barber,  which  he 
followed  until  1903.  He  has  since  been  in  business  at  Schuylkill  Haven  as  a 
dealer  in  musical  instmments  and  music,  selling  pianos,  player  pianos,  organs 
and  other  such  instruments,  phonographs  and  records.  Mr.  Eiler  has  made 
a  thorough  success  in  his  mercantile  venture,  his  understanding  of  the  require- 
ments of  his  customers  and  his  familiarity  with  music  fitting  him  to  accommo- 
date his  trade  to  the  best  advantage.    His  store  on  Main  street  is  up-to-date 


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704  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  well  stocked.  Mr.  Eiler  began  taking  violin  lessons  when  twelve  years  old, 
and  later  had  instruction  on  other  instruments,  and  has  become  an  accomplished 
performer.  He  organized  Filer's  Band,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  which  had  an 
existence  of  about  eighteen  years,  and  was  its  leader  during  that  time.  Later 
he  became  the  leader  of  the  Schuylkill  Haven  Band,  which  he  is  still  conduct- 
ing, and  he  plays  the  cornet  in  the  Third  Brigade  Band,  of  Pottsville,  which 
was  led  by  the  late  Frederic  Gerhard  until  his  death;  Mr.  Braun  is  the  present 
leader.  For  the  last  twenty-seven  years  Mr.  Eiler  has  been  a  member  of  the 
choir  of  the  Second  Reformed  Church,  to  which  he  belongs,  and  has  taken  part 
in  all  the  local  enterprises  of  this  nature.  He  has  a  high  reputation,  his  work 
being  of  the  best  quality.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Page  Lodge,  No.  270, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the  Sons  of  America. 

Mr.  Eiler  married  Annie  Rupp,  daughter  of  John  Rupp.  They  have  no 
children. 

Mrs.  Filer's  grandfather  brought  his  family  to  this  country  from  Germany, 
settling  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he  died.  His  children  were:  Joseph, 
Thomas,  Mary,  Barbara  and  Jdin. 

John  Rupp,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Eiler,  was  bom  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  with  his  patents.  He  learned  blacksmithing,  which  he 
followed  throughout  his  active  life  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  his  death  occurred 
there.  By  his  marriage  to  Charity  Reed,  daughter  of  Thomas  Reed,  he  had  the 
following  children :  Margaret,  who  married  Frank  Heiser ;  Joseph ;  and  Emma, 
Mrs.  Frank  Sterner.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  Catherine  Himmel,  and 
the  children  of  this  union  were:  Sarah,  Annie  (Mrs.  Eiler),  Barbara  (de- 
ceased), Elizabeth  (deceased),  Charles,  Thomas,  Frank  and  (jeorge. 

DAVID  VETTER,  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  New  Ringgold, 
Schuylkill  county,  is  now  living  retired  after  a  lifetime  of  useful  labor  in 
business  and  public  service,  assisting  his  fellow  citizens  in  the  upbuilding  of 
the  town  and  county,  to  whose  interests  he  has  become  deeply  attached  in  long 
years  of  intimate  association.  Mr.  Vetter  was  born  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill 
county,  Feb.  22,  1843,  ^^^  *s  of  CJerman  lineage,  his  g^ndfather,  John  Vetter, 
having  spent  the  whole  of  his  life  in  Germany. 

John  Vetter,  father  of  David  Vetter,  was  bom  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of 
Baden  Feb.  26,  1815,  and  with  his  wife,  Mary  (Hetzel),  who  was  also  a  native 
of  (jermany,  emigrated  to  America  in  the  year  1828.  He  first  settled  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  in  1840  removed  to  Pottsville,  where  he  carried  on 
the  occupations  of  brickmaking  and  farming  until  1864.  In  the  latter  year  he 
moved  to  New  Ringgold,  where  both  he  and  his  wife  died,  the  former  on  Aug. 
8,  1885,  and  the  latter  on  April  20,  1883.  In  religious  association  Mr.  Vetter 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  (Thurch.  He  had  a  family  of  six  children,  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 

David  Vetter  attended  school  at  Pottsville  and  soon  after  leaving  school 
became  employed  on  the  Schuylkill  and  Erie  canal  as  boatman.  When  the 
Civil  war  b^an  he  became  enthused  with  the  prospect  of  fighting  for  his  coun- 
try and  enlisted  on  Aug.  22,  1862,  in  Company  H,  120th  Regiment,  New  York 
Volunteers,  at  Kingston,  N.  Y.  This  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  2d  Brigade, 
2d  Division,  3d  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  which  he  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville,  Fredericksburg, 
Cold  Harbor,  Wilderness,  Spbttsylvania,  Gettysburg,  and  others  of  minor  im- 
portance.   After  the  war  Mr.  Vetter  returned  to  New  Ringgold  and  learned 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  705 

tel^;raphy,  in  1870  entering  the  employ  of  the  Reading  Company,  and  serving 
for  over  twenty-one  years  as  night  operator.  In  1891  he  was  promoted  to  the 
position  of  station  agent  at  New  Ringgold,  which  he  held  until  he  was  retired, 
in  191 3,  with  a  pension,  after  a  continuous  service  of  over  forty-three  years 
with  the  company  at  that  point.  He  was  also  agent  for  the  United  States 
Express  Company  at  New  Ringgold.  Mr.  Vetter  was  formerly  a  Republican, 
but  soon  after  its  organization  joined  the  Washington  Progressive  party,  and 
was  its  candidate  for  sheriff  of  Schuylkill  county  in  1913,  being  defeated  by  a 
small  margin.  He  was  also  the  Washington  party  candidate  for  General  As- 
semblyman in  1914,  but  was  again  defeated  by  a  small  majority. 

Mr.  Vetter  was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  1878,  and  has 
served  continuously  in  that  position  ever  since.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
borough  school  board  for  thirty-five  years,  being  secretary  during  this  entire 
period  of  service,  and  was  a  member  of  the  borough  council  for  five  years.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  for  forty- 
seven  years,  is  a  past  president,  has  been  recording  secretary  for  many  years, 
and  has  been  representative  to  the  State  camp  a  number  of  times.  He  has 
also  been  a  member  of  East  Brunswick  Lodge  No.  802, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  for  the  last 
forty-three  years,  is  a  past  grand,  and  has  held  all  the  offices  within  the  gift  of 
the  lodge.  By  virtue  of  his  Civil  war  service  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
having  been  connected  with  Doubleday  Post,  No.  189,  of  Tamaqua,  for  over 
thirty  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  General  Council  branch  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church,  has  held  all  the  church  offices,  and  is  also  interested  in  the 
Sunday  school,  having  been  superintendent  of  the  same  for  many  years,  and 
a  teacher  as  well. 

On  June  15,  1863,  Mr.  Vetter  married  Mary  C.  Hetzel,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Christina  Hetzel,  of  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  and  to  them  were  bom  these 
children:  (i)  Sarah  Esther,  bom  Aug.  19,  1870,  married  Christian  Miller, 
formerly  of  Mahanoy  City,  now  an  employee  at  the  Bethlehem  Steel  Works, 
and  they  have  six  children,  Lottie,  Carrie,  Gertrude,  Ella,  Edward  and  Barbara, 
(2)  Mary  Rebecca,  born  April  27,  1873,  married  George  Sassaman,  at  one 
time  a  farmer  of  Bamesville,  this  county,  now  engaged  as  a  carpenter  at 
Tamaqua,  Pa.  They  have  two  children,  Goldie  and  Gladys.  (3)  Flora  Louisa, 
bom  April  27,  1873  (twin  of  Mary),  married  Alvin  Fussieman,  a  carpenter,  for 
a  time  a  resident  of  Slatington,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  now  of  Tamaqua,  Pa.  They 
have  two  children,  David  and  Clarence.  (4)  John  Howard,  bom  Oct.  2,  1875, 
a  shoemaker  of  Lititz,  Pa.,  married  Carrie  E.  Miller,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, William  and  Mary  Ellen.  (5)  George  William,  bom  Aug.  14,  1878,  a 
telegraph  operator  at  Cbnnellsville,  Pa.,  is  married  to  Emma  Schwender,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Helen.  (6)  Katie  Magdalena,  born  Jan.  22,  1880,  married 
E.  R.  Neiswender,  station  agent  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Com- 
pany at  New  Ringgold,  Pa.,  and  they  have  one  child,  Florence.  (7)  Carrie 
Emma,  bom  May  10,  1884,  married  George  F.  Knittle,  State  health  officer  and 
telegraph  operator,  and  they  have  three  children,  Robert,  Miriam  and  Alma. 
(8)  Lottie  Pearl  Altie,  bom  April  27,  1889,  married  Walter  Neiswender,  a  lum- 
berman of  New  Ringgold,  and  they  have  two  children,  Mary  and  Dorothy.  All 
of  Mr.  Vetter's  children  were  bom  at  New  Ringgold  and  all  of  them  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mrs.  Mary  C.  (Hetzel)  Vetter,  wife  of  David  Vetter,  was  born  Nov.  3, 
1842,  at  Rondout,  near  Kingston,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  was  educated  in  that  part 
Vol.  n— 7 


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706  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  the  Empire  State,  and  resided  at  home  until  her  marriage.  She  died  Sept. 
IS,  1912,  and  is  buried  at  the  Frieden's  Church,  New  Rin|[goId,  Pennsylvania. 
John  Hetzel,  father  of  Mrs.  David  Vetter,  was  bom  m  Germany,  and  by 
occupation  was  a  quarryman,  employed  at  the  Rosendale  Cement  Quarries  in 
Ulster  County,  N.  Y.  He  married  Christina  Steigmire,  and  they  had  the 
following  children :  John,  the  only  survivor  of  the  family,  is  a  boatman  on  the 
North  river  for  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  &  Western  Railroad  Company  (he 
has  two  children) ;  Georee,  Mary  C.  and  William  are  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hetzel  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Both  are  buried  at  Rondout, 
New  York. 

THEODORE  D.  SCHNEIDER,  proprietor  of  what  is  known  as  the 
Schneider  Pharmacy,  in  Pottsville,  has  been  operating  on  his  own  account  only 
a  short  time,  but  his  varied  experiences  with  responsible  drug  houses  covering 
a  lonff  period  of  his  business  life  should  be  a  sufficient  guaranty  that  he  is  well 
qualified  for  his  chosen  line.  He  has  recently  taken  over  the  old  established 
trade  of  George  G.  Hinterleitner. 

The  Schneiders  are  of  German  extraction.  Theodore  D.  Schneider,  the 
grandfather  of  Theodore  D.  Schneider,  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  and 
when  a  young  man  left  his  country  to  escape  the  military  service,  taking  refuge 
in  France,  whence  he  sailed  for  America.  Locating  at  Ashland,  in  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.,  he  became  engaged  as  a  butcher  and  drover,  established  a  large 
business,  and  remained  there  imtil  his  death. 

Lewis  Schneider,  father  of  Theodore  D.  Schneider,  was  bom  in  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.,  and  passed  his  entire  life  here,  dying  in  September,  191 3.  From 
boyhood  he  was  associated  with  his  father  in  business  as  a  butcher  and 
drover,  continuing  to  follow  that  line  successfully  at  Ashland  all  his  life. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  active  in  party  and  political  affairs  in  his 
locality,  serving  ten  years  as  a  member  of  the  borough  council.  He  belonged 
to  the  German  Reformed  Church.  He  married  Clara  Hetherington,  whose 
father,  Jonathan  Hetherington,  was  an  Englishman,  who  was  engaged  in  the 
mule  and  mine  timber  business  at  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  county,  later  moving 
to  Ringtown,  this  county,  where  he  followed  farming.  Mrs.  Schneider  is  still 
living,  at  Ashland,  Pa.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schneider, 
namely :  Theodore  D.  and  Lottie,  the  latter  dying  when  six  years  old. 

Theodore  D.  Schneider  was  bom  at  Ashland  in  1880,  and  received  an 
excellent  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place,  graduating  from  the 
high  school  in  1898.  He  received  his  first  training  in  the  drug  business  under 
L.  C.  Voshage,  of  Ashland,  where  he  remained  for  eighteen  months.  His  next 
position  was  at  Sunbury,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  a  Mr.  Kelley  for 
three  years,  after  which  he  spent  four  months  at  Bellefonte,  Pa.,  and  five 
months  at  Harrisburg.  In  January,  1904,  Mr.  Schneider  came  to  Pottsville, 
where  he  spent  seven  years  in  the  employ  of  William  S.  Cowen.  His  next 
change  was  to  Hazleton,  Pa.,  where  he  was  connected  with  the  Eble  Pharmacy, 
as  manager,  for  two  years  and  three  months.  Returning  to  Pottsville,  he 
purchased  the  well  known  drug  store  of  George  G.  Hinterleitner,  at  No.  300 
North  Centre  street,  which  he  has  since  been  conducting.  Mr.  Schneider  has 
a  thorough  grasp  of  modern  business  methods,  has  kept  up  with  the  best  ideas 
in  his  particular  line,  and  has  a  high  sense  of  responsibility  attaching  to  his 
chosen  calling,  an  important  point  which  has  gained  him  the  absolute  confidence 
of  his  townsmen  in  Pottsville.    The  wide  acquaiiitance  and  high  reputation  he 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  707 

gained  during  his  association  with  Mr.  Cowen,  at  Pottsville,  haa  aided  him 
greatly  in  establishing  himself  since  he  started  business  on  his  own  account. 
Personally  he  is  regarded  as  an  excellent  citizen  in  every  respect,  and  is  highly 
thought  of  by  his  fellow  members  in  Ashland  Lodge,  No.  384,  B.  P.  O.  Elks, 
He  belongs  to  the  Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Schneider  is  an  independent  voter, 
supporting  the  candidates  he  thinks  best  fitted  for  the  office  and  the  measures 
which  in  his  opinion  will  confer  the  greatest  benefit  on  the  community. 

On  Sept.  16,  1913,  Mr.  Schneider  married  Elsie  L.  KHne,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam H.  Kline.  Her  father  formerly  conducted  the  well  known  Kline's  cafe,  on 
Centre  street,  Pottsville ;  he  is  now  residing  at  Yellow  House,  Berks  Co.,  Pa. 
Mrs.  Schneider  was  bom  at  Farmersville,  in  Lancaster  county,  this  State. 

WALTER  WINFIELD  SCOTT,  a  prosperous  farmer,  owning  the  only 
farm  between  Pottsville  and  Schuylkill  Haven,  was  bom  Oct.  i,  1868,  at 
Wadesville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  John  Alexander  Scott.  The  family  is 
an  old  and  honored  one  in  England. 

John  Alexander  Scott,  father  of  Walter  W.  Scott,  was  bom  at  Greatbridge, 
Staffordshire,  England,  and  came  to  America  when  he  was  thirty-one  years 
of  age.  He  settled  at  Summer  Hill,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  employed  by 
a  man  named  Brown  in  a  small  mine  near  there.  He  then  went  to  Wadesville^ 
where  he  sank  the  first  mining  shaft  in  this  section,  by  contract,  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  mine  being  a  Mr.  Althouse.  After  a  time  Mr.  Scott  became 
mine  boss,  having  at  one  period  four  hundred  men  under  his  direct  super- 
vision. He  took  a  trip  to  his  old  home  in  England  after  a  number  of  years 
of  labor  in  the  mines,  and  upon  his  return  went  to  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  where 
he  followed  mining  for  a  time,  but  eventually  retumed  to  the  Wadesville  shaft, 
remaining-there  until  1875.  Mr.  Scott  then  bought  the  old  Minnich  homestead 
of  seventy-three  acres  at  St.  Clair,  a  mile  above  Schuylkill  Haven,  on  the  main 
road,  and  there  followed  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Aug.  30, 
1880,  at  Cape  Horn,  on  the  Reading  railroad,  through  an  accident.  He  is 
buried  in  the  borough  cemetery  at  St.  Clair. 

John  A.  Scott  was  married  to  Matilda  Reid,  daughter  of  Joseph  Reid.  She 
was  bom  half  a  mile  from  her  husband's  birthplace,  and  died  June  30,  191 2, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Charles  Baber  cemetery  at  Pottsville,  Pa.  The  following 
children  were  bom  to  John  A.  Scott  and  his  wife:  John  A.,  of  Schuylkill 
Haven;  Mary,  wife  of  William  Yeager,  of  Reading,  Pa.;  Walter  W.;  Ella; 
Frank ;  Edward ;  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 

Walter  W.  Scott  was  born  at  Wadesville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  lived  upon 
his  father's  farm  imtil  he  was  twenty-seven  years  old.  He  then  obtained  a 
position  with  the  Atlantic  Refining  Company  at  Mount  Carbon,  where  he 
remained  for  two  years.  Returning  to  the  home  farm  he  spent  nine  months 
there,  after  which  he  accepted  the  position  of  assistant  farmer  at  the  county 
almshouse  farm,  continuing  there  for  one  year.  Again  he  retumed  home,  for 
one  year,  next  working  on  the  local  trolley  road  as  motorman,  for  seven  years, 
and  then  after  five  years'  residence  on  the  home  farm  he  reentered  the  service 
of  the  Atlantic  Refining  Company,  for  eight  and  a  half  months.  Having  ac- 
cimiulated  a  competency,  he  invested  in  land,  buying  first  the  f^imily  homestead 
of  sixty-eight  and  a  half  acres  in  1913,  and  also  thirteen  acres  of  the  old  Mellet 
farm,  and  ten  acres  of  the  John  Womer  tract,  adjoining.  Mr.  Scott  now  has 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  county,  all  good  land,  and  the  only  one  on  the 
road  between  Pottsville  and  Schuylkill  Haven.     His  farm  and  buildings  are 


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708  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

kept  in  up-to-date  condition,  and  he  has  adopted  modern  methods  of  cultivating 
the  soil. 

On  Jan.  ii,  1898,  Mr.  Scott  was  married  to  Anna  Doretta  Kear,  daughter 
of  William  Kear,  and  they  have  had  children  as  follows :  Camilla  May,  Walter 
W.,  Elmer  N.,  Luther  R.  and  Mary  Matilda.  Mr.  Scott  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  served  upon  the  school  board  of  North  Manheim  township,  and  as  commit- 
teeman and  delegate  to  the  county  conventions.  He  and  his  family  attend 
the  Lutheran  Church. 

JEREMIAH  FESSLER,  one  of  the  most  respected  residents  of  Cressona 
borough,  now  living  retired,  was  bom  Jan.  28,  1845,  i^  Panther  valley,  Wayne 
township,  Schuylkill  coimty.  He  belongs  to  an  old  family  of  German  origin 
which  has  been  in  this  county  for  several  generations,  his  grandfather  having 
been  a  pioneer  in  Long  Run  valley,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed 
farming  and  lived  until  his  death.  He  was  twice  married,  by  the  first  union 
having  two  children,  Joseph  and  John,  and  his  second  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Confer,  was  the  mother  of  the  following:  Andrew  died  in  Schuylkill 
county ;  Michael  died  in  Berks  county ;  Abraham  died  in  Shamokin,  Pa. ;  Wil- 
liam and  George  died  in  Schuylkill  county ;  Molly  married  Solomon  Luckenbill ; 
Rebecca  married  Daniel  Minich. 

Of  the  above  family,  William  Fessler,  well  known  in  his  day  as  **01d  Bill 
Fessler,"  was  the  father  of  Jeremiah  Fessler.  He  was  bom  in  Long  Run  valley. 
Living  in  this  section  in  the  pioneer  era  he  was  a  tjrpical  man  of  his  day,  a 
great  hunter  and  fisherman,  and  shot  several  deer  and  bear  in  the  Second  Moun- 
tain district  in  Pennsylvania.  He  did  railroad  work  during  the  early  days  of 
the  railroad  in  this  region,  being  one  of  the  first  men  employed  on  the  Mine 
Hill  road,  helping  to  lay  the  track,  later  hauling  coal,  and  still  later  acting  as 
roadmaster,  whidi  position  he  held  until  1866.  At  that  time  he  retired  to  his 
land,  owning  two  farms  in  this  section,  and  continued  to  live  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  eighty-five  years  old ;  he  is  buried  in  the 
Union  cemetery  at  Friedensburg,  this  county.  Few  men  in  this  part  of 
Schuylkill  county  were  better  or  more  favorably  known.  He  and  William  Lark 
built  the  Union  Church  at  Friedensburg,  and  he  never  lost  his  interest  in  church 
work,  in  which  he  took  an  active  part.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican.  In  his 
early  days  Cressona  was  known  as  West  Haven.  By  his  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Luckenbill,  daughter  of  Solomon  Luckenbill,  he  had  a  large  family,  namely: 
WiUiam,  who  died  in  Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  county ;  Catherine,  who  died 
young;  four  who  died  in  infancy;  Esther,  deceased,  wife  of  George  Lark; 
George,  who  died  at  Cressona ;  Elias,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war ;  Jere- 
miah, now  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Cressona ;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  William 
Breininger;  Henry  and  James,  who  live  in  Wisconsin;  Josiah,  a  resident  of 
Cressona ;  and  Amanda,  who  married  John  Lengle,  and  lives  at  Cressona.  The 
mother  of  this  family  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

Jeremiah  Fessler  began  work  for  the  Mine  Hill  Railroad  Company  in  1858, 
and  when  the  Reading  Railway  Company  took  over  the  ownership  of  the  road 
continued  in  the  same  employ.  In  1864  he  became  fireman  on  the  engine  of 
a  passenger  train  on  the  Mine  Hill  road,  and  in  1873  was  promoted  to  engineer, 
in  which  capacity  he  was  engaged  until  1909.  In  191 1  he  was  pensioned,  and 
has  since  lived  retired  at  Cressona.  Mr.  Fessler  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Reading  Relief  Association,  and  well  known  in  that  organization.  In  the 
course  of  his  industrious  life  he  has  made  many  friends  in  the  borough,  and  is 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  709 

highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him,  as  he  deserves  to  be.  Mr.  Fessler  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church,  and  has  always  been  an  active 
and  interested  worker  in  that  direction.  For  over  fifteen  years  he  served  as 
superintendent  of  its  Simday  school. 

By  his  first  marriage,  to  Louisa  Kantner,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Snyder)  Kantner,  Mr.  Fessler  had  one  child,  Ida  May,  who  married  Dr. 
Frank  Merkle;  he  died  in  Bucks  county,  and  Mrs.  Merkle  now  resides  at 
Cressona  and  -is  engaged  as  a  public  school  teacher.  Mrs.  Louisa  Fessler  died 
when  twenty-seven  years  old,  and  Mr.  Fessler  subsequently  married  her  sister, 
Caroline  E.  Kantner,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children :  Charles,  who  died 
when  seven  months  old;  Thomas  W.,  a  merchant,  of  Minersville,  Pa.;  and 
Beulah,  wife  of  Willard  Weaver,  of  Cressona. 

WILLIAM  MARDIS,  a  venerable  citizen  of  Pottsville,  now  living  in 
retirement,  has  been  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  coimty  since  1845.  He  was  bom 
Oct.  10,  1822,  in  Cambria  county.  Pa.,  son  of  Samuel  Mardis,  a  native  of  the 
State  of  Maryland  and  of  Scotch  descent.  Samuel  Mardis  followed  farming 
in  Cambria  county,  and  died  in  Indiana  county.  Pa.  To  his  marriage  with 
Abbie  Yost  were  born  the  following  children :  Joseph  died  in  Cambria  county ; 
John  died  in  California;  Jacob  died  in  Cambria  county;  James  is  a  resident  of 
Iowa ;  George  was  killed  by  a  robber  in  California ;  William  is  next  in  the  order 
of  birth ;  Samuel  died  young ;  Mary  and  Catherine  complete  the  family. 

William  Mardis  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Cambria 
county,  where  he  was  reared  upon  a  farm.  Coming  to  Schuylkill  county  in 
June,  1845,  he  settled  in  Mahanoy  township.  His  first  mine  work  was  in  the 
soft  coal  fields  of  the  AUeghenies.  For  one  year  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
State,  engaged  at  railroad  building  over  the  Allegheny  mountains.  Besides 
mining  in  Schuylkill  county,  he  assisted  in  building  the  Tremont  railroad,  and 
was  also  engaged  on  the  work  of  widening  the  old  Schuylkill  canal.  For 
twenty  years  he  carried  on  farming  on  his  own  account,  and  for  several  years 
conducted  a  dairy  business  at  Pottsville.  He  moved  to  that  borough  about 
twenty-eight  years  ago,  and  for  a  few  years  was  an  employee  at  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  shops,  since  which  time  he  has  been  variously  engaged.  Though  over 
ninety  years  old  Mr.  Mardis  is  remarkably  active,  and  he  is  able  to  read  without 
the  aid  of  glasses.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  he  has 
always  been  among  the  most  respected  residents  of  the  borough.  His  home  is 
at  No.  710  West  Market  street. 

Mr.  Mardis  married  Margaret  Hudson,  who  died  in  1886,  and  is  buried  in 
the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  Pottsville.  They  had  one  daughter,  Catherine, 
who  is  the  wife  of  John  Mertz,  and  resides  on  East  Market  street,  Pottsville. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mertz  have  one  son,  William  Mertz,  now  a  resident  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  who  married  a  Miss  Reikert ;  they  have  one  daughter,  Margaret. 

JOHN  W.  FREEMAN,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  who  has  been  in  the  grocery 
business  at  Centre  and  Garfield  avenues  since  1907,  is  one  of  the  live  young 
business  men  of  the  borough,  and  has  shown  commendable  enterprise  in  the 
development  of  his  trade.  The  Freeman  family  is  an  old  and  honored  one 
in  Pennsylvania. 

•  Jurig  (George)  Freeman,  the  American  ancestor  of  the  family,  was  born 
in  Germany  in  1706,  and  came  to  this  country  in  his  thirty-third  year,  in  the 


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710  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ship  "Samuel,"  commanded  by  Hugh  Percy,  landing  at  Philadelphia  Aug.  27, 
1739.    It  appears  that  he  settled  in  Cumru  township  some  time  after  1750. 

George  Freeman,  a  descendant  of  Jurig,  above,  was  bom  Jan.  10,  1783,  and 
died  in  1825.  He  married  Elizabeth  Gerhard,  bom  in  1786,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  children  as  follows :  George,  born  Dec.  5,  1808;  John ;  Catherine, 
born  May  7,  181 1 ;  Jacob,  bom  Oct.  17\  1813;  Elizabeth,  bom  May  28,  1815; 
Benjamin,  bom  June  i,  1817;  Comelius,  bom  Nov.  29,  1819;  Peter;  and 
Samuel.  (It  seems  possible  the  son  John  of  this  family  was  the  great-grand- 
father of  John  W.  Freeman.) 

Johannes  (or  John)  Freeman,  great-grandfather  of  John  W.  Freeman,  was 
bom  in  Berks  county,  and  settled  in  Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  followed  farming.  He  died  there,  and  is  buried  at  the  Summer  Mountain 
Church.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Fehr,  and  they  had  children  as  follows :  Joseph, 
William,  Jonathan,  Benjamin,  Mrs.  John  Reichert  and  Mrs.  Wert. 

Joseph  Freeman,  son  of  John,  was  bom  March  16,  1830,  in  Wayne  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  leamed  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  and  followed  that 
calling  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  He  died  on  Centre  avenue,  in  that  borough,  and 
is  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery.  By  his  marriage  to  Emma  Eiler,  daughter 
of  George  Eiler,  he  had  the  following  children :  Sarah  married  Charles  Hoff- 
man ;  Emma  married  Adam  Moyer ;  Henry  is  living  at  Pottsville,  this  county ; 
John  is  mentioned  below;  Joseph  (2)  is  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  George 
and  Joseph  ( i )  are  deceased. 

John  Freeman,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  Nov.  27,  i860,  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 
where  he  is  still  living.  For  several  years  he  was  engaged  in  boating  on  the 
Schuylkill  canal,  afterwards  entering  the  car  shops  in  the  borough,  where  he  is 
still  employed.  On  Dec.  29,  1884,  he  married  Clara  Shappell,,  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  (Ochenbach)  Shappell,  and  granddaughter  of  John  Shap- 
pell.  Three  children  have  been  bom  to  this  union :  John  W. ;  Mamie  S.,  wife  of 
John  Mengle,  living  at  Schuylkill  Haven ;  and  Sarah  A.,  who  died  when  nine 
days  old. 

John  W.  Freeman  was  bom  June  10, 1886,  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  obtained 
the  principal  part  of  his  education  in  the  public  schools  there.  He  has  also 
taken  a  course  at  the  Pottsville  business  college.  For  a  time  he  was  employed 
by  the  Walkover  Shoe  Company  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  on  Dec.  15,  1907, 
engaged  in  business  for  himself,  dealing  in  groceries,  dry  goods  and  notions. 
His  store  is  at  the  comer  of  Centre  and  Gadield  avenues,  and  he  has  a  very 
creditable  stock,  carrying  a  large  assortment  of  well  selected  goods,  which_ 
supply  the  needs  of  a  large  patronage.  Mr.  Freeman  deserves  his  prosperity, 
having  built  up  his  trade  by  unremitting  attention  to  the  wants  of  his  customers, 
accommodating  service  and  reliable  goods.  His  circle  of  patrons  is  widening 
steadily. 

Socially  Mr.  Freeman  belongs  to  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America  and 
the  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs.  Politically  he  gives  his  support  to  the 
Democratic  party.  He  married  Grace  Violet  May  Donmoyer,  daughter  of 
Morris  W.  Donmoyer. 

G.  EDGAR  KLINE  has  proved  his  possession  of  stable  business  qualities 
in  the  management  of  the  hotel  and  cafe  at  Pottsville  which  receives  a  liberal 
share  of  the  local  patronage.  His  father,  who  operated  this  place  for  seven 
years,  had  a  long  and  successful  career  in  the  hotel  business  in  different  parts 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  son  had  the  benefit  of  first  hand  experience  from 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  711 

early  boyhood.  Its  value  may  well  be  inferred  from  his  intelligent  comprehen- 
sion of  the  requirements  of  the  business. 

The  Kline  family  are  of  old  Lancaster  stock.  Hiram  Kline,  grandfather 
of  G.  Edgar  Kline,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  lived  and  died 
there,  his  death  occurring  at  Lancaster  Dec.  26,  1885.  He  was  a  well-to-do 
farmer.  Hiram  Kline  married  Barbara  Beck,  who  still  survives.  Five  chil- 
dren were  bom  to  this  marriage :  William  H. ;  Emma,  born  Jan.  i,  1858,  the  wife 
of  Samuel  Miller,  a  farmer  in  Lancaster  county ;  Ezra,  who  was  born  Oct.  10, 
i860,  a  farmer  on  the  old  homestead  in  Warwick  township,  Lancaster  county; 
Hiram,  bom  Nov.  3,  1862,  also  a  farmer  in  Warwick  township;  and  Kate,  bom 
Jan.  21,  1865,  who  marriea  Horace  Sturgis  and  lives  in  the  town  of  Lititz. 

William  H.  Kline  was  born  Jan.  14,  1854,  at  Lititz,  Lancaster  county,  and 
received  a  public  school  education,  attending  in  the  home  locality  and  at  nearby 
town  schools.  He  was  reared  to  farming  and  followed  that  calling  during  his 
early  manhood,  until  three  years  ajFter  his  marriage.  His  next  venture  was  as 
a  merchant,  and  from  merchandising  he  turned  to  hotel  keeping,  being  so 
engaged  at  Farmersville  and  Lancaster  in  his  native  county  for  six  years. 
Moving  thence  to  the  vicinity  of  Pottsville,  he  conducted  the  "Tumbling  Run 
Hotel"  for  a  period  of  about  seven  years,  from  1892  to  1898,  and  was  the  first 
proprietor  there  to  have  a  license.  Mr.  Kline  was  next  located  at  Reading,  Pa., 
where  he  remained  for  three  years,  successfully  conducting  the  Spears  Cafe,  at 
No.  503  Penn  street,  which  attained  a  high  popularity,  during  his  ownership. 
In  1902  Mr.  Kline  came  to  Pottsville,  where  he  opened  a  hotel  and  cafe  which 
he  and  his  son,  in  turn,  have  since  kept  up.  Mr.  Kline  had  contemplated  remov- 
ing to  Pottsville  during  his  residence  at  Tumbling  Run,  which  gave  him  a 
chance  to  observe  the  business  in  the  borough,  and  his  experience  was  sufficient 
to  make  the  enterprise  a  success  as  long  as  he  handled  it.  Kline's  Cafe  under 
bis  management  became  the  most  popular  cafe  of  the  kind  in  the  town,  the 
quality  of  the  food  served  there  and  the  service  itself  attracting  many  who 
demand  the  best.  He  equipped  the  place  thoroughly  and  conveniently,  and 
during  the  seven  years  he  carried  it  on  kept  up  the  high  standard  which  he 
established  at  the  beginning.  Several  years  ago  he  gave  up  the  business,  and  has 
since  been  living  at  Yellow  House,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  has  a  farm  of 
seventy-five  acres. 

Mr.  Kline  was  married  Oct.  14,  1879,  ^^  Maggie  Bowman,  of  Ephrata, 
Lancaster  county,  daughter  of  George  L.  and  Fannie  (Steinmets)  Bowman. 
Mr.  Bowman  is  deceased.  Of  the  three  children  bom  to  Mr.  ana  Mrs.  Kline 
George  Edgar  is  the  eldest;  Elsie,  who  graduated  from  the  Reading  high  school, 
is  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Theodore  D.  Schneider,  a  well  known  druggist  of  Potts- 
ville; William  McKinley,  who  lives  at  home,  was  bom  in  1897,  two  days  after 
the  inauguration  of  President  McKinley.  Mr.  Kline  is  a  Lutheran  in  religious 
faith,  while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  Socially  he  belongs 
to  the  I.  O.  O.  P.,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Dramatic  Order  of  Knights  of  Khor- 
assan,  Pottsville  Gun  Club  and  the  Liederkranz. 

G.  Edgar  Kline  was  bom  Oct.  29,  1880,  in  Ephrata,  Lancaster  county,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  various  localities  where  the 
family  resided  during  his  youth,  graduating  from  the  Pottsville  high  school 
when  sixteen  years  old.  He  assisted  his  father  from  boyhood,  thus  becoming 
familiar  with  the  details  of  the  hotel  business  from  an  early  age,  and  in  May, 
1910,  he  became  proprietor  of  Kline's  Cafe,  at  No.  18  South  Centre  street, 
Pottsville,  which  his  father  conducted  successfully  for  a  number  of  years.    He 


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712  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

succeeded  his  father  directly  in  the  ownership  of  this  place.  The  hotel  con- 
tains thirty  rooms,  including  several  dining  rooms,  the  restaurant  business  being 
still  the  specialty.  All  the  guest  rooms  are  very  desirable  and  well  kept  up, 
and  Mr.  Kline  has  the  faculty  of  making  the  traveling  public  feel  comfortably 
at  home  in  his  house.  He  has  kept  thoroughly  abreast  of  the  times  in  providing 
modem  conveniences  for  his  guests,  and  his  unflagging  zeal  in  catering  to  their 
wants  has  made  him  many  friends  among  his  patrons,  local  and  otherwise. 
Aside  from  his  hotel  business  Mr.  Kline  has  been  interested  in  the  raising  of 
fine  chickens,  and  has  been  highly  successful  in  this  field,  having  taken  many 
prizes  in  his  own  and  other  cities  with  his  Black  Orpingtcm  stock.  Though  he 
has  done  so  well  in  this  respect  and  has  become  widely  known  among  chicken 
fanciers,  he  has  followed  the  line  for  pleasure  only. 

Mr.  Kline  is  very  well  known  among  local  social  organizations,  belonging 
to  the  Elks  Lodge  at  Pottsville,  No.  207 ;  to  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles ;  to 
the  Liquor  Dealers'  Association  of  Pennsylvania ;  and  to  the  Central  Republican 
Club,  Baxter  Club,  Turtle  Club  and  Pottsville  Game  and  Fish  Protective  Asso- 
ciation. 

J.  FRANKLIN  GEHRIG,  assistant  postmaster  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  was 
born  in  that  borough  Feb.  17,  1891,  son  of  George  E.  Gehrig.  He  belongs  to  a 
family  of  German  origin  which  has  long  been  established  in  Pennsylvania,- 
having  settled  in  Berks  county  at  an  early  date. 

John  Gehrig,  his  great-great-grandfather,  lived  at  Leesport,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
and  kept  hotel  at  that  point  while  the  turnpike  was  under  construction  in  that 
section.  He  died  there  in  1824.  His  children  were:  John,  George  E.,  Mrs. 
Beard  and  Mrs.  Sallie  Baker. 

George  E.  Gehrig,  son  of  John  Gehrig,  was  bom  at  Leesport,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  Jan.  17, 1801,  and  spent  his  early  life  in  Berks  county.  In  1829  he  removed 
to  Milton,  Pa.,  where  he  kept  the  "United  States  Hotel"  for  some  time  and 
later  engaged  in  the  milling  business,  which  he  continued  to  follow  for  a  number 
of  years.  His  death  occurred  in  1854.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Huey),  died  in 
1883.  They  had  these  children :  Jacob,  George,  B.  Frank,  Nice,  James,  Sophia, 
Joseph,  Isaac,  Albert,  Elizabeth,  Harrison  and  William. 

B.  Frank  Gehrig  was  bom  Oct.  25,  1832,  at  Milton,  Pa.,  and  attended  the 
public  schools  there.  When  a  young  man  he  learned  the  distilling  trade.  He 
came  to  Schuylkill  Haven  in  1852  and  clerked  for  three  and  a  half  years,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  the  clothing  and  notion  business,  continuing  same  with 
success  for  seven  years.  For  a  year  afterwards  he  shipped  coal,  and  was  then 
employed  in  the  shops  at  Schuylkill  Haven  for  one  year.  Then,  in  company 
with  David  Dreibelbis,  he  built  a  factory  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
soap,  Mr.  Gehrig  selling  out  to  his  partner  after  conducting  the  business  for 
one  year.  He  next  engaged  in  droving,  traveling  through  central  Pennsylvania 
buying  and  selling  stock,  and  was  so  occupied  for  several  years.  For  fifteen 
years  following  he  carried  on  farming  in  North  Manheim  township,  and  he 
has  since  lived  retired  except  for  his  duties  as  assessor  of  the  North  ward  of 
Schuylkill  Haven,  which  office  he  has  filled  for  the  last  sixteen  years.  For 
eighteen  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  borough  council,  his  long  continuance 
in  that  position  being  a  most  substantial  evidence  of  the  estimate  placed  upon 
his  services  by  his  fellow  citizens  and  their  confidence  in  his  trustworthiness 
and  ability  to  handle  the  affairs  of  the  borough.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  713 

Mr.  Gehrig  owns  the  old  John  Mackey  hotel  stand  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 
which  was  well  known  in  the  days  of  the  stagecoach.  It  is  still  a  fine  old 
building,  and  the  Gehrigs  have  a  comfortable  home  there.  He  married  Isabella 
Barr,  a  daughter  of  John  Barr,  formerly  of  Kutztown,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  later 
of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  she  died  June  2,  1913.  They  had  a  family  of  six  sons : 
John  is  deceased ;  George  E.  is  mentioned  below ;  William  is  deceased ;  Harry 
is  at  home;  Robert  is  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  Haven ;  Edward  is  at  home. 

George  E.  Gehrig,  father  of  J.  Franklin  Gehrig,  was  bom  in  Schuylkill 
Haven  Nov.  i,  1861,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  there.  He  worked 
for  a  time  as  a  woodchopper  with  the  Schuylkill  Navigation  Company,  later 
was  made  foreman  in  the  coal  storage  department  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Coal  &  Iron  Company,  holding  that  position  for  a  considerable  period,  and  then 
became  car  inspector  ifor  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  at  the 
Mine  Hill  Crossing,  Schuylkill  Haven;  he  is  now  a  foreman  in  the  Reading 
car  shops  at  that  place.  Mr.  Gehrig  was  married  to  Leonora  Gehrig,  who  was 
bom  Oct.  10,  1871,  a  daughter  of  J.  Brown  Gehrig,  a  coal  and  coke  dealer  of 
Milton,  Pa.  They  have  one  child,  J.  Franklin.  Mr.  Gehrig  is  a  Republican 
politically,  and  socially  a  member  of  Webster  Council,  No.  ^23,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M., 
of  Schuylkill  Haven,  of  which  he  is  a  past  councillor.  He  is  a  member  of  Christ 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  member  of  the  church  council,  financial  secre- 
tary of  the  church,  and  has  also  been  active  in  the  work  of  its  Sunday  school. 

J.  Franklin  Gehrig  was  educated  in  the  grammar  and  high  schools  of  Schuyl- 
kill Haven,  and  Pottsville  business  college,  after  which  he  spent  about  three 
years  as  a  knitter  in  the  underwear  mills  of  the  borough  of  Schuylkill  Haven, 
first  with  D.  D.  Coldren  and  lastly  with  Jere  Lautenbacher.  On  March  i, 
1910,  he  entered  the  post  office  at  Schuylkill  Haven  as  assistant  postmaster, 
which  position  he  has  since  filled  with  satisfaction  to  all.  On  Sept.  28,  1913,  he 
was  appointed  a  member  of  the  board  of  civil  service  examiners. 

Mr.  Gehrig  was  married  to  Sarah  M.  Cripple,  who  was  bom  June  28, 
1894,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Araminta  (Sierer)  Cripple,  natives  of  West 
Fairview,  Pa.  They  have  one  child,  Earl  A.  Mr.  Gehrig  is  an  adherent  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  holds  membership  in  Page  LcSge,  No.  270,  F.  & 
A.  M. ;  Mountain  City  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  196 ;  Webster  Council,  No.  23, 
Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M. ;  Washington  Camp  No.  47,  P.  O.  S.  of  A. ;  and  Conclave  No. 
1087,  I.  O.  of  H.  He  belongs  to  Christ  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of 
Schuylkill  Haven,  and  is  pianist  of  the  Sunday  School. 

THOMAS  B.  GOLDEN,  the  present  proprietor  of  the  "New  Park  Hotel," 
is  a  well  known  citizen  of  Pottsville  and  of  Schuylkill  county  as  well,  having 
been  associated  as  player  and  manager  with  local  baseball  teams  for  a  number 
of  years.    He  is  a  son  of  William  D.  Golden,  a  native  of  England. 

William  D.  Golden  came  to  America  when  twenty-two  }rears  of  age.  He 
first  settled  at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  being  engaged  as  a  mining  engineer.  Removing 
to  Canada  he  lived  there  for  a  time,  but  retumed  to  Pennsylvania  in  1874, 
locating  at  Stockton.  In  1877  he  went  to  Springfield,  III.,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death.  Before  coming  to  America,  he  married  Sarah  Wilkinson,  and 
to  them  were  bom  seven  children,  of  which  the  youngest  is  Thomas  B. 

Thomas  B.  Golden  attended  the  public  schools  and,  while  still  a  boy,  began 
work  at  a  breaker,  as  a  slate  picker.  He  worked  about  the  mines  for  several 
years,  later  leaming  the  trade  of  watchmaker.  In  1887  he  began  playing  ball 
as  a  professional,  a  contract  with  one  of  the  major  league  teams  bringing  him 


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714  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

East.  In  1894  he  came  to  Pottsville  to  play,  and  has  managed  teams  for  both 
Pottsville  and  Reading  during  the  existence  of  the  Atlantic  League.  In 
September,  1910,  Mr.  Golden  bought  the  "Park  Hotel,"  which  he  has  renovated 
and  improved.  It  comprises  sixty  rooms,  equipped  for  comfortable  service  to 
patrons.  Mr.  Golden's  sociable  nature  and  obliging  disposition  have  won  him 
many  friends  wherever  he  has  gone.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  local 
lodge  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks.  He  is  a  citizen  of  unquestioned  worth  and  thor- 
oughly esteemed  in  his  home  city. 

Mr.  Golden  married  Emma,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret  D.  Schwartz- 
hans,  of  Aurora,  111.  They  have  had  the  following  children :  Sarah  (a  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Pottsville),  Thomas,  William,  Harry  and  Norman. 

IRVIN  W.  EMERICH,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  is  a  native  of  South  Manheim 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  settled  families 
of  this  r^on.  His  grandfather,  Jacob  Emerich,  lived  in  South  Manheim  town- 
ship, where  he  was  a  pioneer,  and  followed  farming  on  the  place  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  his  death.  He  is  buried  in  the  Summer  Hill  cemetery. 
His  children  were  Morgan,  Jacob,  Jonathan  and  Joshua. 

Joshua  Emerich,  father  of  Irvin  W.  Emerich,  was  bom  in  South  Manheim 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  died  in  that  township  Oct.  5,  1895.  He  did 
day's  work  and  was  a  man  of  industrious  habits,  respected  by  all  his  neighbors. 
By  his  marriage  to  Pietta  Gruber  he  had  children  as  follows :  Nathan,  who  is 
deceased ;  Nathaniel,  deceased ;  Filmore,  who  died  when  seventeen  years  old ; 
Reuben,Na  resident  of  Pottstown,  Pa. ;  Alvin,  living  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa. ; 
Irvin  W. ;  Lyman,  who  died  in  1898;  Sydney,  living  in  Reading,  Pa.;  Kate,  of 
Schuylkill  Haven ;  Deborah,  who  died  young ;  and  Alida,  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Irvin  W.  Emerich  was  bom  Jan.  19,  1870,  and  was  reared  in  his  native 
township,  where  he  attended  public  school.  Until  nineteen  years  old  he  was 
employed  among  the  farmers  of  the  district,  in  1890  starting  thebusiness  of 
painting  and  paperhanging  which  he  has  followed  ever  since.  He  is  estab- 
lished in  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  has  built  up  an  excellent  business,  having  a 
steady  patronage  which  requires  the  services  of  several  men.  Mr.  Emerich  ,has 
kept  up-to-date  in  his  work,  and  has  made  every  effort  to  give  his  patrons  desir- 
able service,  and  they,  in  turn,  have  shown  substantial  appreciation  of  his 
enterprise.  Personally  he  has  the  respect  of  all  his  associates.  He  is  a  member 
of  Page  Lodge,  No.  270,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Schuylkill  Haven ;  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  In  religious  connection  he  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church.  In  politics  he  is  independent,  supporting  the  men  and  measures  he 
considers  the  most  desirable  regardless  of  party  lines. 

Mr.  Emerich  married  £mma  Moyer,  daughter  of  William  J.  Moyer,  of 
South  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  they  have  two  children: 
Edith,  a  graduate  of  the  Schuylkill  Haven  high  school,  and  of  the  Keystone 
State  Normal  School  of  Kutztown,  Pa.,  is  now  a  public  school  teacher  at 
Schuylkill  Haven ;  Sallie,  also  a  graduate  of  the  Schuylkill  Haven  high  school, 
lives  at  home  and  is  engaged  in  sewing.    The  family  reside  on  Canal  street. 

NEWTON  M.  WONDERS,  of  Pottsville,  has  been  one  of  the  most  popular 
photographers  in  this  part  of  Schuylkill  county  for  over  twenty-five  years. 
Photography  has  been  his  life  work,  and  as  he  has  gone  in  for  all  the  different 
branches  of  the  art  he  has  been  able'to  keep  in  touch  with  the  advances  of  the 
business,  besides  acquiring  a  varied  experience  of  the  greatest  value.    Though 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  715 

he  has  done  well  from  the  commercial  standpoint,  his  success  has  meant  more 
than  mere  material  prosperity,  for  he  has  natural  taste  for  his  chosen  calhng 
which  has  developed  along  with  his  proficiency,  and  he  finds  keen  enjoyment  in 
his  vocation  and  the  great  progress  which  has  culminated  in  recent  years  in  un- 
dreamed of  accomplishments. 

Mr.  Wonders  was  bom  in  New  Franklin,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  17,  1862. 
His  father,  Peter  D.  Wonders,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  settled 
in  Stark  coimty,  Ohio,  dying  at  Alliance,  that  county,  in  1877.  By  occupation 
he  was  a  carpenter  and  cabinetmaker.  He  married  Fredericka  Bammerlin,  who 
was  bom  in  Berlin,  Germany,  and  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  over  ninety  years, 
making  her  home  in  Qeveland,  Ohio.  Of  the  twelve  children  bom  to  them 
five  are  deceased,  namely :  Mrs.  Lucy  L.  McGlone,  who  died  in  1898  at  Los 
Angeles,  Cal. ;  Allen,  who  died  of  fever  while  serving  in  the  Union  army  during 
the  Civil  war,  in  his  twenty-first  year;  Emma  J.,  who  died  when  eighteen 
years  old ;  and  Florence  and  Louise,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Lafayette  is  a  resident 
of  Alliance,  Ohio;  Benton  M.  Uves  in  Cleveland;  Mrs.  Marietta  Thomas,  in 
Qeveland;  Frances  M.  lives  at  Frankfort,  Ind.;  Mrs.  Laura  P.  Teeters  is  a 
resident  of  Cleveland ;  Solon  L.  is  at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Newton  M.  completes  the 
family. 

Newton  M.  Wonders  had  common  school  advantages,  attending  at  Alliance, 
Ohio.  His  school  days  over  he  commenced  work  for  his  brother,  who  was  in 
the  photographic  business,  becoming  well  grounded  in  the  details  of  the  work 
during  this  association.  Subsequently  for  a  time  he  was  located  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  he  afterwards  spent  three  years  in  Chicago,  111.,  and  three  years  at 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  before  coming  to  Pottsville.  He  has  been  established  here  since 
1891,  in  which  year  he  purchased  his  studio,  the  location  being  at  No.  10  West 
Market  street  until  he  removed  to  his  present  quarters,  No.  7  South  Centre 
street.  Mr.  Wonders  has  built  up  a  large  business  by  strict  attention  to  the 
wants  of  his  customers,  and  by  giving  them  the  best  that  photography,  as  it  is 
now  understood,  offers.  He  has  probably  the  largest  clientele  in  this  section, 
and  deservedly.  Mr.  Wonders  is  a  member  of  the  National  Photographers' 
Association  of  America. 

In  1889  Mr.  Wonders  was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna  E.  Weitzel,  of 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  daughter  of  H.  P.  and  Emma  E.  Weitzel,  both  of  whom  are 
deceased.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  this  union:  Dorothy,  who  died 
when  eight  years  old ;  and  Jettie  L.  and  Henry  P.,  surviving.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wonders  are  members  of  the  English  Lutheran  Church. 

JOHN  H.  LENGEL,  who  is  now  serving  as  president  of  the  school  board 
of  the  borough  of  Cressona,  has  given  his  fellow  citizens  excellent  service  in 
that  capacity.  He  is  a  man  of  estimable  character,  a  member  of  a  family  which 
has  been  well  and  favorably  known  in  Schuylkill  county  for  several  generations, 
his  grandfather,  John  Lengel,  living  and  dying  in  Washington  township,  this 
county,  near  Hetzel's  Church,  where  he  is  buried.  By  occupation  he  was  a 
farmer,  one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  his  day,  owning  three  large  farms.  His 
children  were:  John,  Reuben,  Adam,  David,  Daniel,  Mrs.  Catherine  Zimmer- 
man, Mrs.  Rebecca  Zimmerman  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Hein. 

Daniel  Lengel,  son  of  John,  was  bom  in  Washington  township,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  wheelwright.  He  was  also  a  farmer  for  many  years,  in  his  later 
life  settling  at  Friedensburg,  this  county,  where  he  conducted  a  shop,  following 
his  trade  while  living  there.    He  died  at  Friedensburg  when  seventy-two  years 


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716  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

old,  and  is  buried  at  Cressona,  where  his  wife  also  rests.  She  too  passed  away 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  Her  maiden  name  was  Catherine  Berkheiser, 
daughter  of  William  Berkheiser.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lengel  had  a  family  of  seven 
children:  Mary,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  ^of  Peter  C.  Bittle;  John  H.; 
Daniel,  Kate  and  Sallie,  all  three  of  whom  died  young ;  Charles,  deceased ;  and 
Carrie,  who  married  John  Heffner  and  (second)  Oscar  Bemheisel. 

John  H.  Lengel  was  born  Dec.  29,  1861,  in  Washington  township,  this 
county,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Cressona.  lie  was 
reared  upon  the  farm,  where  he  remained  imtil  twenty  years  old,  in  1882 
entering  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  as  a 
track  repairman.  By  efficient  work  he  was  promoted  from  time  to  time,  and 
is  now  an  engineer,  which  position  he  has  held  for  over  twenty  years.  Since 
1892  he  has  been  running  between  St.  Clair  and  Philadelphia.  His  home  is 
at  Cressona.  Mr.  Lengel  has  always  been  interested  in  local  activities,  being 
a  member  of  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  75,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Phoenixville,  and  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Americans,  and  in  politics  he  is  associated  with  the 
Washington  party.  His  principal  work  in  public  affairs  has  been  along  the  line 
of  improvements  in  the  school  system,  and  he  has  been  faithful  to  his  duties  as 
member  of  the  school  board,  on  which  body  he  has  been  serving  since  191 1. 

In  1884  Mr.  Lengel  married  Amanda  Fessler,  daughter  of  William  Fessler, 
of  Cressona,  and  member  of  a  pioneer  family  of  this  locality.  They  have 
three  children :  Florence,  James  and  Daniel,  all  of  whom  are  at  home  with  their 
parents. 

CHARLES  F.  LONG  was  engaged  during  his  earlier  years  at  mining,  a 
vocation  which  occupies  a  large  proportion  of  the  workers  in  Schuylkill  county, 
but  for  a  number  of  years  past  he  has  been  a  hotel  proprietor,  now  success- 
fully ^conducting  the  "United  States  Hotel"  at  Minersville.  Under  his  capable 
management  it  has  become  one  of  the  leading  hotels  in  the  borough. 

Mr.  Long  is  of  German  parentage,  his  father,  Charles  Long,  having  been 
bom  in  Prussia,  about  forty  miles  from  Berlin.  He  served  in  the  Carman 
army  in  1848,  and  was  shot  in  the  leg  while  marching  through  Poland.  After 
his  dischaiige  from  the  service  he  came  to  America,  in  18^,  and  settled  at 
Wiconisco,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  After 
coming  to  this  country  he  followed  mining,  and  he  died  in  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  is  buried,  at  Lykens.  His  wife,  Christian  (Seifert),  was  a  native  of 
the  same  place  as  her  husband,  died  at  Wiconisco,  and  is  also  buried  at  Lykens. 
Of  the  six  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Long,  Otto  and  one  sister 
continue  to  reside  on  the  old  homestead  at  Wiconisco. 

Charles  F.  Long  was  born  July  6,  1862,  at  Lykens,  Dauphin  county.  His 
early  advantages  were  meager,  for  though  he  attended  the  common  schools 
he  was  only  eight  years  old  when  he  commenced  to  pick  slate  at  the  Big  Lick 
colliery,  at  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county.  As  he  grew  up  he  was  given 
different  kinds  of  work  at  the  mines,  advancing  himself  steadily  by  applica- 
tion to  his  duties,  and  he  subsequently  took  a  course  on  mining  at  the  Scranton 
Correspondence  Schools,  which  assisted  him  greatly  in  his  work.  For  several 
years  Mr.  Long  was  inside  foreman  at  the  Silberton  colliery,  and  was  later 
similarly  employed  at  the  Buck  Run  colliery,  where  he  did  his  last  work  as 
a  miner.  In  1902,  having  decided  to  change  his  calling,  he  purchased  the 
"Decort  Hotel"  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  which  he  conducted  for  two 
years,  in  Febmary,  1904,  buying  the  "United  States  Hotel"  at  Minersville,  to 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  717 

which  he  has  since  given  all  his  time.  Mr.  Long  has  proved  himself  well 
adapted  for  this  business,  and  the  hotel  has  continued  to  draw  a  profitable 
patronage  since  he  took  charge.  He  has  become  very  favorably  known  in  the 
borough  as  a  straightforward  business  man,  and  personally  has  the  good  will 
of  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances.  Mr.  Long  was  made  a  Mason  Sept.  28, 
1890,  belonging  to  Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  570,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Lykens,  PennsyU 
vania. 

Mr.  Long  married  Amelia  Kendter,  daughter  of  George  Kendter,  of  Tre- 
mont,  Schuylkill  county,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely: 
Edward,  now  of  Pottsville,  this  county ;  and  Arthur,  John,  Otto,  Matilda  and 
Alma,  at  home. 

WILLIAM  FRANCIS  GERHARD,  of  Orwigsburg,  is  one  of  the  best 
known  residents  of  the  lower  end  of  Schuylkill  county.  As  an  agriculturist  he 
has  been  thoroughly  successful  in  cultivating  a  very  valuable  piece  of  property 
in  North  Manheim  township  and  he  has  also  undertaken  other  work,  as  oppor- 
tunity offered,  his  industrious  nature  and  proved  reliability  being  appreciated 
wherever  he  has  been  employed. 

Mr.  Gerhard  was  bom  March  11,  1855,  in  West  Brimswick  township,  son 
of  Henry  Gerhard  and  grandson  of  Henry  Gerhard.  His  great-grandfather, 
Jacob  Gerhard,  was  bom  in  Germany,  and  on  coming  to  America  when  a 
young  man  settled  at  Rehrersburg,  in  Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  followed  farming  and  his  trade,  that  of  wheelwright.  He  lived  there 
until  his  death.  His  children  were:  Peter,  Heinrich  (Henry),  John,  Jaccrf), 
William,  Catherine,  Lydia,  Polly,  Sarah,  Elizabeth  and  Lavina. 

Heinrich  (Henry)  Gerhard,  grandfather  of  William  Francis  Gerhard,  born 
May  I,  1798,  at  Rehrersburg,  die'd  Nov.  22,  1871.  Like  his  father  he  was  a 
fanner  and  wheelwright.  Coming  to  Schuylkill  county  in  1828,  he  bought  a 
farm  in  West  Brunswick  township  April  5th  of  that  year,  the  old  Abraham 
Werner  property,  comprising  263  acres,  155  perches.  He  continued  to  farm 
there  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  at  that  place,  and  is  buried  in  the  Reformed 
cemetery  at  Orwigsburg.  His  wife,  Maria  Sarah,  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Mana  (Gilbert)  Hoy,  was  bom  in  1800,  and  died  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years,  nine  months,  twenty-three  days.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children:  Maria,  who  married  Daniel  Alspach;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Samuel  Yost; 
Henry ;  Priscilla,  who  married  James  Anderson  and  (second)  Edward  Mengel ; 
William;  and  Edward,  the  last  named  dying  young. 

Henry  Gerhard,  father  of  William  F.  Gerhard,  was  born  Aug.  25,  1829,  in 
West  Bnmswick  township,  in  the  house  where  he  still  resides.  Part  of  this 
house  was  standing  when  his  parents  moved  here,  his  father  adding  to  it  subse- 
quently. Mr.  GeAard  has  been  living  retired  since  191 2.  He  attended  school 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  farmed  throughout  his  active  years.  After  the  death 
of  his  father  he  bought  148  acres  of  the  home  property,  his  brother  William 
taking  eighty-three  acres,  and  their  brother-in-law,  Daniel  Alspach,  also  owning 
a  tract.  The  latter  engaged  in  the  undertaking  business.  While  the  cultivation 
of  the  property  was  under  Mr.  Gerhard's  direct  management  he  was  one  of  the 
prominent  farmers  in  his  vicinity  and  attended  the  markets  of  Schuylkill  Haven, 
Pottsville  and  Orwigsburg,  where  he  was  known  as  a  thoroughly  reliable  dealer, 
all  his  transactions  being  above  reproach.  He  is  a  Democrat,  serving  many 
years  as  school  director  of  his  township,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent  members 


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718  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  the  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  held  the  offices  of  elder  and  deacon  for 
many  years. 

On  June  19,  1852,  Mr.  Gerhard  married  Diana  Mengel,  who  died  Jan.  3, 
1857.  She  was  the  mother  of  three  children:  Charles,  born  July  16,  1853, 
died  Oct.  8,  1854;  William  Francis ;  and  Diana,  born  Nov.  5,  1856,  died  Nov.  10, 
1857.  O^  Nov.  5,  1859,  Mr.  Gerhard  married  (second)  Eliza  Yost,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Betsy  (Merkel)  Yost.  Eleven  children  have  been  bom  to  this 
union,  as  follows:  Elwood  P.,  born  May  31,  i860,  is  living  in  Port  Carbon; 
Mary  E.,  bom  Aug.  2,  1862,  is  married  to  Joel  Degler,  and  lives  at  Orwigsburg; 
Henry  Y.,  born  Oct.  5,  1864,  is  a  shoe  manufacturer  of  Orwigsburg ;  Samuel, 
bom  April  6,  1867,  died  aged  nine  years;  Frank,  bom  Feb.  5,  1869,  is  a  farmer 
of  West  Bmnswick  township;  Emma  M.,  bora  Feb.  22,  1871,  married  Jacob 
Zuber,  and  is  living  at  Allentown,  Pa. ;  George  A.,  bom  April  11,  1873,  is  a  shoe 
manufacturer  at  Orwigsburg,  with  his  brother;  John,  bom  March  11,  1875,  is 
farming  at  Orwigsburg;  Calvin  L.,  bom  July  2,  1876,  is  farming  in  the  borough 
of  Orwigsburg;  Hannah  S.,  bom  Jime  20,  1881,  married  George  Seltzer,  and  is 
living  at  McKeansburg,  Schuylkill  county;  and  Edwin  R.,  born  Oct.  20,  1884, 
is  farming  the  homestead  place  in  West  Brunswick  township. 

William  Francis  Gerhard  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  township  and 
remained  at  home  until  twenty-one  years  old.  At  that  time  he  located  in 
Orwigsburg  and  undertook  the  cultivation  of  his  father-in-law's  farm,  carrying 
it  on  until  Mr.  Moyer's  death.  He  now  has  fifty  acres  of  the  place  and  thirty- 
six  acres  purchased  from  Daniel  Moyer,  and  he  operates  the  place  very  profit- 
ably, his  up-to-date  methods  of  cultivation  having  brought  it  to  a  most  desirable 
state.  Mr.  Gerhard  is  also  engaged  in  hauling  coal,  doing  considerable  in  this 
line,  and  he  is  a  busy,  prosperous  man,  well  liked  and  respected  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  has  had  so  creditable  a  career.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  its  work,  at  present  serv- 
mg  as  trustee  and  class  leader.  Socially  he  holds  membership  in  the  P.  O. 
S.  of  A. 

Mr.  Gerhard  married  Susanna  Moyer,  daughter  of  George  K.  and  Susanna 
(Hoy)  Moyer,  and  they  reside  at  the  old  homestead  of  her  parents.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  bom  to  them :  Laura  died  when  two  years  old ;  Sadie  married 
Ralph  Kauffman,  and  has  two  children,  Marie  and  Leroy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
KauflFman  reside  with  her  parents. 

PAUL  R.  NAFFIN,  one  of  the  rising  young  business,  men  of  Schuylkill 
Haven,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general  contracting  and  is  proprietor  of  the 
roller  skating  rink,  was  born  Jan.  24,  1886,  at  Colwalk,  Pommern,  North  Ger- 
many, and  is  a  son  of  Albert  Naffin. 

Albert  Naffin,  the  father,  was  bom  May  20,  1844,  in  Germany,  where  he  was 
a  contractor  and  builder.  He  came  to  America  with  his  family,  landing  at 
Pier  No.  53,  Philadelphia,  July  27,  1896,  and  soon  thereafter  located  in  Reading, 
Pa.  Remaining  in  Reading  until  July  4,  1897,  he  then  retumed  to  Germany, 
where  he  remained  until  November,  1912.  Coming  back  to  America  at  that 
time  he  stayed  in  this  country  only  until  Sept.  27,  191 3,  when  he  again  went 
back  to  his  Fatherland,  dying  there  Dec.  12,  1913,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  He 
is  buried  at  Belgard,  Germany.  Mr.  Naffin  was  married  to  Wilhelmina,  daugh- 
ter of  Frederick  Rabe,  and  a  native  of  the  same  county  as  her  husband,  bom 
Dec.  3,  1848.  She  is  now  residing  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  To  Albert  and  Wil- 
helmina Naffin  were  bom  five  children :     Theodore,  living  at  Riverside,  N.  J. ; 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  719 

William,  living  at  Camden,  N.  J.;  Paul  R.;  Gustave,  residing  in  Schuylkill 
Haven ;  and  Frieda,  residing  at  home. 

Paul  R.  Naffin  was  but  ten  years  old  when  his  father  came  to  America.  He 
had  obtained  some  schooling  in  Germany,  to  which  he  has  since  added  by  study 
and  observation.  His  first  work  was  in  the  Mohns'  hat  factory,  at  Reading, 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  for  about  five  years.  He  then  went  to  the  Reading 
Hardware  Company  for  a  time,  afterwards  working  at  various  places  and 
learning  the  trade  of  carpenter,  which  he  commenced  July  i8,  1904.  He  came 
to  Schuylkill  Haven  July  20,  1907,  and  worked  at  his  trade  until  October,  when 
he  began  in  partnership  with  his  brother  William  to  build  the  roller  skating 
rink,  completing  it  April  28,  1908.  The  rink  is  two  stories  in  height  and  67  by 
140  feet  in  size,  having  one  of  the  largest  floors  in  this  part  of  the  State.  Mr. 
Naffin  also  conducted  a  rink  at  Minersville,  Pa.,  for  two  seasons  with  success, 
and  ran  a  portable  rink  for  two  seasons.  The  firm  was  known  as  Paul  R.  Naffin 
&  Bro.  until  March,  1913,  when  Gustave,  the  other  partner,  withdrew,  leaving 
Paul  R.  Naffin  as  the  sole  owner.  Mr.  Naffin  also  does  considerable  contracting 
and  building  in  Schuylkill  Haven  and  vicinity.  He  resides  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 
where  he  attends  Christ  Lutheran  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Carpenters' 
Union  of  Pottsville. 

On  Oct.  I,  1914,  Mr.  Naffin  was  married  to  Helen  Louisa  MuUdore, 
who  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  June  23,  1891.  They  have  one  child, 
Richard  Spindler,  bom  July  27,  191 5. 

SOLOMON  A.  BARKET,  of  Pottsville,  has  exepiplified  in  his  prosperous 
business  career  that  the  era  of  opportunities  for  willing  workers  is  not  over. 
Coming  to  this  county  in  1893,  he  has  without  the  aid  of  friends  or  advan- 
tages, made  his  way  to  a  substantial  position  in  local  business  circles,  conduct- 
ing a  useful  industry,  which  has  been  valuable  to  the  town  as  well  as  profitable 
to  him. 

Mr.  Barket  was  born  in  Tripoli,  Syria,  in  1876,  and  came  to  America  when 
seventeen  years  old,  landing  at  New  York  City  in  1893.  Proceeding  thence 
to  Pottsville,  Pa.,  he  began  to  work  as  a  peddler  in  Schuylkill  county,  being 
so  engaged  for  two  years  and  ten  months.  By  that  time  he  felt  that  he  could 
take  the  responsibility  of  a  store,  and  he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  dry  goods 
and  notion  business  at  No.  401  West  Minersville  street,  where  he  has  since 
been  located.  He  continued  his  original  line  for  twelve  years,  and  in  1910 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  hosiery,  which  he  started  June  27th.  He 
has  an  up-to-date  knitting  mill  and  is  engaged  in  the  production  of  men's  half- 
hose,  the  eighty-four-needle  hose,  known  as  the  miner's  sock,  and  the  one 
himdred  and  seventy-six-needle  hose,  a  fine  grade.  Beginning  with  five 
machines  Mr.  Barket  has  so  increased  his  trade  that  he  now  has  over  sixty 
and  employs  from  fifteen  to  twenty  people  steadily,  the  growing  demand  for 
his  goods  being  a  sure  evidence  of  the  satisfaction  they  have  given  to  con- 
stuners.  The  product  is  disposed  of  mostly  through  jobbers.  Mr.  Barket  has 
acquired  the  ownership  of  the  property  where  his  factory  is  located,  and  also 
of  No.  405  West  Minersville  street. 

On  June  19,  1909,  Mr.  Barket  married  Matilda  Ashwood,  like  himself  a 
native  of  Syria,  daughter  of  Faress  Ashwood,  the  ceremony  being  performed 
at  Pottsville  by  Fathers  McGovem,  Malley  and  Fiatt.  Mrs.  Barket  was 
taken  to  Brazil  when  nine  years  old,  and  came  to  America  two  years  later. 
Three  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barket:     EHas,  April  18, 


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720  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

191 1 ;  Gertrude,  June  27,  1913,  and  Alfred  Peter,  April  29,  1915.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Barket  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

.  BRITTON  W.  SATERLEE  (deceased)  was  stationed  at  Cressona,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  from  1903  until  his  recent  death,  acting  as  assistant  trainmaster 
for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  at  that  point,  to  which  he 
was  transferred  from  Allentown.  He  was  in  the  service  of  the  company  from 
1890,  and  his  various  promotions  during  the  quarter  of  a  century  he  remained 
in  its  employ  attested  the  value  placed  upon  his  ability  and  trustworthiness. 

Mr.  Saterlee's  grandparents,  Edward  N.  and  Lucy  (Falkner)  Saterlee, 
were  natives  of  northeast  New  York  and  northern  Pennsylvania,  respectively. 
His  father,  Britton  W.  Saterlee,  Sr.,  was  a  soldier  in  thie  Civil  war,  enlisting 
in  March,  1864,  in  Company  L,  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  The  following 
month  he  died  of  typhoid  fever.  He  married  Lucy  Fenderson,  daughter  of 
John  and  Lucy  (Clemens)  Fenderson,  the  former  born  in  Bangor,  Maine, 
and  the  latter  in  Massachusetts ;  Mrs.  Fenderson  was  a  first  cousin  of  Edward 
Everett,  the  historian.  After  Mr.  Saterlee's  death  his  widow  became  the 
wife  of  John  C.  East,  who  was  a  member  of  the  146th  Virginia  Confederate 
Infantry  in  the  Civil  war,  but  who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  prior  to  the 
cessation  of  hostilities.  By  this  union  she  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters : 
Martha  M.,  Mildred  E.  (deceased),  John  L.,  William  T.,  Carrie  S.  and 
James  E. 

Britton  W.  Saterlee  was  bom  Sept.  4,  1864,  at  Karthaus,  Clearfield  Co., 
Pa.  He  attended  public  school  in  New  York  State  from  1869  to  1875,  and 
was  at  the  soldiers'  orphans'  school  at  White  Hill,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  from 
1875  to  1880.  His  first  employment  was  as  a  mechanic  with  the  Lycoming 
Rubber  Company,  of  Williamsport,  where  he  remained  for  eight  years.  For 
one  year  he  was  with  the  Perkins  &  Miller  Lumber  Company,  of  Westlake, 
La.,  and  in  1890  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company 
as  clerk  at  Williamsport.  In  1893  he  was  made  freight  agent  at  Shippens- 
burg,  Pa.,  and  six  years  later  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  assistant  train- 
master, at  Palo  Alto.  The  next  year  he  went  to  Allentown,  in  the  same 
capacity,  and  in  1903  was  assigned  to  Cressona,  where  he  was  first  assistant 
trainmaster.    He  died  suddenly  at  his  home  in  Cressona,  March  5,  1915. 

Mr.  Saterlee  proved  a  desirable  citizen  of  the  community,  where  he  gained 
respect  and  esteem  by  his  strict  attention  to  duty  and  integrity  in  all  his  rela- 
tions with  his  fellow  townsmen.  He  was  a  Mason,  belonging  to  Cressona 
Lodge,  No.  426,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  (Potts- 
ville  Council,  No.  965).  Politically  he  did  not  pledge  himself  to  the  support 
of  any  particular  party,  voting  as  his  conscience  dictated.  ' 

On  Sept.  10,  1882,  Mr.  Saterlee  was  married  to  Eda  L.  Managan,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Harriet  (Bixby)  Managan,  of  Tioga,  Pa.  Of  the  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  this  marriage  four  are  deceased;  Arietta,  the  eldest,  is  married 
to  William  H.  Hansford,  of  Philadelphia,  formerly  of  Richmond,  Va. ;  Har- 
riet B.  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  R.  E.  Vellines,  of  Minersville;  Ida  M.  is  at  home; 
Gerald  B.  lives  at  Reading;  Eda  Hilma  has  received  her  higher  education  at 
the  Wilson  College  for  Women.  The  Saterlees  ire  members  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Cressona,  to  which  Mr.  Saterlee  also  belonged. 

CARL  FREDERICK  HOLDERMAN,  late  of  Shenandoah,  held  an 
estimable  place  among  his  associates  in  every  relation  of  life.  His  worth 
might  be  measured  by  the  respect  they  showed  in  recognition  of  his  substan- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  721 

tial  qualities,  and  no  less  by  the  friends  he  made  through  his  admirable  personal 
traits,  which  endeared  him  to  many  in  social  ties. 

Mr.  Holderman  was  a  native  of  Baden,  Germany,  bom  Sept.  7,  1854,  at 
Mosbach,  son  of  Karl  Frederick  and  Marie  Holderman  and  grandson  of 
George  and  Anna  Holderman.  George  Holderman  owned  a  large  bakery  at 
Mosbach,  following  that  business  all  his  life.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at 
that  place.  Their  children  were :  Henry,  George,  Karl  Frederick,  Anna,  and 
Marie.  The  parents  were  members  of  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  and  active  in  its  work. 

Karl  Frederick  Holderman,  son  of  George,  was  born  at  Mosbach,  and 
died  when  about  thirty-six  years  old.  He  was  well  educated,  p^aduatingf  with 
honors  from  the  Gymnasium  at  Karlsruhe,  Baden,  where  his  picture  was  htmg 
in  tribute  to  his  scholarship.  He  became  a  civil  engineer.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Marie  Mueller,  lived  in  Mosbach  until  ten  years  before 
her  death,  then  removing  to  Karlsruhe,  where  she  passed  away  at  the  age 
of  sixty-three  years.  She  is  buried  at  Karlsruhe,  Mr.  Holderman  at  Mosbach. 
They  were  members  of  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at  Mosbach. 
The  following  children  were  bom  to  them:  Carl  Frederick;  Marie,  Mrs. 
Wieland,  whose  husband  was  overseer  for  the  Duke  of  Baden;  Helena,  who 
was  married  to  the  late  Albert  Mueller,  Chancellor  to  the  Duchess  of  Baden ; 
and  Frederick  L.,  who  was  Private  Secretary  to  Baron  von  Rothschild. 

Carl  Frederick  Holderman  was  reared  at  Mosbach,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion there  ancf  at  Karlsmhe,  where  he  leamed  his  trade  of  watchmaker.  He 
followed  it  in  his  home  town  for  some  time,  and  later  in  Vienna,  Austria, 
where  he  remained  until  after  his  marriage,  which  took  place  in  1876.  In 
November  of  that  year  he  came  with  his  wife  to  this  country,  where  he  first 
found  employment  in  the  Hitchcock  jewelry  establishment  on  Broadway,  New 
York  City.  Later  he  worked  for  Bailey,  Banks  &  Biddle,  in  Philadelphia, 
and,  in  the  year  1879  he  arrived  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  made  a  permanent  home.  He  began  work  at  his  trade  with  T.  Cassidy, 
at  No.  40  North  Main  street,  remaining  with  him  until  he  bought  the  estab- 
lishment, in  1880,  to  continue  it  on  his  own  account.  Subsequently  he  removed 
the  jewelry  business  to  No.  131  North  Main  street,  and  a  few  years  later 
purchased  the  site  at  No.  112  North  Main  street,  where  it  has  since  been 
conducted.  His  home  was  also  at  that  location.  Mr.  Holderman,  though 
interested  in  the  business  until  his  death,  had  been  in  poor  health  for  six 
months  previously,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  1914  underwent  an  operation  at 
the  State  Hospital  at  Fountain  Springs,  Pa.  Though  his  condition  seemed 
hopeful  at  times  he  never  really  rallied,  and  he  passed  ft  way  at  his  home  on 
Jan.  II,  1915.  Mr.  Holderman  traveled  and  read  extensively  and  was  a 
most  interesting  conversationalist,  his  active  mind  and  keen  powers  of  obser- 
vation betokening  unusual  intelligence.  In  disposition  he  was  genial  and 
kindly,  and  his  friendly  attitude  attracted  many  to  him  who  will  cherish  his 
memory  among  their  delightful  experiences.  Mr.  Hofderman  is  buried  in  the 
Odd  Fellows'  cemetery  at  Shenandoah.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church,  and  in  politics  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 

On  April  12,  1876,  Mr.  Holderman  was  married  in  Vienna,  Austria,  by  a 
Lutheran  clergyman,  to  Anna  Louise  Holderman,  who  was  bom  in  that  city 
June  I,  1857,  and  received  her  education  there.  Children  as  follows  were 
bom  to  this  marriage:  Charles  Frederick,  bom  March  15,  1877,  in  Phila- 
delphia, now  engaged  as  traveling  auditor  for  the  S.  &  S.  Packing  Co.,  of 
Chicago,  III;  Frederica  Louise,  bom  Nov.   1^7,  1878,  in  Philadelphia,  who 

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722  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANL\ 

died  when  seventeen  days  old;  Frederick  William,  bom  Oct.  17,  1879,  in 
Philadelphia,  now  a  resident  of  Hazleton,  Pa.,  engaged  as  a  mining  engineer 
for  the  Lehigh  Valley  Coal  Company ;  Emil  Otto,  bom  Sept.  25,  1883,  a  min- 
ing engineer  in  the  employ  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Coal  Company  at  Centralia, 
living  at  home ;  Bertha  Anna  Marie,  bom  Feb.  9,  1882,  who  graduated  from 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Bloomsburg,  Pa.,  from  the  Hazleton  (Pa.)  Busi- 
ness College,  and  from  the  Rochester  (N.  Y.)  Business  Institute,  and  now  the 
commercial  teacher  in  the  Shenandoah  High  School;  Henry  Otto,  bom  Jan. 
5,  1886,  who  died  when  four  months  old;  and  Hei-bert  Helmuth,  bom  April 
I,  1893,  a  student  in  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  class  of 
1916.  All  of  this  family  hold  membership  in  the  Reformed  Church. 

There  are  four  grandchildren,  all  children  of  Charles  F.  and  Jennie  Holder- 
man,  as  follows:  Anna  Louise,  bom  at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  June  28,  1901 ;  Marie 
Bertha,  bom  April  3,  1903,  at  Shenandoah,  Pa.;  Karl  Frederick,  bom  at 
Chicago,  111.,  Oct.  8,  1905 ;  Frances  Marguerite,  bom  at  Chicago,  111.,  Jan.  28, 
1914. 

Mrs.  Holderman  now  lives  at  116  North  Jardin  street,  Shenandoah,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

ALFRED  HEHN,  a  merchant  and  assessor  of  Pine  Groye  township,  was 
bom  in  Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  13,  1849,  son  of  William 
and  Esther  (Scheaffer)  Hehn,  and  grandson  of  Jacob  Hehn.  The  American 
founder  of  the  Hehn  family  (also  spelled  Hain  in  the  early  days),  was  a 
native  of  France,  and  leaving  that  land  reached  the  New  World  after  a  long 
and  stormy  voyage.  He  located  near  Hain's  Church,  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Jacob  Hehn  was  bom  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  in  young  manhood  moved 
to  Schuylkill  county,  locating  in  Wayne  township  on  a  farm  known  as  the 
Farrabee  property.  There  he  carried  on  farming  for  many  years,  becoming 
one  of  the  well  known  men  of  his  community.  When  Schuylkill  county  was 
taken  from  Berks  county,  Jacob  Hehn  was  made  one  of  the  first  county  com- 
missioners, and  he  always  took  a  deep  interest  in  its  growth. 

William  Hehn,  a  son  of  Jacob  Hehn,  was  born  in  Wayne  township,  and 
like  his  father  was  a  farmer.  His  farm  was  located  in  Washington  township, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  He  and  his  wife  had  these 
children:  Mary  M.,  Angeline,  Alfred,  Matilda,  Susan,  Lucinda,  John,  Peter 
and  Sallie. 

After  completing  his  studies  in  the  schools  of  his  district,  Alfred  Hehn 
became  a  farmer,  but  within  a  few  years  began  working  in  the  Lincoln  col- 
liery, where  he  continued  for  twenty-two  years.  He  then  saw  an  opening  for 
a  general  store  at  Pleasant  Valley,  in  Pine  Grgve  township,  and  embarked 
in  this  line,  in  which  he  has  since  continued  very  profitably.  Not  only  is  Mr. 
Hehn  serving  in  his  second  term  as  assessor  of  his  township,  but  he  was  a 
constable  of  the  township  for  four  years,  and  is  one  of  the  well  known  men 
of  his  part  of  the  county. 

By  his  first  wife,  Annie,  Mr.  Hehn  had  one  daughter,  Annie.  He  married 
(second)  Elizabeth  Satticaln,  daughter  of  Peter  Satticaln,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  four  children :  Matilda,  Sallie,  William  A.,  and  Paul  S.  Mr.  Hehn 
belongs  to  the  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  is  held  in  high  esteem.  Frater- 
nally he  is  affiliated  with  the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  enjoys  his  connection 
in  this  direction.  An  eamest,  steadfast,  hardworking  man,  he  has  eamed  all 
his  possessions,  and  can  well  be  proud  of  what  he  has  accomplished. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  723 

EDWIN  R.  NEISWENDER,  of  New  Ringgold,  has  become  well  known 
to  the  residents  of  the  borough  and  vicinity  in  his  long  service  at  that  point 
in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company.  He  has 
been  located  there  since  1900,  as  station  agent  since  March  i,  1913.  Mr. 
Neiswender  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  but  the  family  is  of  old  Schuylkill  coimty 
stock. 

George  Neiswender,  his  grandfather,  was  bom  about  the  year  1794,  near 
Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  and  the 
owner  of  a  large  tract  in  West  Brunswick  township.  His  wife,  Mary 
(Keim),  bom  in  1800,  died  in  1878,  was  a  daughter  of  Peter  Keim.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs .  Neiswender  were  born  children  as  follows :  George  married 
Hannah  Riegel ;  Daniel  married  Eliza  Tyson ;  Samuel  is  the  father  of  Edwin 
R.  Neiswender ;  Polly  married  John  Bensinger ;  Lydia  married  John  Weaver ; 
Sallie  married  Nathan  Zimmerman;  Hannah  married  Henry  Geiger;  Levina 
married  Samuel  Hillibish.  The  father  was  a  Republican  on  political  ques- 
tions. His  religious  connection  was  with  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Orwigs- 
burg. 

Samuel  Neiswender  was  bom  at  Tumbling  Run,  near  Pottsville,  April 
28,  1834,  was  educated  at  Orwigsburg,  and  assisted  his  father  on  the  home 
farm.  After  his  father's  death  he  bought  the  home  place,  a  tract  of  100 
acres,  and  later  came  to  own  another  farm,  of  fifty  acres.  After  farming 
successfully  in  that  section  for  a  number  of  years,  he  lost  all  he  had  accumu- 
lated through  a  bank  failure.  Moving  to  Bowling  Green,  Ohio,  he  tenanted 
a  number  of  farms  there,  returning  to  Schuylkill  county  in  1886.  There- 
after he  tenanted  farms  for  several  years,  and  also  did  work  on  the  neigh- 
boring farms,  but  for  the  last  ten  years  he  has  been  living  retired  in  his  home 
at  New  Ringgold.  Mr.  Neiswender  dealt  in  horses  for  some  time  and  was 
an  excellent  judge,  having  been  a  jockey  in  his  early  days.  On  Oct. '27,  1862, 
he  enlisted  from  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Reading,  Pa.,  in 
Company  I,  167th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  to  serve  nine  months. 
He  was  under  Capts.  J.  M.  ShoUenberger  and  Charles  Knoder,  and  Col.  J.  D. 
Davis.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  ist  Brigade,  ist  Division,  and 
attached  to  the  ist  and  6th  Army  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The 
command  went  to  Harrisburg  and  then  to  Baltimore,  later  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  to  Suffolk,  and  was  engaged  in  guard  duty  at  the  fortifications 
there.  In  the  expedition  to  the  Black  Water  his  regiment  engaged  the  enemy 
at  Deserted  Farm,  Jan.  30,  1863;  was  in  the  siege  of  Suffolk,  April  12  to 
May  4,  1863;  and  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  Lee  on  his  retreat  from  Gettys- 
burg. Mr.  Neiswender  shared  in  all  its  movements  and  fortunes,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Reading,  Pa.,  Aug.  12,  1863.  He  reenlisted  Febi.  23, 
1864,  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  in  Company  I,  48th  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  under  Capts.  B.  B.  Schuck  and  N.  B.  Koch, 
and  Cols.  G.  W.  Gowen  and  I.  N.  Brannon.  Under  this  enlistment  he  was 
in  the  engagements  of  the  Wildemess,  May  5,  1864;  Spottsylvania,  May 
8-18,  1864;  North  Anna  River,  May  23-27,  1864;  Cold  Harbor,  June  1-12, 
1864;  Petersburg,  June  15-30,  1864;  Mine  Explosion,  July  30,  1864;  Poplar 
Spring  Church,  Sept.  30,  1864;  Fort  Sedgwick,  Nov.  5,  1864;  fall  of  Peters- 
bui^;  and  was  discharged  at  Petersburg  July  17,  1865. 

Mr.  Neiswender  was  first  married  to  Priscilla  Halderman,  who  was  bom 
in  West  Penn  township,  this  county,  April  23,  183-,  a  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham Halderman.     She  died  aged  thirty-three  years,  the  mother  of  the  fol- 


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724  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

lowing  children:  Moses,  bom  Sept.  24,  1856,  who  married  Kate  Dreher; 
Jonas,  bom  July  17,  i8|9;  Mary,  bom  Aug.  24,  1861,  wife  of.  Jacob  Frantz; 
Rena,  bom  July  i,  1866,  who  married  a  Mr.  Henderson  and  is  deceased; 
Rosie,  bom  May  11,  1868,  widow  of  Nicholas  Yocum;  Eli,  bom  in  1869;  and 
Ida,  bom  Aug.  18,  1870.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Neiswender  married 
Katie  Ehzabeth  Smith,  who  was  born  April  15,  1858,  in  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Smith.  Children 
as  follows  were  born  to  this  marriage:  Edwin  R.;  William  H.,  born  Nov.  3, 
1878,  who  died  Sept.  18,  1904;  Minnie  F.,  bom  Feb.  22,  1880,  wife  of  Wil- 
liam M.  Koch;  Lewis  R.,  bom  Aug.  15,  1883,  who  married  Gertmde  Sel- 
grath ;  and  Agnes  M.,  bom  Aug.  6,  1894,  wife  of  Charles  Hepler.  Mr.  Neis- 
wender is  a  member  of  the  Frieden's  Lutheran  Church  at  New  Ringgold. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  '  • 

Edwin  R.  Neiswender  was  bom  March  20,  1875,  at  Bowling  Green,  Ohio, 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  there  and  at  Jacksonville,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa., 
and  Hecla,  in  East  Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill  county.  He  spent  six 
years  at  farm  work,  assisting  on  the  farms  of  Daniel  Schroeder,  at  Lynnport, 
Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.;  John  Fetherolf,  Jacksonville,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.;  James 
Braucher,  near  Wessnersville,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa. ;  Jacob  Frantz,  of  New  Ring- 
gold, Schuylkill  county;  Geor^re  Stamm,  of  East  Bmnswick  township;  and 
Alvin  Frantz,  of  East  Bmnswick  township.  On  Nov.  5,  1894,  he  entered  the 
station  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  at  New  Ringgold  to 
leam  telegraphy  with  George  W.  Vetter.  At  the  end  of  eleven  months  he 
was  appointed  extra  operator  and  again  agent  for  the  company  and  served 
two  years  between  Port  Qinton  and  Mahanoy  City,  also  on  the  Catawissa 
division  as  far  north  as  Lofty,  Schuylkill  county.  On  Nov.  14,  1897,  he  went 
on  duty  as  regular  night  operator  in  the  Q.  X.  office  at  the  Tamaqua  yard, 
remaining  there  until  April  i,  1899.  On  that  date  he  changed  to  Tunnel  Scale, 
where  he  was  stationed  until  April  6,  1900,  when  he  went  on  duty  as  regular 
night  operator  at  Z.  office,  Tamaqua.  He  was  there  until  transferred,  June 
I,  1900,  as  regular  night  man  at  New  Ringgold,  holding  that  position  until 
April  I,  1905,  when  he  was  appointed  regular  day  operator  at  New  Ringgold. 
He  was  retained  in  that  capacity  until  March  i,  1913,  when  he  was  appointed 
station  agent  at  New  Ringgold,  succeeding  David  Vetter,  retired.  He  also  acts 
as  agent  for  the  American  Express  Company. 

Mr.  Neiswender  has  identified  himself  with  the  best  interests  of  New 
Ringgold,  and  in  recognition  of  his  activity  has  been  honored  with  various 
offices.  He  has  been  councilman  of  New  Ringgold  for  six  years,  and  State 
health  officer  for  the  townships  of  West  Penn  and  East  Bmnswick  for  three 
years.  He  has  been  a  zealous  Republican,  has  acted  as  judge,  inspector 
and  clerk  of  elections,  and  he  has  been  a  delegate  to  county  conven- 
tions a  number  of  times.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  Washing- 
ton Camp,  No.  100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  New  Ringgold,  is  a  past  pres- 
ident and  at  present  tmstee;  and  has  been  delegate  from  his  camp  to  the 
State  convention.  Mr.  Neiswender  also  belongs  to  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Relief  Association.  A  Lutheran  in  religious  faith,  he  is  one  of  the  most 
valued  members  of  the  Frieden's  Church  at  New  Ringgold,  and  has  been 
honored  with  its  most  important  offices.  Formerly  he  was  a  deacon,  and  he 
is  now  serving  his  sixth  year  as  elder,  and  is  also  church  treasurer.  He  was 
secretary  of  the  church  council  for  a  number  of  years,  and  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school  for  a  long  period.     His  varied  experience  in  church  work 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  725 

has  qualified  him  for  effective  service  and  he  is  conscientious  in  the  perform- 
ance of  all  his  duties. 

Mr.  Neiswender  married  Catherine  Magdalena  Vetter,  bom  Jan.  22,  1880, 
a  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  C.  (Hetzel)  Vetter,  and  they  have  had  two 
children:  (i)  Florence  May,  bom  Dec.  20,  1895,  began  her  education  in  the 
schools  of  New  Ringgold  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Keystone  State  Normal 
School,  class  of  1913.  She  is  now  teaching  the  primary  grade  in  the  New  Ring- 
gold schools.     (2)  Luther  Edwin,  bora  Dec.  9,  1900,  died  March  28,  1902. 

Mrs.  Neiswender  obtained  her  literary  education  in  the  schools  of  New 
Ringgold,  and  spent  seven  years  as  a  private  pupil  of  Gilbert  R.  Coombs, 
principal  of  the  South  Broad  Street  Conservatory  of  Music,  Philadelphia, 
graduating  from  the  conservatory  in  piano,  theory,  harmony,  history  and 
ensemble,  analysis,  sight  reading,  and  the  normal  training  course.  Subse- 
quently she  started  a  class  of  piano  students  in  Tamaqua,  Pa.,  which  she 
continued  for  four  months,  imtil  because  of  illness  she  was  obliged  to  discon- 
tinue it,  having  contracted  blood  poisoning.  After  a  lapse  of  one  year  she 
resumed  teaching,  at  New  Ringgold.  She  is  now  organist  and  chorister  of 
Frieden's  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church. 

Mrs.  Neiswender  is  of  German  lineage  on  both  sides,  being  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Mary  C.  (Hetzel)  Vetter,  granddaughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Hetzel)  Vetter  and  great-granddaughter  of  John  Vetter.  Her  father  was 
station  agent  at  New  Ringgold  for  over  twenty  years,  and  is  now  living  retired 
in  that  borough.  An  account  of  the  Vetter  and  Hetzel  families  appears  in  his 
biography  in  this  work. 

JOHN  O.  J.  BOYER,  a  popular  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Railway  Company,  located  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  was  bora 
Jan.  7,  1877,  in  that  borough,  son  of  Edward  Boyer  and  grandson  of  Philip 
Isaac  Boyer,  all  natives  of  Schuylkill  county,  Penns}H[vania. 

Philip  Isaac  Boyer,  the  grandfather,  was  bora  May  2,  1805,  in  Manhetm 
township,  this  county,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  residing  in  South  Man- 
heim  township  for  a  number  of  years.  He  then  removed  to  Schuylkill  Haven, 
where  he  died  May  16,  1863,  and  is  interred  in  the  Union  cemetery  there.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife,  Maria,  bora  in  South  Manheim 
township  Jan.  22,  181 1,  dying  in  Schuylkill  Haven  Nov.  15,  1829;  she  is  buried 
in  the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  Edward  Boyer  was  bora  to  this 
union.  For  his  second  wife  Philip  Isaac  Boyer  married  Catharine  Heffner, 
and  she  was  tht  mother  of  a  daughter,  Maria,  who  married  Daniel  Moyer. 

Edward  Boyer  was  bora  May  16,  1828,  in  South  Manheim  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  followed  farming  during  the  earlier  years  of  his  work- 
ing life.  He  spent  some  years  in  railroading,  but  most  of  his  work  was 
agricultural  in  character.  His  death  occurred  on  the  street  in  Pottsville, 
while  he  was  waiting  for  a  car  to  go  on  a  visit,  and  before  he  could  be  con- 
veyed to  the  hospital  for  treatment  he  passed  away.  His  remains  He  in  the 
Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  Mr.  Boyer  was  married  to  Sarah  Ann 
DeLong,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  DeLong,  of  Cressona,  blacksmith  and  wheel- 
wright. '  Nine  children  were  bora  to  this  union :  Celia,  Philip,  Catherine,  Ed- 
ward, Calvin,  Mary,  Luther,  Mabel  and  John  O.  J. 

John  O.  J.  Boyer  attended  the  public  schools  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  as 
soon  as  he  was  permitted  to  go  to  work  selected  the  occupation  of  railroading. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  began  to  fire  an  engine,  and  in  1904  was  given 


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726  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

charge  of  his  first  engine,  on  the  run  between  Pottsville  and  Philadelphia.  All 
of  his  railroad  experience  has  been  with  the  same  company,  and  he  has  gained 
the  respect  of  his  employers  and  the  friendship  of  his  fellow  employes  and  the 
traveling  public.  After  running  a  passenger  train  on  the  Reading  division 
of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  road  successfully  he  was  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  road  foreman  of  engines  on  the  Reading  division,  and  is  so  engaged  at 
the  present  time.  Mr.  Boyer  resides  on  Dock  street,  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  and 
is  one  of  the  respected  citizens  of  the  borough. 

Mr.  Boyer  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lillie  I.  Brownmiller,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Daniel  Brownmiller,  of  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  a  sketch  of  whose 
family  follows.  Mrs.  Boyer  was  bom  in  Lebanon  county,  June  7,  1877.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Boyer  have  two  children,  Paul  and  Edward.  Mr.  Boyer  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  Church,  while  his  wife  is  an  attendant  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Socially  Mr.  Boyer  is  a  member  of  Page  Lodge,  No.  270,  F.  & 
A.  M. ;  a  charter  member  of  Reading  Lodge  of  Perfection  (fourteenth  d^^e)  ; 
belongs  to  Philadelphia  Consistory  (thirty-second  degree),  and  to  Rajah 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  and 
the  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 

The  Brownmiller  family,  of  which  Mrs.  J.  O.  J.  Boyer  is  a  member,  was 
founded  in  America  by  Johannes  Braunmiller  who  was  bom  about  17 12  in 
Gexmany,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  on  the  ship  "Samuel,"  from  Rotter- 
dam, landing  in  Philadelphia  Aug.  27,  1739.  He  is  supposed  to  have  settled 
in  New  Jersey,  where  he  raised  a  large  family. 

Luttwick  Braunmiller  (Ludwig  Brownmiller),  son  of  the  emigrant 
Johannes,  located  in  Northampton  county.  Pa.,  before  the  Revolution,  and 
from  that  place  many  of  his  family  moved  to  Lenhartsville,  Berks  county.  Pa. 
Luttwick  Braunmiller  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  in  Capt.  Frederick 
Kern's  company,  and  since  that  time  the  family  has  been  represented  in  every 
war  in  which  this  country  has  been  involved. 

Nicholas  Brownmiller,  M.  D.,  son  of  Luttwick,  lived  near  Lenhartsville, 
Berks  county,  and  owned  what  is  now  called  the  Yenser  farm.  On  this,  farm 
is  a  private  burial  ground  where  many  of  the  family  are  interred.  His  chil- 
dren were :  Moses  and  Josiah,  of  Hamburg,  and  Nicholas,  of  Pottsville.  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Frederick  Brownmiller,  son  of  Luttwick,  lived  in  earlier  hfe  near  Bath, 
Northampton  county,  and  from  there  moved  to  Hokendauqua,  Lehigh  county, 
and  then  to  Lenhartsville.  He  was  married  to  Barbara  Nolf,  and  their  chil- 
dren were:  George,  Joseph,  Daniel,  Reuben,  Samuel  (died  in  the  Civil  war), 
Jeremiah  and  Benneville  (a  Methodist  minister).  All  of  the  earlier  members 
of  the  family  were  Lutherans. 

Joseph  Brownmiller,  son  of  Frederick,  was  born  Oct.  23,  1807,  at  Hoken- 
dauqua, Lehigh  county,  and  was  a  shoemaker.  He  was  organist  and  chorister 
of  Klopp's  Church,  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  for  more  than  forty  years.  He 
died  April  7,  1895.  He  married  Hannah  Stein,  of  Greenwich,  Berks  county, 
who  died  May  i,  1877,  aged  sixty-four  years,  six  months,  twenty-six  days, 
and  they  had  ten  children:  Helena;  Maria,  wife  of  Gideoit  Botz;  Esther,  wife 
of  Eli  Wolever;  Amelia,  wife  of  Samuel  F.  Steiner;  Joel;  Susanna,  marned 
to  Jonathan  Miller;  Amanda,  married  to  Isaac  K.  Wolf ;  Emma,  wife  of  John 
H   Kreiser;  Ephraim  S.;  and  Thomas  Daniel,  father  of  Mrs.  Boyer 

'  Thomas  Daniel  Brownmiller  was  bom  May  14.  1856,  at  Hamlin,  Lebanon 
Co ,  Pa.,  and  his  death  occurred  Aug.  14,  191S.    He  was  a  graduate  of  Palat- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  727 

inate  Collie,  Myerstown,  Lebanon  county,  was  a  professor  of  music,  and  for 
forty-six  years  was  organist  and  chorister  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  mar- 
ried Fianna  Gerhart,  of  Hamlin,  and  their  union  was  blessed  with  6ve  chil- 
dren :  Lillie,  wife  of  John  O.  J.  Boyer ;  J.  Harry,  of  New  York  City,  at  present 
a  salesman  in  the  Wanamaker  store ;  Charles,  of  Cape  May  City,  Cape  May, 
N.  J. ;  Roy  and  Annetta,  living  at  home  in  Schuylkill  Haven. 

JOHN  M.  OREN,  of  Port  Carbon,  has  been  deputy  recorder  of  Schuyl- 
kill county  for  several  years,  and  his  intelligent  performance  of  the  duties 
of  that  position  has  given  much  satisfaction  to  his  fellow  citizens.  The  pains- 
taking attention  he  has  given  to  his  work  and  obliging  courtesy  to  all  who  have 
had  occasion  to  seek  his  services  have  made  him  deservedly  popular  at  the 
county  seat,  and  his  long  service  has  given  him  a  familiarity  with  the  records 
which  is  of  the  highest  value  in  the  correct  transaction  of  the  business  of  the 
office.  Mr.  Oren  was  bom  at  Palo  Alto,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  5,  1856^  son 
of  James  Oren.  His  grandfather,  James  Oren,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 
on  coming  to  America  settled  at  New  Cumberland,  in  Cumberland  county. 
Pa,,  where  he  followed  farming. 

James  Oren,  father  of  John  M.  Oren,  was  bom  in  New  Cumberland.  He 
was  only  a  boy  when  he  came  to  Palo  Alto,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Navigation  Company  for  many  years,  being  with  them  when  the  canal  was 
first  opened  until  it  was  discontinued  in  1871.  He  rose  to  the  position  of 
harbormaster.  After  the  canal  was  abandoned  he  was  engaged  as  a  railroad 
foreman  for  several  years,  and  he  died  at  Palo  Alto  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years.  By  his  first  marriage,  to  Rosa  Krause,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.,  Mr.  Oren  had 
four  children,  Jennie,  Elizabeth,  John  M.  and  Cora.  By  his  second  wife, 
Luthena  (Chillson),  daughter  of  Squire  Walter  S.  Chillson,  of  Palo  Alto,  he 
had  a  family  of  six  children :  Jessie,  Elsie,  Edith,  Olive,  Mary  and  George. 

John  M.  Oren  had  common  school  privileges  during  his  youth,  but  was 
only  twelve  years  old  when  he  began  work,  loading  canalboats.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  began  to  leam  the  trade  of  machinist,  with  Robert  Allison,  in  whose 
employ  he  continued  for  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years.  In  1901  he  took 
a  position  with  the  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  and  he  was  also  employed 
at  his  trade  in  Virginia,  Ohio  and  various  places  in  Pennsylvania,  bemg  so 
occupied  until  January,  1909,  when  he  assumed  the  duties  of  his  present 
position,  to  which  he  was  appointed.  Mr.  Oren  has  proved  himself  worthy 
of  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  is  looking  after  their  interests 
well.  He  is  a  Republican  on  political  questions,  and  socially  holds  member- 
ship in  the  local  lodge  of  Elks,  No.  207,  and  in  the  Sons  of  America. 

On  May  13,  1880,  Mr.  Oren  married  Annie  E.  Bailey,  sister  of  Samuel  S.^ 
Bailey,  recorder  of  Schuylkill  county.     No  children  have  been  bom  to  this 
marriage.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oren  reside  at  Port  Carbon. 

DANIEL  LOCH  is  the  owner  of  valuable  farm  property  in  West  Penn 
township,  and  is  busily  engaged  in  its  cultivation  and  in  lumbering,  which  he 
has  carried  on  successfully  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
township,  bom  Jan.  22,  1858,  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Daniel  L.  Miller, 
and  is  a  grandson  of  George  Loch,  who  founded  the  family  here. 

George  Loch,  the  grandfather,  came  to  this  section  from  Lehigh  county, 
and  settled  in  West  Penn  township,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  weaver 
all  his  life.     He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church  in 


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728  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

West  Penn  township,  and  they  are  buried  at  that  church.  He  was  a  Republi- 
can in  politics.  His  children,  all  now  deceased,  were:  Samuel,  Jonas  (who 
married  a  Holshoe),  George,  Mary  (wife  of  Daniel  L.  Miller,  of  West  Penn 
township),  Maria  (who  married  George  Schmidt,  both  dying  in  Philadelphia) 
and  Amos. 

George  Loch,  father  of  Daniel  Loch,  was  bom  and  grew  up  in  West  Penn 
township,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  Fanning  was  his 
life  work.  AboUt  the  time  he  reached  his  majority  he  married,  and  after 
working  arotmd  among  farmers  he  bought  thirty  acres  from  John  Hartung, 
where  he  followed  general  agriculture  all  his  active  years,  retiring  some  five 
years  before  his  death,  whidi  occurred  at  Mantz,  in  West  Penn  township, 
when  he  was  fifty-nine  years  of  age.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  a 
stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  sincere  Christian,  one  of  the  valued  mem- 
bers and  workers  of  the  Evangelical  Church  in  his  township,  which  he  served 
as  elder,  deacon  and  in  all  the  other  offices.  He  was  also  superintendent  of 
the  Simday  school.  Mr.  Loch  married  Kate  Beibleheimer,  daughter  of  George 
and  Kate  (Yeager)  Beibleheimer,  natives  of  West  Penn  township,  and  chil- 
dren as  follows  were  bom  to  them :  Joseph,  who  lives  in  West  Penn  township, 
married  Sarah  Lutz,  and  their  children  are  George,  Eva,  Qinton,  Pierce, 
Howard,  Mamie  and  Sadie;  Daniel  is  next  in  the  family;  Noah,  a  farmer 
and  lumberman,  residing  at  Sittler  (Andreas),  this  county,  married  Mary  A. 
Staudt,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  Charles  Edwin  (deceased)  and  William 
A.;  George  A.,  who  lives  at  Nesquehoning,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  engaged 
as  a  section  foreman  on  the  Central  railroad  of  New  Jersey,  married  Emma 
Bachert,  and  their  children  are  Edward  and  Mabel;  Fred  B.,  proprietor  of 
the  "Lansford  House,"  at  Lansford,  Pa.,  married  Annie  Kemmerer,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Gertrude;  Kate,  wife  of  William  Freeman,  of  Allentown, 
Pa.,  fireman  at  a  brewery,  has  children,  Mazie,  Erma,  Robert,  Allen  and 
Herbert;  Sallie  is  married  to  Edward  Kem,  of  Lehighton,  and  their  children 
are  Harry,  Florence,  Edward,  Guy,  Leroy,  Arline  and  Paul.  The  parents 
are  buried  at  the  Evangelical  Church  in  West  Penn  township. 

Daniel  Loch  was  reared  and  educated  in  West  Penn  township,  attending 
Bolich's  school,  and  was  trained  to  farming,  working^  for  his  father  until  he 
left  home,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  He  was  employed  by  various  farmers 
until  twenty-one  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Shamokin,  Pa.,  where  he  worked 
at  the  coal  breaker  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company  for 
four  months,  following  which  he  spent  over  a  year  at  Audenried,  Carbon 
county,  with  Weaver  &  Dick,  contractors,  stripping  coal.  His  next  removal 
was  to  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  where  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  serving  an 
apprenticeship  with  George  D.  Silvis,  under  whom  he  became  quite  proficient 
at  house  building  and  similar  work.  Returning  to  West  Penn  township  in 
the  year  1882,  he  followed  his  trade  at  Sittler,  his  first  job  being  on  the  erec- 
tion of  the  store  of  the  late  T.  E.  Sittler.  He  remained  at  that  location  until 
May,  1883,  when  he  married,  thereafter  continuing  his  trade  for  a  number  of 
years.  For  about  three  years  he  lived  with  his  brother  Noah  at  Sittler.  In 
1887  he  built  the  house  he  has  since  occupied,  in  West  Penn  township  in  the 
vicinity  of  Sittler,  and  a  few  years  later  bought  the  old  Rubrecht  farm,  adjoin- 
ing his  dwelling  site,  from  Francis  K.  Mantz,  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres, 
of  which  seventy-five  are  cleared.  He  bought  another  tract  in  West  Penn 
township,  containing  fifty  acres,  and  cut  the  timber  from  twenty  acres  of  that 
property,  all  of  which  is  now  clear,  Mr.  Loch  farming  both  his  tracts  and 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  729 

finding  profitable  occupatioq  in  general  agriculture.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  has  also  carried  on  lumbering,  buying  timber  tracts,  cutting  the  wood  and 
hiring  saw-mills  for  its  manufacture,  and  then  marketing  the  finished  product. 
His  operations  in  this  line  are  all  in  West  Penn  township. 

Mr.  Loch  is  recognized  as  a  thoroughly  progressive  character  wherever 
his  interests  take  him.  He  has  long  been  a  leadmg  member  of  Washington 
Camp  No.  615,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Sittler,  Pa.,  which  he  served  eight  years  in 
the  capacity  of  financial  secretary,  and  he  is  at  present  treasurer  of  the  organ- 
ization. As  a  member  of  Blue  Ridge  Lodge,  No.  IJ53,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Sittler, 
he  is  one  of  the  best  known  Odd  Fellows  in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania,  being 
a  past  grand  of  his  own  lodge  and  its  present  secretary,  and  he  was  a  delegate 
to  the  State  convention  held  at  Harrisburg  in  May,  1909;  he  had  the  past 
grand  degree  conferred  upon  him  at  Harrisburg.  In  political  principle  he  is 
a  Republican,  and  he  has  been  associated  with  the  local  activities  of  the  party, 
having  served  as  election  inspector ;  though  not  an  office  seeker  he  is  interested 
in  the  proper  administration  of  township  aflFairs,  and  he  is  serving  as  registry 
assessor  of  the  Southeast  district  of  West  Penn.  His  religious  ccwinection  is 
with  Zion's  Reformed  Church  in  his  home  township. 

Mr.  Loch  was  married  at  Lehighton,  Pa.,  by  Rev.  Abraham  Bartholomew, 
to  Fianna  Rebecca  Staudt,  who  was  bom  Apnl  13,  1865,  at  Bemville,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Jrfm  Fisher  and  Sarah  (Snyder)  Staudt,  and  obtained 
her  schooling  in  West  Penn  township.  She  remained  at  home  until  her  mar- 
riage. Mrs.  Loch  is  a  member  of  Zion's  Reformed  Church.  By  this  union 
there  is  one  child,  Charles  Calvin,  who  was  bom  Sept.  8,  1884,  received  his 
education  at  Sittler,  and  has  always  worked  with  his  father,  whom  he  assists 
at  both  farming  and  lumbering.  He  is  married  to  Amanda  Hoppes,  who  was 
bom  April  28,  1890,  in  West  Penn  township,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Caro- 
line (Eberts)  Hoppes,  farming  people  of  that  township,  now  living  retired. 
They  have  one  child,  Hattie  Caroline,  born  Feb.  2,  191 1.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loch 
also  have  an  adopted  child,  her  niece,  the  daughter  of  Frank  Leiby  and  grand- 
daughter of  Johri  F.  Staudt.  She  has  lived  with  them  from  the  age  of  six 
years,  and  is  now  nineteen. 

The  Staudts  are  an  old  Berks  county  family,  and  Mrs.  Loch  is  a  daughter 
of  John  Fisher  Staudt,  granddaughter  of  Daniel  Staudt,  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Johannes  Staudt  who  married  a  Christ.  Daniel  btaudt  mar- 
ried Mary  Ann  Fisher,  and  their  children  were :  Mary  Ann,  Adam,  Joshua, 
Eliza  Ann,  Fayetta,  Alfred,  Johannes  Fisher,  Emilie  Sara  Ann,  Daniel  Jared 
and  Aaron. 

John  (Johannes)  Fisher  Staudt  was  bom  Feb.  18,  1841,  in  Penn  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  and  spent  his  early  life  in  that  coimty.  When  he  settled 
in  Schuylkill  county  he  carried  on  a  feed  and  grocery  business  at  Pottsville 
for  one  year,  and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  West  Penn  township,  owning 
and  operating  what  is  probably  the  oldest  mill  property  in  the  county.  He 
has  been  county  surveyor,  postmaster  at  Staudtsville,  and  member  of  the 
township  school  board,  and  has  been  long  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  useful 
members  of  his  community.  He  is  now  living  retired,  but  retains  the  over- 
sight of  all  his  aflFairs.  All  his  children  were  bom  to  his  first  marriage,  with 
Sarah  Snyder,  viz.:  Mary  Ann  (Mrs.  Noah  Loch),  Sarah  A.  V.  (Mrs.  Frank 
Leiby),  Hiram  Henry,  Alvin,  Milton,  Fianna  R.  (Mrs.  Daniel  Loch),  Ellen 
(Mrs.  James  Muth),  John,  Charles  William,  Daniel  Jacob  and  Clara  (Mrs. 
William  Stabler).     For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Staudt  married  Mrs.  Carolina 


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730  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

(Osenbach)  Schrack,  widow  of  Aaron  Schrack,  and  daughter  of  Daniel 
Osenbach.  A  full  account  of  the  Staudt  family  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work. 

FRANK  L.  BENSINGER  is  farming  the  old  Bensinger  homestead  in 
East  Brunswick  township,  and  is  known  as  an  estimable  representative  of  a 
family  whose  members  in  every  generation  have  been  respected  for  intelligent 
citizenship  and  substantial  character.  He  is  one  of  the  fourth  generation  of 
Bensingers  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  being  a  great- 
grandson  of  Frederick  Bensinger,  the  progenitor  ^of  many  of  the  name  in  this 
locality,  who  was  bom  in  Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  and  settled  in  East  Bruns- 
wick township  before  the  Revolution.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  there,  and  he  left  his  private  affairs  to  go  to  the  assistance 
of  the  Colonies.  In  his  later  years  he  received  a  pension  for  his  services. 
He  married  Mary  Weiman,  and  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  one  of  whom, 
Jacob,  married  Hannah  Dreher,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  another  branch  of 
the  family  in  East  Brunswick  township. 

Michael  Bensinger,  son  of  Frederick,  was  a  farmer  in  East  Brunswick 
township,  where  he  owned  about  seventy-five  acres  of  land.  He  cleared  that 
tract,  erected  a  log  house,  and  bam,  and  carried  on  general  farming  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  He  had  the  following  children:  Edward  married  Sarah 
Heiser,  and  both  are  deceased ;  William,  deceased,  married  a  Miss  Fister ; 
Franklin  B.  is  next  in  the  family ;  Benneville  married  Caroline  Fahl,  and  both 
are  deceased;  Fred  married  a  Miss  Bock,  and  they  reside  at  McKeansburg; 
Priscilla  married  Thomas  Hartung,  and  both  are  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bensinger  are  buried  in  the  Steigerwalt  cemetery  in  East  Bmnswick  town- 
ship.   He  was  a  Whig  in  politics. 

Franklin  B.  Bensinger  was  bom  in  East  Bmnswick  township  in  March, 
1822,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  local  district,  and  spent  his  youth 
and  early  manhood  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm.  After  his  father's  death 
he  bought  out  the  other  heirs  to  the  homestead  farm,  which  he  operated  all 
his  life.  His  wife,  Catherine  (Shuster),  who  was  bom  in  September,  1821, 
and  died  in  March,  1899,  was  a  daughter  of  Martin  Shuster,  whose  wife  was 
a  Koons.  Mr.  Bensinger  died  in  March,  1898.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  fol- 
lowing children :  John  went  West,  and  is  now  deceased ;  Howard,  a  farmer 
in  West  Bmnswick  township,  married  Emma  Leiby ;  Charles  S.  married  Ida 
Baer;  Frank  L.  is  mentioned  below;  Harry,  who  is  a  foreman  in  a  silk  mill  at 
Tamaqua,  married  Cora  Albright;  Thomas,  deceased,  married  Elmira  Horn, 
who  resides  in  McKeansburg ;  Dora  married  W.  S.  Miller,  of  East  Bmnswick 
township;  Mary  married  W.  H.  Yost,  of  Reading;  Susan  is  the  widow 
of  James  Shoener,  and  lives  at  Hamburg,  Pa. ;  Lizzie  is  the  widow  of  Oscar 
Kimmel,  and  makes  her  home  at  Port  Carbon ;  Kate  married  J.  A.  Shellham- 
mer,  of  Port  Carbon;  Carrie  married  J.  A.  Yost,  of  Ringtown,  this  county. 
Politically  Mr.  Bensinger  was  a  Republican.  He  was  an  earnest  member  of 
the^ Church  of  God  and  very  active  in  its  work,  serving  as  trustee  and  in  other 
capacities.  His  wife  was  also  a  member.  They  ^re  buried  in  the  Steigerwalt 
cemetery  in  East  Bmnswick  township. 

Frank  L.  Bensinger  was  bom  Dec.  5,  i860,  on  the  place  where  he  now 
lives,  the  old  Bensinger  homestead.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  East 
Bmnswick  schools,  and  he  worked  for  his  father  on  the  homestead  farm  until 
1883,  when  he  went  to  Ohio.    After  doing  farm  work  there  for  one  year  he 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  731 

returned  home  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Rail- 
way Company,  as  coal  flagman  on  the  main  line  from  Palo  Alto  to  Port  Rich- 
mond, Philadelphia,  remaining  with  that  company  for  two  years,  when  he 
moved  to  McKeansburg.  He  worked  for  his  father  another  three  years,  and 
then  rented  the  Steigerwalt  farm,  near  the  Steigerwalt  church  (now  owned 
by  E.  H.  Kunkel),  being  tenant  on  that  farm  for  nine  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  bought  the  homestead  tract,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since, 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  trucking.  He  makes  two  trips  a  week  to  the 
markets  of  New  Philadelphia  and  St.  Clair.  Mr.  Bensinger  has  found  time 
to  take  part  in  the  township  government,  has  been  elected  school  director  and 
auditor,  and  has  been  associated  with  politics  as  a  Republican.  Socially  he 
belongs  to  Washington  Camp  No.  loo,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  New  Ringgold,  and 
to  Protection  Council,  No.  935,  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  of  Mc- 
Keansburg ;  at  one  time  he  was  very  active  in  the  work  of  the  latter  organiza- 
tion, but  never  held  any  elective  office.  In  religion  he  leans  toward  the  teach- 
ings of  the  Evangelical  Association. 

Mr.  Bensinger  married  Ida  Albright,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Catherine 
(Kershner)  Albright,  and  they  have  had  one  child,  Eva  May;  she  was  edu- 
cated in  the  East  Brunswick  schools  and  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School, 
graduating  with  the  class  of  1913,  and  was  married  to  Leon  Kimmel  in  191 5. 
Previously  she  taught  school  at  Rauschs  and  Kepners,  in  East  Brunswick 
township. 

Mrs.  Ida  (Albright)  Bensinger  was  bom  and  educated  in  West  Brunswick 
township,  and  lived  at  home  until  married.  Her  grandfather,  Joseph  Albright, 
was  a  farmer  in  West  Brunswick  township,  owning  120  acres,  nearly  all  of 
which  he  had  under  cultivation.  He  married  Esther  Sharadin,  and  they  had 
children:  Thomas;  Susanna,  widow  of  Solomon  Moyer;  Morgan,  who  mar- 
ried a  Deibert;  Benneville,  who  married  Mary  Hicks  (both  are  deceased); 
Lucian,  deceased,  who  married  Isabella  Hoy;  and  William,  who  married  a 
Miss  Bodey.  The  father  died  when  over  seventy  years  old,  the  mother  when 
over  sixty,  and  they  are  buried  at  St.  John's  Reformed  Church,  Orwigsburg, 
of  which  Mr.  Albright  was  a  member.    He  was  a  Democrat  politically. 

Thomas  Albright,  son  of  Joseph,  was  educated  in  West  Brunswick  town- 
ship and  at  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  where  he  spent 
one  year.  He  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  until  after  his  marriage. 
He  operated  his  grandfather  Kershner*s  farm  at  Drehersville  for  about  eight 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Orwigsburg  and  lived  retired  for  one  year.  His 
next  removal  was  to  the  homestead  farm,  which  he  had  bought  from  his 
father,  and  he  operated  it  for  eleven  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  removing 
to  AUentown,  where  he  is  now  employed  by  Dr.  Albright.  Mr.  Albright  is 
now  (1915)  seventy-seven  years  old.  He  married  Catherine  Kershner,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Judith  (Fegley)  Kershner,  and  they  had  five  children: 
Thomas  and  Lewis  died  young;  Calvin  married  Ella  Shoener,  of  Tamaqua; 
Ida  is  Mrs.  Bensinger;  Cora  married  Harry  Bensinger.  Mrs.  Albright  died 
in  March,  1895,  and  is  buried  at  Orwigsburg.  Mr.  Albright  is  a  member  of 
St.  John's  Reformed  Church,  of  Orwigsburg,  Pa.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics. 

ALEXANDER  KAUFMAN,  who  is  now  living  in  the  borough  of  Gor- 
don, was  bom  March  23,  1850,  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  this  county,  where  his 
grandfather,  George  Kaufman,  settled  about  1825.    The  latter  was  born  Nov. 


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732  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

6,  1788,  in  Upper  Bern  township,  then  in  Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  and  on 
coming  to  Schuylkill  Haven  engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  business,  remaining 
there  until  his  death,  April  3,  1838.    He  had  but  one  child,  George. 

George  Kaufman,  father  of  Alexander  Kaufman,  was  bom  in  Upper  Bern 
township,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  March  25,  181 1,  and  spent  most  of  his  life 
at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was  a  business  man  for  over 
fifty  years,  engaged  in  merchandising.  He  served  as  county  poor  director  one 
term,  as  school  director  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  held  other  offices.  His 
death  occurred  at  Schuylkill  Haven  Oct.  16,  1883.  Mr.  Kaufman  married 
Elmire  Boyer,  who  was  bom  Nov.  25,  1818,  in  Norwegian  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  of  which  township  her  father,  George  Boyer,  was  also  a  native. 
He  was  a  farmer  there,  owning  what  was  called  the  Boyer  tract,  between 
Gordon  and  Pottsville.  Selling  this  property  he  moved  to  Jefferson  county, 
where  he  died.  Of  his  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  three 
survive:  Benjamin,  George  and  Hannah,  all  residents  of  Jefferson  county. 
Pa.  Mrs.  Kaufman  passed  away  Sept.  28,  1892.  She  was  the  mother  of  eleven 
children,  namely:  John  G.,  the  eldest,  born  Jan.  19,  1838,  is  deceased; 
Charles  F.,  bom  Jan.  10,  1840,  died  Sept.  19,  1908;  Elmira,  bom  Feb.  22,  1842, 
died  July  3,  1844;  Emma  L.,  bom  Oct.  13,  1844,  died  April  29,  1846;  George 
B.,  bom  Oct.  3,  1846,  died  March  14,  1913;  William  L.,  bom  Feb.  16,  1849, 
died  July  25,  1876;  Alexander  is  next  in  the  family;  Alice  R.,  bom  June  5, 
1853,  lives  at  Schuylkill  Haven;  Lewis,  bom  Sept.  7,  1855,  died  May  i,  1910; 
Edward,  bom  Oct.  5,  1857,  ^^  ^  resident  of  Philadelphia;  Samuel  L.,  bom 
Feb.  25,  1861,  lives  at  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Alexander  Kaufman  received  his  education  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  where 
his  early  life  was  spent.  For  a  few  years  during  his  young  manhood  he 
clerked  in  a  store  at  Raven  Run,  for  E.  H.  Heaton,  and  then  engaged  in  busi- 
ness at  that  place  on  his  own  account  for  about  three  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  period  he  sold  out.  Coming 'to  Girardville  he  again  embarked  in  busi- 
ness, remaining  at  that  point  until  his  removal  to  Gordon,  in  1890.  He  had 
come  to  the  borough  J)reviously,  in  1866,  remaining  until  1881,  and  had  great 
faith  in  its  possibilities  as  a  business  location,  and  he  was  not  disappointed 
in  his  expectations,  for  he  had  a  successful  career  as  a  merchant  up  to  the  time 
of  his  retirement.  He  has  always  been  considered  one  of  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  the  place.  In  1890  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  supervisor  of  Butler 
township,  and  reelected  the  next  year.  For  thirteen  years  he  has  served  as 
assessor  of  the  borough  of  Gordon,  discharging  the  duties  of  that  office  to  the 
eminent  satisfaction  of  all  concemed.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
of  Gordon. 

On  Dec.  25,  1875,  Mr.  Kaufman  was  married  to  Josephine  Kleber,  who 
was  bom  at  Pottsville  March  5,  1855,  and  died  Jan.  15,  191 5.  The  following 
children  were  bom  to  this  union,  viz.:  William  died  Oct.  13,  1891 ;  Lewis, 
who  lives  at  Gordon,  is  an  employee  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
Company ;  Raymond,  who  lives  at  Gordon,  is  in  the  same  employ ;  Carrie  is 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Rubright,  of  Mount  Carmel ;  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Rinehart,  of  Mount  Carmel;  Alexander  died  Dec.  2,  1881.  Mr.  Kaufman 
owns  the  home  at  Gordon  which  he  occupies  with  his  family. 

Louis  and  Phoebe  (Wikel)  Kleber,  Mrs.  Kaufman's  parents,  were  natives 
of  Germany,  the  father  bom  Dec.  28,  1828,  the  mother  May  4,  1832.  They 
were  married  in  that  country,  and  on  coming  to  America  first  settled  at  Potts- 
ville, Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  thence  moving  to  Cressona  and  later  to  Gordon. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  733 

Mr.  Kleber  was  a  coppersmith,  and  for  many  years  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company.  He  died  Nov.  lo,  1899,  ^^d  his 
wife  survived  him  a  number  of  years,  passing  away  Feb.  20,  1914.  Their 
family  consisted  of  seven  children:  Josephine,  Mrs.  Kaufman;  Lewis,  who 
lives  at  Easton,  Pa.;  Charles,  a  retired  butcher,  of  Gordon,  Pa.;  Anna,  wife 
of  Fred  Dreher,  a  retired  merchant  of  Gordon ;  William,  a  machinist,  of  New 
York;  Ida,  wife  of  John  F.  Dreher,  a  merchant  of  Gordon;  and  Harry, 
deceased. 

BENJAMIN  SHAPPELL  is  making  a  reputation  for  himself  as  a  pro- 
gressive agriculturist  in  North  Manheim  township,  this  county,  where  he  owns 
over  200  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  is  giving  all  his  time  to  farming  operations, 
making  a  specialty  of  fruit  growing  and  dairying,  in  both  of  which  lines  he  has 
done  particularly  well.  The  branch  of  the  Shappell  family  to  which  he  belongs 
was  established  in  Schuylkill  county  by  Jacob  Shappell,  his  grandfather,  who 
moved  hither  from  Berks  county,  where  the  n^me  is  of  record  from  the  days 
of  its  settlement. 

In  Perry  township,  Berks  county,  which  until  185^  was  a  part  of  Windsor 
township,  Berks  county,  is  a  prominent  family  bearing  the  name  of  Schap- 
pelle,  Choppelle,  Schobbel,  Shobel,  but  now  more  commonly  found  spelled 
Shappell,  Schappel  and  Schappell.  The  original  home  of  the  family  was  in 
France,  but  through  religious  persecution  its  members  sought  refuge  in  Ger- 
many, making  their  home  at  Wittenberg.  Among  the  108  passengers  on  the 
good  ship  "Patience,'"  which  landed  at  the  port  of  Philadelphia  Sept.  17,  1753, 
was  a  Jeremie  Chappelle  and  one  Jean  Pierre  Chappelle.  The  kinship  of  these 
two  emigrants  is  unknown,  but  it  is  not  doubted  that  they  were  relatives.  What 
became  of  Jean  Pierre  after  landing  in  the  New  World  is  not  known.  Jere- 
mias  Schappelle  (as  it  appears  on  the  tombstone)  (or  Schobel)  and  Eberhart 
Schoppel,  brothers,  were  residents  in  Windsor  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  in 
1754  (see  Rupp's  History). 

According  to  the  tombstone  inscription  at  Zion's  Church,  in  Perry  (formerly 
Windsor)  township,  Jeremias  Schappelle  was  bom  in  1715,  and  he  died  Oct. 

15,  1804.  His  wife  Catharine,  bom  in  1724,  passed  away  June  8,  1801.  The 
will  of  Jeremiah  Shappel  (sic)  is  on  record  in  Berks  county  courthouse  in  Will 
Book  A,  page  505.  It  was  made  Feb.  11,  1803,  and  probated  Jan.  7,  1805.  At 
the  time  the  will  was  made  he  was  a  resident  of  Windsor  township.  The  fol- 
lowing children  were  mentioned  in  the  will:  Jacob  (who  was  made  executor  of 
his  father's  estate)  ;  Matthias,  Jeremiah,  Magdalena  and  Catharine.  In  the 
cemetery  at  Zion's  Church  is  a  tombstone  bearing  the  following  inscription: 
"Elizabeth  Schappelle,  wife  of  Jeremias,  formerly  of  Deutschland,  bora  Feb. 

16,  1771,  died  July  9,  1817,  aged  forty-six  years,  five  months,  twenty-three 
days."  This  probably  refers  to  the  wife  of  Jeremias  or  Jeremiah,  son  of  Jere- 
mias (I). 

No  records  of  the  descendants  of  Eberhart  Schoppel  are  in  evidence  at 
Zion's  Union  Church.  He  may  have  left  Windsor  township  after  1744,  in 
which  year  he  hewed  his  name  on  a  stone  now  in  the  southeastern  wall  of  the 
old  graveyard.  Tradition  says  that  the  stones  upon  which  these  names  were 
carved  (one  bears  the  name  of  Jeremias),  were  once  a  part  of  the  wall  of  the 
first  church.    The  fourth  church  was  in  co\^rse  of  constmction  in  1908. 

Jacob  Schappell,  son  of  Jeremias,  was  better  known  as  "J^l^^X/'  ^  nick- 
name evidently  taken  from  the  German  pronunciation  of  his  name.    He  was 


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734  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

bom  in  Wittenberg,  Germany,  Feb.  2,  1744,, and  died  Sept.  11,  1826.  As 
stated  above  he  was  the  executor  of  his  father's  will  in  1805.  His  wife  Su- 
sanna was  born  Feb.  2,  1751,  and  died  July  24,  1828.  They  are  both  buried 
at  Zion's  Church.  Jeremias,  Eberhart  and  Jockey  Schappell  were  founders 
of  the  original  Zion's  Church.  Tradition  says  Jacob  and  Susanna  had  a  large 
family,  some  of  their  children,  however,  dying  in  infancy  and. childhood.  Of 
those  of  whom  there  is  record  may  be  mentioned:  Peter,  bom  April  19,  1770; 
Col.  Jeremiah,  bom  March  20,  1774;  Daniel,  who  was  a  t^able  resident  in 
Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  in  1790,  where  he  reared  a  family  and 
where  his  descendants  still  live;  and  Hannah,  married  to  Georg  Hoffman,  a 
farmer  of  Perry  township. 

There  is  a  valley  in  Perry  township  known  to  the  local  residents  as  Schap- 
peirs  Dale,  because  of  the  many  Shappells  living  there. 

Peter  Schappell,  son  of  Jacob  and  Susanna,  was  bom  April  19,  1770,  and 
died  Nov.  18,  1851.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Windsor  township,  and  he  and  his 
family  all  belonged  to  Zion's  Church,  and  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  there. 
His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  (Lenhart)  (1768-1790),  and  his  second  Annie 
(Kosch)  (1778-1841).  His  children  ^ere :  Jacob,  who  located  in  Schuylkill 
county;  Benjamin,  who  died  young;  Daniel,  who  settled  in  Schuylkill  county; 
Samuel,  who  settled  in  Windsor  township;  John,  who  settled  in  Richmond 
township,  Berks  county;  Mary,  married  to  William  Miller;  Kate,  married  to 
Martin  Eisenhaur;  Elizabeth,  married  to  Jacob  Boyer;  a  daughter  married  to 
Anthony  Adam;  and  Solomon.  ^ 

Jacob  Shappell  lived  at  Shartlesville,  in  Berks  county,  until  his  removal 
to  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  settled  in  North  Manheim  township  with  his 
family.  Purchasing  a  tract  of  land,  he  followed  farming  successfully  during 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  here,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at 
Schuylkill  Haven.  His  children  were  as  follows:  Jacob,  who  died  in  North- 
umberland county,  Pa. ;  Samuel ;  David,  who  died  in  Schuylkill  county ;  Mary, 
who  married  John  Womer ;  and  Lydia,  Mrs.  Long. 

Samuel  Shappell,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bom  in  1825  at  Shartlesville,  Berks 
county,  accompanied  his  father  to  Schuylkill  county,  and  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life  here.  After  working  several  years  as  a  boatbuilder  he  bought  the 
J.  Womer  farm,  in  North  Manheim  township,  comprising  twenty  acres,  and 
later  increased  his  holdings  by  the  purchase  of  part  of  his  father's  homestead, 
as  well  as  part  of  the  Pryor  estate.  He  also  acquired  part  of  the  Osewald  farm 
and  some  land  from  Fred  Hinckle,  having  a  total  of  108  acres.  He  carried  on 
general  farming  and  was  also  in  the  timber  business  j  for  many  years,  becom- 
ing a  well  known  man  in  his  day.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  was  active,  holding  the  position  of 
deacon.  Mr.  Shappell  married  Sarah  Oswald,  who  was  bom  in  1823,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Oswald,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  dying  in  1906. 
His  death  occurred  many  years  before,  in  1884,  when  he  was  fifty-nine  years 
old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shappell  are  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill 
Haven.  They  had  a  large  family,  namely :  George  W.,  an  engineer,  now  liv- 
ing at  Palo  Alto,  this  county ;  Henry,  who  is  a  resident  of  Philadelphia ;  Sarah, 
deceased ;  Maria,  Mrs.  Frank  Luckenbill,  living  in  North  Manheim  township ; 
Samuel,  who  went  West;  Benjamin ;  Hettie,  wife  of  Jonathan  Achey,  of  Allen- 
town,  Pa.;  Mahlon  and  Galen,  twins,  the  former  deceased,  the  latter  in  the 
West;  and  Isaac,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Reading 
Company. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  735 

Benjamin  Shappell  was  bom  Jan.  30,  1859,  on  the  place  inNorth  Manheim 
township  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies.  He  was  reared  there,  attending 
public  school  in  the  neighborhood,  and  lived  at  home  until  twenty-seven  years 
old,  assisting  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm.  Then  for  six  years  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Company,  as  a  brake- 
man  on  the  Mine  Hill  division.  During  this  period  he  bought  the  homestead 
and  the  stock,  and  upon  giving  up  railroad  work  returned  to  the  property, 
where  he  has  since  remained,  giving  all  his  time  to  agricultural  work.  To  the 
original  108  acres  which  his  father  owned  he  has  added  by  various  purchases, 
first  buying  sixty-two  acres  of  the  Charles  Dealer  estate  and  later  sixty-four 
acres  from  Joel  Fisher's  estate,  having  sold  ten  acres  to  the  borough  of  Schuyl- 
kill Haven  for  the  waterworks.  He  has  at  present  215  acres,  all  excellent  land, 
of  which  eighty-five  acres  are  cleared  and  under  high  cultivation.  Mr.  Shap- 
pell has  set  out  over  five  hundred  peach  trees,  which  have  produced  very  profit- 
ably. He  has  also  ^ven  considerable  attention  to  dairying,  keeping  twelve 
milch  cows,  and  retails  the  product  himself,  having  a  milk  route  at  Schuylkill 
Haven.  The  intelligent  system  which  he  has  followed  in  the  improvement  and 
development  of  his  farm  has  brought  him  excellent  results,  his  thorough  busi- 
ness methods  having  been  quite  as  important  in  his  success  as  his  careful  agri- 
cultural work.  He  has  served  as  school  director  of  his  township,  but  aside 
from  that  has  given  little  attention  to  affairs  outside  of  his  business.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat,  in  religious  connection  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

Mr.  Shappell  married  Susan  Honickell,  daughter  of  Philip  Honickell,  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  when  forty  years  old,  and  settled  in 
Schuylkill  county.  Six  children  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage:  Bertha  is 
the  wife  of  D.  Fisher,  of  Schuylkill  Haven ;  Philip  died  young ;  Alexander  is 
at  home ;  Frederick  was  accidentally  killed  when  sixteen  years  old  while  haul- 
ing stone,  the  team  running  away ;  Amelia  and  John  are  at  home. 

JOEI^  A.  DINGER,  late  of  Pottsville,  was  a  business  man  of  Schuylkill 
county  throughout  his  active  years,  and  from  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Potts- 
ville was  engaged  in  hotelkeeping.  His  widow  is  still  conducting  the  "City 
Hotel,"  of  which  he  was  proprietor  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Dinger  be- 
longed to  a  well  known  family  of  Hegins  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
he  was  bom  there  April  8,  1851,  son  of  Jonathan  Dinger,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  that  section. 

During  his  boyhood  Joel  A.  Dinger  had  the  advantages  of  the  local  public 
schools  in  Hegins  township,  and  then,  being  ambitious  ior  a  higher  education, 
attended  Selinsgrove  Academy  and  later  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School, 
at  Kutztown,  Pa.  When  a  young  man  he  taught  school'  in  Schuylkill  county 
for  several  years,  and  was  afterwards  employed  in  the  office  of  the  Bright 
lumber  yard,  at  Ashland,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  1887.  That  year  he 
came  to  Pottsville  and  took  charge  of  the  "Eagle  Hotel,"  which  he  conducted 
for  nine  years,  after  which  for  eleven  years  he  carried  on  the  "Exchange  Ho- 
tel" in  this  city.  He  disposed  of  his  interest  there  to  take  the  "City  Hotel," 
at  No.  440  North  Centre  street,  continuing  his  connection  therewith  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Oct.  22,  19 14.  Mr.  Dinger  had  many  natural  qualifica- 
tions for  the  hotel  business,  and  in  his  long  experience  became  thoroughly  fa- 
miliar with  its  requirements.  His  obliging  disposition  manifested  itself  in  sin- 
cere efforts  to  please  his  guests,  and  their  appreciation  was  shown  in  continu- 
ous patronage.    He  made  many  friends  in  the  course  of  his  long  career  in  the 


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736  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

liotel  business,  and  was  equally  popular  wherever  known,  among  his  fellow 
members  of  the  local  lodge  of  Elks  and  in  the  Lutheran  Qhurch,  of  which  he 
was  a  meniber.    He  is  buried  in  the  Charies  Baber  cemetery  at  Pottsville. 

Mr.  Dinger  married  Kate  Long,  who  was  bom  in  Cameron  township, 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Daniel  Long,  who  is  still  residing  on 
the  old  homestead  there.  Mrsv  Dinger  has  carried  on  the  "City  Hotel"  very 
successfully  since  her  husband's  death.  Two  children  were  bom  to  them: 
Neva  O.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Edwin  E.  Merrick,  of  Pottsville ;  and  Sadie  R., 
who  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  Walter  F.  Hertzog  (they  reside  in  California). 

Edwin  E.  Merrick  is  widely  known  in  Pottsville  in  his  capacity  as  super- 
intendent at  the  plant  of  the  Eastem  Steel  Company.  A  Scotchman  by  birth, 
he  was  bom  in  Glasgow  Sept.  i6,  1864,  son  of  Noah  Merrick,  who  upon  com- 
ing to  America  settled  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a  roller  in  the 
steel  mill.  He  now  resides  at  Paterson,  N.  J.  Edwin  E.  Merrick  received  a 
public  school  education,  and  in  his  youth  began  to  learn  the  steel  business  at 
Paterson,  N.  J.  After  several  years'  employment  there  he  worked  in  Chicago 
for  a  time,  in  May,  1906,  coming  to  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he 
took  a  position  as  roller  with  the  Eastem  Steel  Company.  Before  long  he  was 
promoted  to  the  position  of  superintendent  of  his  department,  and  has  since 
been  serving  as  such,  his  competency  and  intelligent  devotion  to  his  duties  rec- 
ommending him  to  the  confidence  of  the  executive  heads  of  the  concern.  Per- 
sonally he  is  a  man  of  high  character,  and  has  proved  himself  in  various  ways 
a  desirable  citizen  in  the  town  of  his  adoption.  He  is  a  member  of  the  B.  r. 
O.  Elks  Lodge  at  Pottsville. 

On  Feb.  4,  1910,  Mr.  Merrick  married  Neva  O.  Dinger,  daughter  of  the 
late  Joel  A.  Dinger,  and  they  have  a  fine  home  at  No.  2015  West  Market  street, 
Pottsville. 

BENJAMIN  FRANK  JAMES  was  bom  Aug.  19,  1873,  in  SchuylkiU 
county,  and  received  such  common  school  advantages  as  Shenandoah,  his  home 
town,  afforded.  After  reaching  his  majority  he  attended  business  collie  at 
Elmira,  New  Ycwk. 

The  Welsh  have  been  represented  by  many  successful  operators  and  capable 
miners  in  the  Pennsylvania  fields,  and  several  of  the  James  family  have  con- 
tributed to*  their  reputation  in  the  industry  of  leading  importance  in  this 
State.  Reared  in  the  very  heart  and  center  of  the  Pennsylvania  anthracite 
coal  regions,  and  with  his  father  interested  in  coal  operations,  Mr.  James  had 
the  opportunity  to  follow  his  inclinations,  and  by  the  time  he  reached  maturity 
had  a  familiar  knowledge  of  th6  mineral  deposits  of  the  State  and  their 
development.  At  the  time  of  the  death  of  l?is  father,  Mr.  James,  with  his 
three  brothers,  David  R.,  John  R.,  and  William  J.  James,  received  the  operation 
from  their  father  which  he  had  been  conducting  under  the  name  of  the 
Cambridge  Coal  Company.  At  the  present  writing  they  are  still  profitably 
working  at  that  colliery.  In  1906  Mr.  James,  with  his  three  brothers  before 
named,  leased  from  the  Gilbert  and  Sheafer  Estates  the  Girard  Mammoth 
colliery,  located  at  Raven  Run,  and  worked  this  colliery  very  successfully. 
Previous  to  their  having  taken  over  this  operation  it  had  been  operated  by 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company  for  a  number  of  years. 

Encouraged  by  what  he  considered  the  favorable  outlook  in  the  slate 
regions,  he  was  one  of  a  party  who  organized  a  company  for  the  production 
and  manufacture  of  all  kinds  of  slate,  his  associates  in  the  organization  being 


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A^TOR,   LENOX 
TILDiLiN   i- GUN  DAT 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  737 

his  three  brothers,  and  J.  C.  McGinnis,  of  Frackville,  Pa.,  and  William 
Wilhelm,  of  Pottsville.  They  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Cambridge 
Slate  Company,  of  Slatington,  and  are  still  carrymg  on  extensive  and  profitable 
operations.  The  bfficers  of  the  company  are :  David  R.  James,  president  ; 
William  J.  James,  secretary,  and  Benjamin  F.  Janies,  treasurer  and  general 
manager. 

In  the  year  1914  Mr.  James  made  a  venture  in  the  Gilberton  valley  which 
has  developed  into  a  very  promising  operation.  He  was  accompanied  in  the 
enterprise  by  his  two  brothers,  David  R.  and  William  J.  They  leased  from 
the  Girard  Estate,  at  Gilberton,  Schuylkill  county,  the  East  Bear  Ridge  colliery. 
By  the  fall  of  1915  they  had  completed  preparations  for  its  operation,  and 
began  same  at  once.  Mr.  James  is  giving  his  closest  attention  to  its  compre- 
hensive development,  as  the  vast  workings  reopened  or  newly  opened  show. 
He  has  entered  into  this  big  task  fully  aware  of  the  responsibilities  attaching 
to  it,  but  with  no  doubt  as  to  the  outcome.  He  has  the  pluck  and  tenacity 
necessary  to  hold  him  to  his  duties  until  the  realization  of  his  ambitions  is 
attained,  and  has  the  experience  upon  which  much  of  his  success  must  depend. 
The  profitable  management  of  the  colliery  will  be  an  achievement  of  highest 
importance  and  will  mean  much  to  the  prosperity  of  the  district,  where 
thousands  look  to  the  coal  workings  for  their  means  of  earning  a  livelihood. 
With  the  enteiprising  methods  now  in  practice  in  the  East  Bear  Ridge  work- 
^  ings,  and  conditions  as  they  now  are,  great  promise  is  given  of  a  large  pro- 
duction. 

In  1896  Mr.  James  married  Mary  A.  Troutman,  daughter  of  Emanuel  and 
Sarah  Troutman,  and  their  children  are:  Mary,  a  cultured  musician,  who 
received  her  training  in  the  schools  at  Oak  Lane,  Philadelphia,  and  Dayton, 
Va. ;  Viola,  a  student  of  the  Pottsville  high  school;  Elva  May;  Elsie,  and 
Benjamin  F.,  Jr.  Mr.  James  and  his  family  are  associated  with  the  Baptist 
Church.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  holding  membership  in  the  Blue  Lodge  at 
Shenandoah,  Chapter  and  Commandery  at  Ashland,  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A. 
O.  N.  M.  S..  of  Reading,  Pennsylvania. 

William  R.  James,  the  father  of  Benjamin  Frank  James,  was  k  native  of 
Wales,  bom  Dec.  2,  1838,  in  Glamorganshire.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
there,  being  nineteen  years  old  when  he  left  that  land  for  America.  Immedi- 
ately upon  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  settled  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  where 
he  found  employment  in  the  mines  and  continued  to  engage  in  that  line  of 
work  to  the  end  of  his  days.  For  many  years  he  was  an  operator  on  his  own 
account,  in  1875  leasing  coal  lands  at  Shenandoah  from  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  Company,  and  conducting  business  under  the  name  of  the  Cambridge 
Coal  Q)mpany  until  his  death,  in  the  spring  of  1892.  Mr.  James  married 
Elizabeth  Thomas,  nee  Harris,  who  preceded  him  to  the  grave,  dying  in  1890, 
and  they  are  interred  in  the  burial  plot  in  Shenandoah.  His  home  was  at 
Shenandoah  for  seventeen  years,  until  his  death.  Their  family  consisted  of  five 
children:  David  R.,  John  R.,  William  J.,  Benjamin  Frank  (the  subject  of  this 
sketch),  and  Mary,  the  last  named  being  deceased. 

JOHN  HENRY  SHOEMAKER  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  on 
the  farm  in  West  Perm  township  where  he  ^s  now  residing,  and  which  he 
has  been  operating  successfully  on  his  own  account  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  bom  in  that  township  Nov.  10,'  1869,  son  of  Joel  Shoemaker,  and  he 
is  a  ereat-cT-andson  of  Johannes  Shoemaker,  who  established  the  family  in 
VoLn—9 


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738  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

this  country,  coming  from  Germany  and  passing  the  rest  of  his  days  as  a 
farmer  in  Lehigh  county,  Pa.    He  is  buried  in  that  county. 

Jonas  Shoemaker,  son  of  Johannes,  was  bom  in  I^high  county,  in  what 
was  then  the  township  of  Lehigh,  and  settled  in  SchuylkiU  county,  where  he 
became  a  very  prosperous  farmer  and  landowper.  His  holdings  included  five 
very  good  farms,  comprising  between  500  and  600  acres  of  land,  and  he  lived 
on  a  200-acre  tract,  most  of  which  latter  he  cleared.  When  "he  retired  he 
went  to  live  with  his  son  Joel,  giving  up  active  work  about  seven  years  before 
his  death.  He  was  a  man  of  energetic  nature,  and  interested  in  all  things  which 
concerned  the  community,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  his  locality.  He  was  a  Lutheran  member  qf  Zion's  Church 
in  West  Penn  township,  where  he  and  his  second  wife  are  buried.  He  lived 
to  the  age  of  ninety-three  years.  He  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Bachert,  and  who  lived  to  be  over  eighty,  he  had  the 
following  children:  Polly,  bom  Nov.  3,  1819;  Priscilla,  bom  Jan.  4,  1822, 
who  was  married  to  Jacob  Loch  and  had  one  son,  Noah ;  one  child,  bom  Feb. 
22,  1824,  who  died  unnamed;  Joel,  born  Nov.  8,  1825;  Sallie,  bom  Jan.  7, 
1828,  who  died  yoimg;  Mary  Ann,  who  married  William  SchaflFer;  her  twin 
sister,  Barbara,  who  married  Ephraim  Snyder;  Johannes,  bom  Jan.  24,  1830; 
Sallie,  bom  Sept.  13,  1833;  Giedon,  bom  March  28,  1836,  who  married  Levina 
Neifert;  Samuel,  bom  Aug.  26,  1838,  who  married  Mary  Moyer;  a  child, 
bom  July  21,  1841,  who  died  unnamed;  Leah,  bom  April  14,  1843,  married 
to  Noah  Houser;  Elavina,  bom  Jan.  15,  1847,  who  married  Nathan  Miller; 
Benjamin;  and  Susanna,  Mrs.  Simon  Shellhammer.  For  his  second  wife 
Jonas  Shoemaker  married  Mrs.  Lavina  (Kistler)  Kemp,  widow  of  Isaac 
Kemp,  and  to  this  union  came  one  child,  Adam,  bom  Oct.  16,.  1870,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 

Joel  Shoemaker,  son  of  Jonas,  was  bom  Nov.  8,  1825,  in  Lehigh  township, 
and  received  his  education  in  his  native  county.  He  worked  for  his  father 
until  after  his  marriage,  and  his  father  then  gave  him  the  farm  now  occupied 
by  Gottfried  Knoedler,  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in  West  Penn  township,  which 
he  improved  greatly  during  the  seven  years  he  resided  thereon.  He  cleared 
most  of  the  land,  put  up  a  number  of  outbuildings  and  a  new  house,  and  by 
his  thrifty  management  increased  the  value  of  the  place  very  materially. 
Then  he  removed  to  the  place  in  West  Penn  township  now  occupied  by  his 
son  John,  the  old  Christian  Crouse  farm,  comprising  eighty  acres  of  valuable 
land,  all  of  which  was  cleared  and  under  cultivation.  He  followed  general 
farming  there  until  1901,  and  stayed  with  his  son  John  until  his  death,  in 
1904.  Mr.  Shoemaker  took  some  part  in  the  administration  of  local  affairs, 
serving  as  school  director  and  collector  of  the  school  tax.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  belonging  to  Zion's  Church,  where 
he  and  his  wife  were  buried.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Neifert,  who  was  bora 
June  4,  1835,  daughter  of  Peter  Neifert,  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years.  We  have  the  following  record  of  their  family:  Amanda  Matilda, 
bom  May  13,  1857,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Johnson;  James  A.  was  bom  Oct 
15,  1858;  Lavina  Rebecca,  bom  Oct.  8,  i860,  died  July  22,  1873;  George  Mc- 
Qellan,  bom  Dec.  9,  1862,  is  now  living  in  Kansas ;  John  Henry  was  bom  Nov. 
10,  1869;  Rosie  Cecilia,  bom  Sept.  7,  1871,  died  Sept.  22,  1877;  Clara  Mary, 
bom  Aug.  12,  1878,  married  Theodore  Gerber  and  (second)  Milton  Boyer. 

John  H.  Shoemaker  was  reared  and  educated  in  West  Penn  township. 
He  received  his  early  training  assisting  his  father,  for  whom  he  worked  on 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  739 

the  home  place  until  twenty-four  years  old.  For  a  few  months  afterwards 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  M 
the  Palo  Alto  car  shops,  was  next  engaged  as  a  wood-chopper  in  West  Penn 
township  for  a  couple  of  months,  and  then  rented  the  Gideon  Zehner  farm 
for  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he  returned  to  the  old  homestead 
in  West  Penn  township,  which  he  rented  for  one  year  before  buying  it,  and 
he  is  still  residing  there  and  carrying  on  general  farming.  He,  markets  his 
products  at  Tamaqua.  The  farm  originally  contained  eighty-two  acres,  fifty- 
six  perches,  but  a  small  part  was  sold  to  the  railroad  company,  the  tract  now 
consisting  of  seventy-eight  acres ;  about  seven  acres  are  in  timber.  Mr.  Shoe- 
maker devotes  practically  all  his  time  to  his  agricultural  work,  taking  no  part 
in  public  affairs,  though  he  is  public-spirited  in  his  support  of  all  gcK>d  meas- 
ures. He  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  Zion's  Church  in  West 
Penn  township. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-three  years  Mr.  Shoemaker  was  married  to  Caroline 
Zehner,  who  was  bom  Aug.  9,  1871,  in  West  Penn  township,  received  her 
education  in  the  public  schools  there,  and  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage. 
Like  her  husband  she  is  a  member  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church  in  West  Penn 
township,  in  whose  work  she  has  taken  considerable  interest,  having  served 
as  Sunday  school  teacher.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoemaker  have  had  four  chil- 
dren: Cora  Ellen,  bom  Aug.  8,  1893,  is  the  wife  of  Lee  Yarbrough^  of 
Tamaqua,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Vera  Leoda  (bom  Dec.  25,  1912) 
and  Elda  Caroline  (bom  Dec.  i,  1914) ;  Carrie  Irene,  bom  Jan.  18,  1895, 
married  James  Houser,  of  Tamaqua,  Pa.,  and  they  have  one  child,  John 
Amandus  (bom  Dec.  9,  1914)  ;  Harold  Adam,  bom  March  11,  1896,  is  attend- 
ing the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  ,a  member  of  the 
class  of  1915;  Nora  Amelia  was  bom  Sept.  5,  1907. 

Johannes  Zehner,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  John  H.  Shoemaker,  was  born  in 
West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  died  when  over  eighty- 
four  years  old.  During  the  summer  season  he  engaged  in  farming,  operating 
and  owning  the  place  where  Mr.  George  yB.  Adam  now  resides,  and  in  the 
'winter  time  followed  his  trade  of  cooper,  making  barrels,  etc.,  continuing 
both  lines  throughout  his  active  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  served  as 
supervisor  of  his  township.  His  religious  connection  was  with  the  Lutheran 
congregation  of  Zion's  Church,  but  he  was  not  specially  active  in  its  work. 
He  and  his  wife,  Christina  (Steigerwalt),  daughter  of  Joseph  Steigerwalt, 
are  buried  at  Zion's  Church.  They  had  the  following  children :  William,  who 
married  Polly  Houser;  Moses,  who  married  a  Miss  Schwartz;  Hettie,  wife 
of  David  Halderman;  Gideon,  who  married  Sarah  Houser;  and  John  S.,  who 
married  Rebecca  Beiyiighoflf. 

Gideon  Zehner,  son  of  Johannes,  was  bom  April  20,  1832,  in  West  Penn 
township,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  was  trained  to  farming, 
working  for  his  father  until  after  his  marriage,  but  he  also  learned  the  trades  of 
stonemason  and  plasterer  and  later  butchenng,  always  doing  his  own  work  in 
that  line.  Imipediately  after  his  marriage  he  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by 
his  son  Lewis  A.  Zehner,  in  West  Penn  township,  and  did  most  of  the  clearing 
of  that  tract,  put  up  new  buildings  there,  and  for  many  years  carried  on  both 
farming  and  butchering,  his  children  operating  the  farm,  while  he  gave  most 
of  his  attention  to  the  latter  line.  He  carried  his  meats  to  Tamaqua,  Coal- 
dale  and  Lansford  to  market.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  devoted 
himself  entirely  to  agricultural  work.    In  the  pursuit  of  his  various  interests 


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740  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

he  became  very  well  known  in  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  taueht  singing  school,  and  he  was  an  esteemed  member  of  Zion's 
Lutheran  Church  in  West  Penn  township.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  that 
church.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Zehner  married  Sarah  Houser, 
who  was  bom  Sept.  i6,  1832,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Wertman) 
Houser,  and  died  Jan.  11,  i8g2.  Mr.  Zehner  survived  her  a  number  of  years, 
passing  away  May  20,  1905.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Lewis  Albert,  who  now  occupies  the  home  farm  in  West  Penn  township,  mar- 
ried Amelia  Tyson ;  Mary  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  David  Steigerwalt,  of  West 
Penn  township ;  Louisa  died  young ;  Elias  died  young ;  Emma  Jeannetta  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Stout,  of  Summit  Hill,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.;  Charles,  deceased, 
married  Emma  Gerber,  who  resides  in  West  Penn  township ;  Caroline  is  the 
wife  of  John  Henry  Shoemaker. 

Daniel  Houser,  father  of  Mrs.  Sarah  (Houser)  Zehner,  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade  and  also  followed  farming.  He  first  owned  a  farm  in  West  Penn 
township,  now  the  property  of  Henry  Baer,  and  after  selling  this  place  lived 
on  the  tract  now  occupied  by  Fred  Schaeffer.  Later  he  bought  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Frank  Steieerwalt,  and  besides  lookin|^  after  its  cultivation  had  a 
blacksmith  shop  and  followed  his  trade  there.  He  died  on  that  place.  His 
wife,  Elizabeth  (Wertman),  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  and 
they  are  buried  at  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township.  Mr.  Houser  was  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  there,  and  a  Democrat  in  political  sen- 
timent. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houser  had  the  following  children :  Aaron,  who  mar- 
ried Amanda  Kramer,  lives  in  West  Penn  township;  William^  now  deceased, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war ;  Gideon  died  young ;  Sarah  married  Gideon  Zeh- 
ner ;  Priscilla  is  the  widow  of  Stephen  Steigerwalt,  and  now  resides  at  Andreas, 
this  county;  Esther  married  Jacob  Christman,  and  both  are  deceased;  Betsy, 
widow  of  Levi  Zehner,  lives  at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  county ;  Kate,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Charles  Woomer,  of  Summit  Hill,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa. ;  one  son 
died  young. 

LEWIS  ALBERT  ZEHNER  is  cultivating  the  old  Zehner  homestead  in 
West  Penn  township,  and  by  his  thrift  and  up-to-date  management  of  that 
property  is  showing  himself  a  worthy  member  of  a  family  whose  name  has 
long  been  synon)rmous  with  industry  and  the  other  substantial  qualities  which 
constitute  good  citizenship.  He  was  born  on  his  present  farm  June  30,  i860, 
son  of  Gideon  Zehner  and  grandson  of  Johannes  Zehner. 

Johannes  Zehner  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  died  when  over  eighty-four  years  old.  During  the  summer  season  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  operating  and  owning  the  place  where  George  B.  Adam  now 
resides,  and  in  the  winter  time  followed  his  trade  of  cooper,  making  barrels, 
etc.,  continuing  both  lines  throughout  his  active  years.  He  was  a  Democrat 
and  served  as  supervisor  of  his  township.  His  religious  connection  was  with 
the  Lutheran  congregation  of  Zion*s  Church,  but  he  was  not  specially  active 
in  its  work.  He  and  his  wife,  Christina  (Steigerwalt),  daughter  of  Joseph 
Steigerwalt,  are  buried  at  Zion's  Church.  They  had  the  following  children: 
Wilnam,  who  married  Polly  Houser ;  Moses,  who  married  a  Miss  Schwartz ; 
Hettie,  wife  of  Daniel  Halderman ;  Gideon,  who  married  Sarah  Houser ;  and 
John  S.,  who  married  Rebecca  Bennighoff. 

Gideon  Zehner,  son  of  Johannes,  was  bom  April  20,  1832,  in  West  Penn 
township,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.    He  was  trained  to  farming, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  741 

working  for  his  father  until  after  his  marriage,  but  he  also  learned  the  trades 
of  stonemason  and  plasterer  and  later  butchering,  always  doing  his  own  work 
in  that  line.  Immediately  after  his  marriage  he  bought  the  farm  now  owned 
by  his  son  Lewis  A.  in  West  Penn  township,  and  did  most  of  the  clearing  of 
that  tract,  put  up  new  buildings  there,  and  for  many  years  carried  on  both 
farming  and  butchering,  his  children  operating  the  farm,  while  he  gave  most 
of  his  attention  to  the  latter  line.  He  carried  his  meats  to  Tamaqua,  Coaldale 
and  Lansford  to  market.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  devoted  himself 
entirely  to  agricultural  work.  In  the  pursuit  of  his  various  interests  he  became 
very  well  known  in  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  taught  singing  school,  and  he  was  an  esteemed  member  of  Zion*s  Lutheran 
Church  in  West  Penn  township.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  buried  at  that 
church.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Zehner  married  Sarah  Houser, 
who  was  born  Sept.  i6,  1832,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Wertman) 
Houser,  and  died  Jan.  11,  1892.  Mr.  Zehner  survived  her  a  number  of  years, 
passing  away  May  20,  1905.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Lewis  Albert ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  David  Steigerwalt,  of  Weist  Penn  town- 
ship; Louisa,  who  died  young;  Elias,  deceased  when  young;  Emma  Jeannetta, 
the  wife  of  Charles  Stout,  of  Summit  Hill,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa. ;  Charles,  deceased, 
who  married  Emma  Gerber  (she  resides  in  West  Penn  township)  ;  and  Caro- 
line, wife  of  John  Henry  Shoeiiiaker. 

Daniel  Houser,  father  of  Mrs.  Sarah  (Houser)  Zehner,  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade  and  also  followed  farming.  He  first  owned  a  farm  in  West  Penn 
township,  now  the  property  of  Henry  Baer,  and  after  selling  this  place  lived 
on  the  tract  now  occupied  bv  Fred  Schaeffer.  Later  he  bought  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Frank  Steigerwalt,  and  besides  looking  after  its  cultivation  had  a 
blacksmith  shop  and  followed  his  trade  there.  He  died  on  that  place  in  1887. 
His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Wertman),  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years, 
and  they  are  buried  at  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township.  Mr.  Houser 
was  a  manber  of  the  Reformed  cdngregation  there,  and  a  Democrat  in  political 
sentiment.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houser  had  the \ following  children:  Aaron,  who 
married  Amanda  Kramer,  lives  in  West  Penn  township;  William,  now  de- 
ceased, was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war;  Gideon  died  young;  Sarah  married 
Gideon  Zehner ;  Priscilla  is  the  widow  of  Stephen  Steigerwalt,  and  now  resides 
at  Andreas,  this  county;  Esther  married  Jacob  Christman,  and  both  are  de- 
ceased; Betsy,  widow  of  Levi  Zehner,  lives  at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  county; 
Kate,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Charles  Woomer,  of  Summit  Hill,  Carbon 
Co.,  Pa. ;  one  son  died  young. 

Lewis  A.  Zehner  was  trained  to  farm  wqfrk  under  the  able  direction  of  his 
father,  with  whom  he  worked  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years. 
After  leaving  the  home  place  he  worked  four  years  for  his  father  on  the  other 
farm  which  the  latter  owned,  and  th^n  returned  to  the  homestead,  which  he 
bought,  and  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  general  agriculture.  His 
parents  continued  to  reside  there  until  they  died.  Mr.  Zehner  markets  his 
farm  products  at  Tamaqua  and  Coaldale.  He  supports  the  Democratic  party 
and  is  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  belinging  to  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship. Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  132,  at  Moyers  (for- 
merly Schwartz's),  in  the  same  township.  He  was  married,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  years,  to  Amelia  R.  Tyson,  who  was  bom  Sept.  15,  1865,  at 
Tamaqua,  this  county,  where  she  first  attended  school,  living  there  until  ten 
years  old.     She  then  removed  with  her  parents  to  West  Penn  township  and 


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742  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  ^ 

remained  home  up  to  the  time  of  her  marriage.  She  is  a  member  of  Zion's 
Lutheran  Church  and  has  always  been  interested  in  its  welfare,  formerly 
taking  an  active  part  in  its  work  as  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Zehner  have  one  child,  Ellen  Irene,  bom  Aug.  i,  1888,  now  the  wife 
of  Elmer  Zehner,  who  was  bom  Nov.  r  1888,  son  of  Thomas  Zehner.  He  now 
cultivates  his  father's  farm.  Three  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Elmer  Zehner:  Harry  Elmer,  Nov.  12,  1909;  Cora  Ellen,  Sept.  24,  1913;  and 
Mary  Amelia,  Jan.  25,  1915. 

Jesse  Tyson,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lewis  A.  Zehner,  was  born  in  Lehigh 
county  and  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty  years,  dying  in  West  Penn  township, 
Schuylkill  county.  From  his  native  county  he  first  moved  to  the  neighborhood 
of  Allemaengel  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county,  later  settling  in  West  Penn 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  and  in  religion 
a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  the  Windsor  Castle  Church  in  Berks  county,  where 
he  and  his  wife,  Maria  (Rothermel),  are  buried.  They  had  the  following 
children:  Jesse,  who  married  Anna  Kleckner;  Joseph;  Henry;  Hannah,  wife 
of  William  Miller;  Maria,  wife  of  Frank  Heisler;  Sarah,  wife  of  Nathan 
Weissner;  and  Rebecca,  wife  of  Francis  Akerman. 

Henry  Tyson,  son  of  Jesse,  was  bom  May  29,  1826,  in  Allemaengel,  Berks 
county,  and  there  spent  his  early  life,  receiving  his  education  in  the  local  schools. 
In  his  youth  he  worked  around  among  farmers  and  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade  with  Mr.  Franklin  in  West  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county.  He 
followed  his  trade  at  different  places  until  his  removal  to  Tamaqua,  where  he 
worked  for  several  employers  until  he  obtained  a  position  with  Carter  &  Allen, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  a  period  of  twenty-three  years.  He  then  settled 
in  West  Penn  township,  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  he  purchased,  and 
though  he  sold  the  farm  after  he  had  been  living  on  it  for  fifteen  years  he 
continued  to  reside  upon  it  as  caretaker  for  some  time  afterwards.  Meantime 
he  worked  for  other  farmers  also.  Eventually  he  removed  to  the  Elsie  Zehner 
farm,  where  he  died  June  22,  1909.  He  is  buried  at  Zion's  Church  in  West 
Penn  township.  Mr.  Tyson  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation of  that  church,  which  he  served  officially  as  deacon  and  he  was  also 
deeply  interested  in  the  Sunday  school,  in  which  he  acted  as  teacher.  Politi- 
cally he  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  held  membership 
in  Tamaqua  Council  of  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M. 

In  West  Bmnswick  township  Mr.  Tyson  married  Maria  Elizabeth  Mohl, 
and  she  survives  him,  now  living  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Lewis  A.  Zehner. 
The  following  children  were  born  to  their  marriage :  George  W.,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Newark,  N.  J.,  married  Amanda  Seiberling;  Frank  L.,  of  Weatherly, 
Pa.,  married  Rose  Holtshafer,  and  they  have  children,  Harry  Elmer,  Minnie 
May,  Morris  Frederick,  Helen  Catherine,  Dora  Alice,  Claude  Irwin,  George 
Alfred,  Roy  Franklin,  Charles  and  Ada  Maria;  Harry  F.,  of  Chicago,  111.,  is 
married  to  Emma  Bums;  Amelia  R.  is  Mrs.  Lewis  A.  Zehner;  William  A., 
of  Normal,  married  Agnes  Hartung,  and  their  children  are  Edgar  William, 
Mamie  Katie,  Lula  Maria,  Claude  Irwin,  Hilda  Anna  and  Earl  David  (twins) 
and  Arline ;  Charles  I.,  who  is  unmarried,  lives  with  his  sister  Mrs.  Zehner. 

Michael  Mohl,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Tyson,  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  living  in 
West  Bmnswick  township,  where  he  owned  a  large  and  valuable  property. 
He  was  a  Reformed  member  of  Zion's  Church  (the  old  Red  Church)  in  that 
township,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  both  buried  there.     Politically  he  was  a 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  743 

Democrat     His  children  were:  Henry,  Benjamin,  John,  Michael,  Hannah, 
Sarah  and  Rebecca. 

Michael  Mohl,  son  of  Michael,  was  bom  in  West  Brunswick  township,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  owning 
ninety  acres  of  good  land.  Like  his  father  he  belonged  to  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation of  the  old  Red  Church  in  West  Brunswick  township,  and  he  was  a 
Republican  in  his  political  conviction.  He  married  Hannah  Eveland,  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Medlar)  Eveland,  and  she,  too,  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  seventy-three  years.  They  are  buried  at  the  old  Red  Church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely :  Daniel  married  Rebecca  Walborn ; 
Michael  married  Annie  Ketner ;  Henry  died  young ;  Hannah  married  Washing- 
ton Gross ;  Sarah  married  William  Grief ;  Catherine  married  John  Fraunf elder ; 
Maria  Elizabeth  is  Mrs.  Tyson ;  Amelia  married  Peter  Walborn. 

JOSEPH  SHOENER,  who  now  lives  retired  at  McKeansburg,  spent  his 
active  years  as  a  prosperous  farmer  in  East  Brunswick  township.  Industrious 
and  successful,  able  in  the  management  of  business  affairs  and  trustworthy  in 
all  his  transactions,  he  enjoys  the  high  standing  characteristic  of  the  Shoeners, 
than  whom  no  family  in  southern  Schuylkill  county  is  more  respected. 

Born  Jan.  14,  1842,  in  West  Brunswick  township,  this  county,  he  is  a  son 
of  Henry  Shoener  and  grandson  of  John  Shoener,  who  was  a  farmer  in  what 
is  now  West  Brunswick  township,  at  that  time  a  part  of  Berks  county.  Pa. 
He  was  bom  about  1767,  settled  on  a  large  farm  that  had  been  cleared  by  his 
wife's  father,  built  a  log  house  and  barn/and  carried  on  farming  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  He  was  a  highly  respected  man  in  his  neighborhood,  died 
upon  his  farm,  and  is  buried  with  his  wife  in  the  Reformed  cemetery  at  Orwigs- 
burg.  He  had  a  family  of  about  twelve  children,  and  we  have  record  of  George, 
Henry,  John,  Daniel,  Solomon,  William,  Jacob,  Anna  and  Susanna.  Politically 
he  was  a  Democrat,  and  his  religious  connection  was  with  the  Reformed 
Church. 

Henry  Shoener,  son  of  John,  above,  was  bom  in  West  Brunswick  town- 
ship June  23,  1813,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  township,  and 
stayed  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  moved  to  Orwigsburg,  about  1874.  He 
had  a  farm  of  over  two  hundred  acres,  part  of  which  he  cleared,  and  was  a 
well  known  man  in  his  day.  His  wife,  Christiana  (Sheip),  was  bom  Dec. 
31,  1818,  and  died  Oct.  6,  1893.  Her  father,  Peter  Sheip,  bom  in  1784,  died 
Nov.  25,  1845,  ^g^<i  sixty-one  years.  Mr.  Shoener  died  Jan.  20,  i8qo,  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  Reformed  cemetery  at  Orwigsburg.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church  and  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Shoener  had  the  following  children:  Lewis  married  Sarah  Koch,  and 
both  are  deceased;  Joseph  is  mentioned  below;  Caroline,  deceased,  married 
Morgan  Koch,  who  resides  in  McKeansburg,  Pa.;  Edward  is  a  resident  of 
Orwigsburg;  William  married  Diana  Sheip;  John  is  deceased;  Charles,  de- 
ceased, married  Anna  Hummel,  who  resides  at  Orwigsburg;  Clara  married 
Charles  Cook;  Mary  married  James  Dreher;  Daniel  married  Alice  Dieffen- 
derfer;  Albert,  who  married  Anna  Jenkins,  lives  at  Orwigsburg;  Thomas 
married  Emma  Faust. 

Joseph  Shoener  began  his  education  in  the  pay  schools  conducted  in  West 
Brunswick  township  during  his  boyhood,  and  later  attended  public  school  in 
the  home  district.  From  an  early  age  he  assisted  his  father  with  the  work 
on  the  home  farm.    When  eighteen  years  old  he  commenced  to  leam  the  trade 


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744  •  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  shoemaker,  but  after  serving  nine  months  found  he  did  not  like  the  work 
well  enough  to  follow  it,  and  gave  it  up.  Early  in  the  Civil  war  he  entered  the 
Union  Army,  enlisting  Oct.  25,  1862,  at  Orwigsburg,  in  the  Pennsylvania  mili- 
tia, Company  A,  173d  Regiment,  under  Capt.  Cyrus  Sheetz,  for  nine  months. 
He  was  discharged  Aug.  17,  1863,  ^it  Camp  Curtin,  Harrisburg,  and  on  Feb. 
23,  1864,  reenlisted,  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  joining  Company  I, 
40th  Pennsylvania  Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  under  three 
captains,  John  R.  Porter,  Benjamin  Shook  and  Francis  D.  Koch.  Mr.  Shoener 
was  discharged  July  17,  1865,  near  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  was  mustered  out  at 
Harrisburg,  with  a  fine  record,  having^  participated  in  the  engagements  of 
Newbem,  Bull  Run  (second),  ChantilTy,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fred- 
ericksburg, Blue  Springs,  Campbell  Station,  Knoxville  (siege),  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania,  North  Anna  River,  Tolopotomy,  Bethesda  Church,  Cold  Har- 
bor, Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Poplar  Spring  Church,  Boydton  Plank 
Road  and  the  assault  on  Petersburg. 

Returning  from  the  army  Mr.  Shoener  spent  the  next  year  working  in  the 
coal  mines  of  Lost  Creek,  and  then  went  to  farming  in  East  Brunswick  town- 
ship on  a  130-acre  tract  which  he  bought  in  1867  and  on  which  he  remained 
thirty  years.  That  farm  is  now  the  property  of  his  son  John.  Joseph  Shoener 
then  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son  Charles,  a  tract  of  forty  acres  in 
East  Brunswick  township,  remaining  there  until  April  28,  1904.  He  improved 
both  properties,  putting  up  new  buildings  and  developing  the  land  intelligently, 
and  retired  in  1910,  after  a  useful  life,  moving  to  McKeansburg.  He  still  owns 
400  acres  of  timberland  on  the  Second  mountain. 

Mr.  Shoener  married  Mary  Paul,  who  was  bom  Feb.  7,  1845,  ^  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Kate  (Yeager)  Paul,  and  they  had  the  following  children: 
George,  Maggie,  Lizzie  and  Robert  died  young;  John  married  Bessie  Aker; 
Charles  married  Cora  Bachman;  Fred  married  Kate  Wagner.  The  mother 
died  June  13,  1901,  and  is  buried  in  the  Steigerwalt  cemetery.  On  Aug.  i, 
1903,  Mr.  Shoener  married  (second)  Emma  Kunkel,  who  was  bom  Dec.  31, 
1864,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Long)  Kunkel,  and  three  children  have 
been  bom  to  this  union:  Mary  Christiann,  July  7,  1904;  Naomi  Pearl,  Dec.  11, 
1906;  Joseph  Edward,  April  30,  1909.  They  are  all  attending  school.  Mr. 
Shoener  has  been  interested  in  local  politics  as  a  Republican,  and  has  served 
his  fellow  citizens  in  the  offices  of  school  director  and  supervisor.  He  is  a 
zealous  member  of  the  Church  of  God  at  Steigerwalt.  Mrs.  Shoener  belongs 
to  the  Frieden's  Church  at  New  Ringgold. 

Georg  Kunkel,  the  founder  of  a  pioneer  family  of  Albany  township,  Berks 
county,  lived  near  Wessnersville,  on  land  now  occupied  by  one  of  his  descend- 
ants, Nathan  Kunkel.  Georg  Kunkel  (also  spelled  Kunckell  and  Kungel), 
a  native  of  Germany,  located  in  Albany  township  some  time  prior  to  1754, 
and  it  appears  that  he  reared  a  large  family.  In  Rupp's  History  of  Berks 
county  (1886),  his  name  app>ears  on  the  list  of  taxables  of  1756  as  "George 
Kunckell."  In  1759,  according  to  Montgomery's  History  of  Berks  County 
(1886),  his  name  is  listed  as  George  Kungel;  in  the  latter  year  he  paid  a  tax 
of  six  pounds.  At  the  Kunkel  homestead  is  an  old  grandfather's  clock  that 
bears  the  date  of  1772.  It  was  brought  into  this  house  at  the  same  time  the 
house  was  being  built,  and  is  the  workmanship  of  George  Miller,  of  German- 
town.  It  has  kept  good  time  all  these  years.  On  the  brass  face  appear  the 
letters  "I.  G.  K."  The  Kunkel  tract  has  been  in  the  family  name  since  1754. 
Georg  Kunkel  was  a  farmer,  and  his  farm  has  been  divided  and  sub-divided 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  745 

since  his  time.  His  land  at  one  time  included  all  the  upper  end  of  Stony  Run. 
He  is  buried  at  Wessnersville.    His  children  were  George  and  Peter. 

Peter  Kunkel,  son  of  Georg,  bom  Dec.  20,  1774,  in  Albany  township, 
died  Oct.  28,  1830.  After  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Ljmn  township,  Lehigh 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  also  operated  a  distillery  on  his 
farm.  Later  he  lived  near  Wessnersville,  where  he  owned  a  tract  of  275 
acres,  which  is  now  owned  by  a  descendant,  Charles  Kunkel.  In  1797  Peter 
Kunkel  married  Maria  Magdalena  Rausch,  bom  Nov.  lo,  ^778,  died  April 
12,  1846.  They  had  fourteen  children,  eleven  of  whom  survived  their  parents 
(sixteen  grandchildren  also  surviving).  Among  these  were:  Daniel,  David, 
Andraes,  Benjamin,  Joseph  (married  Catharine  Snyder  and  had  twelve  chil- 
dren), Peter,  Polly  (married  Jacob  Elbert),  Catharine  (married  John  Diet- 
rich) and  Sophia. 

Daniel  Kunkel,  son  of  Peter,  was  bom  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county, 
March  2,  1798,  and  died  Oct.  26,  1863.  He  was  a  farmer,  owning  two  tracts, 
one  of  two  hundred  acres,  the  other  of  sixty.  He  owned  and  lived  on  the 
farm  which  later  became  the  property  of  his  son  Jacob,  who  sold  it  to  Henry 
Bauscher,  his  brother-in-law,  in  1870,  for  $10,000.  It  comprises  127  acres 
of  excellent  land,  situated  in  the  potato  belt,  and  is  now  tenanted  and  culti- 
vated by  Daniel  Bauscher,  son  of  Henry.  The  present  bam  on  the  place  was 
built  by  Daniel  Kunkel.  He  married  in  1821  Maria  Magdalena  Zimmerman, 
bom  Feb.  27,  1797,  died  July  14,  1859,  and  they  are  both  buried  in  the 
Frieden's  Church  at  Wessnersville.  They  had  a  large  family,  thirteen  chil- 
dren, among  whom  were:  A  daughter  who  married  Daniel  Brobst;  Catharine, 
who  married  Reuben  A.  Dietrich;  Mary,  who  married  a  Mr.  Derr;  Benjamin, 
who  married  Sarah  Hartman ;  John,  who  lived  and  died  at  McKeansburg, 
Pa.;  Jacob,  bom  in  1841,  died  in  1900;  and  Sarah,  who  married  Henry 
Bauscher. 

John  Kunkel,  son  of  Daniel,  was  bom  in  1823  in  Albany  township,  Berks 
xounty,  and  received  his  education  there.  He  worked  on  his  father's  farm 
until  1850,  when  he  left  Albany  township  and  removed  to  Bensinger's  Valley, 
in  East  Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  locating  at  what  is  known 
locally  as  Schmaltzdale,  in  the  vicinity  of  McKeansburg.  There  he  bought 
120  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  remained  the  rest  of  his  days,  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  raising  of  tmck,  which  he  sold  himself,  having  a  route 
to  Middleport,  this  county.  He  married  Mary  Long,  daughter  of  Christopher 
Long,  a  native  of  Albany  township,  Berks  county,  and  she  survived  him  many 
years,  his  death  occurring  Feb.  27,  1875,  when  he  was  fifty-two  years  old, 
hers  on  April  15,  1901,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  They  are  buried 
in  the  cemetery  of  tfie  Frieden's  German  Lutheran  Church  at  New  Ringgold, 
to  which  both  belonged.  Mr.  Kunkel  was  one  of  its  prominent  members,  fill- 
ing all  the  church  offices.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  The  following  chil- 
dren were  bom  to  him  and  his  wife:  Sarah  married  Samuel  Bolich,  who  is 
deceased,  and  she  Uves  in  Albany  township;  Jonas  married  Lavina  Trexler; 
William  married  Mary  Nester;  Mandus  married  Lena  Neiswender  and  they 
reside  in  Nebraska;  Mary  died  young';  Levina  died  young;  Lewis  married 
Caroline  Leiby,  and  both  are  deceased;  Henry  (deceased)  married  Ella  Dun- 
dore,  who  survives  him  and  is  living  at  Springmont,  Berks  county;  John, 
deceased,  married  Lena  Merkel,  of  Orwigsburg,  Pa.;  Daniel  died  unmarried; 
Emma  married  Joseph  Shoener,  of  McKeansburg. 


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746  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

NATHAN  EVANS,  late  of  Potts ville,  was  one  of  the  most  progressive 
men  of  the  borough  in  his  generation.  The  various  enterprises  to  which  he 
devoted  his  energies  were  typical  of  the  man,  whose  alert  mind  and  keen 
foresight  were  substantial  factors  in  the  development  of  his  adopted  town. 
He  contributed  his  full  share  towards  the  work  of  progress  in  his  day,  and 
the  history  of  his  career  forms  part  of  the  history  of  the  locality. 

The  Evans  family  has  been  established  in  eastern  Pennsylvania  for  over 
a  century.  John  Evans,  a  native  of  Wales,  came  to  America  when  a  young 
man,  and  settled  in  the  Conestoga  valley,  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  He  died  Aug. 
12,  1813,  when  comparatively  a  young  man.  On  April  9,  1799,  he  married 
Margaret  Jones,  who  was  bom  June  28,  1776,  and  survived  him  a  number  of 
years,  dying  Sept.  24,  1826.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Jones  family,  well 
known  in  the  city  of  Reading  and  elsewhere  in  Berks  county.  She  remarried 
after  Mr.  Evans's  death,  becoming  the  wife  of  John  T.  Bechtel.  Six  children 
were  bom  to  her  union  with  Mr.  Evans,  namely:  Reese,  John  C,  Nathan, 
George,  David,  and  Ann  (who  died  young). 

Nathan  Evans,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  1807  in  Conestoga  Valley,  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Pa.  When  a  young  man  he  became  employed  as  a  clerk  at  the 
Joanna  Furnace  in  Berks  county,  and  when  about  twenty-one  years  old  he 
came  to  Pottsville,  Schuyfkill  county,  with  which  place  he  was  identified  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  Here  he  was  engaged  in  the  shipping  of  coal,  in  which 
line  he  was  a  pioneer  in  this  section,  and  he  had  a  line  of  canalboats  occupied 
with  his  trade.  Later  he  and  Samuel  Silliman  were  associated  in  coal  opera- 
tions, having  a  colliery  at  what  was  known  as  Crow  Hollow,  in  ScThuylkill 
county.  T^ey  did  a  successful  business,  and  Mr.  Evans  continued  his  con- 
nection therewith  for  several  years.  In  company  with  John  Ruch  he  built 
a  mill  at  what  is  now  the  comer  of  Norwegian  and  Railroad  streets,  Potts- 
ville, the  first  steam  flourmill  to  be  constructed  in  this  locality.  They  were 
engaged  in  its  operation  for  many  years,  Mr.  Evans  retiring  when  he  with- 
drew from  this  business.  He  passed  his  last  years  in  the  enjoyment  of  well 
earned  leisure,  dying  in  1884,  and  is  buried  in  the  Charles  Baber  cemetery. 
He  was  a  member  of  Bloomsburg  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Pottsville,  and  highly 
respected  among  his  brother  Masons,  as  he  was  wherever  known. 

Mr.  Evans  married  Ann  B.  Barde,  daughter  of  Samuel  Barde,  of  Birds- 
boro,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  she  lived  to  her  ninety-fourth  year,  passing  away 
in  1894.  Nine  children  were  bom  to  this  union:  Sarah,  who  died  young; 
Louisa  B. ;  George ;  Anna,  deceased ;  Charles  B. ;  Mary,  deceased,  who  was  the 
wife  of  Lewis  P.  Garrigus ;  Clement,  deceased ;  Annie  S. ;  and  Howard,  of 
Colorado.  The  daughters  Louise  and  Annie,  and  son  Charles  B.,  continue 
to  occupy  the  old  home  at  No.  1313  West  Norwegian  street,  Pottsville.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Charles  B.  Evans,  son  of  Nathan,  was  bom  at  Pottsville  March  17,  183Q. 
He  served  in  the  Union  army  throughout  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  April  17, 
1861,  with  the  "First  Defenders,"  and  received  his  honorable  discharge  in 
July,  1865.  He  became  a  private  in  the  Washington  Artillerists,  April  18, 
1861 ;  was  made  corporal  of  Company  G,  48th  Pennsylvania  Veteran  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  Aug.  20,  1861 ;  sergeant  of  same  command,  1862,  serving  as 
such  until  1865.  At  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  he  was  wounded,  the  bullet 
passing  through  the  calf  of  his  left  leg.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  Gowen 
Post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  the  Union  Veteran  Legion.    After  the  war  Mr. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  747 

Evans  returned  to  Pottsville,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
for  many  years,  at  present  leading  a  retired  life.  He  and  his  sisters  are  among 
thfe  most  highly  esteemed  residents  of  Pottsville.  [Charles  B.  Evans  died  in 
December,  191 5.] 

ALLEN  JOSEPH  DEIBERT  is  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  valuable 
farm  land  at  Orwigsburg  which  has  been  owned  in  his  family  for  three  gen- 
erations, during  which  time  the  Deiberts  have  filled  a  place  among  the  most 
substantial  and  respected  citizens  of  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  Honest, 
industrious  and  capable,  they  have  won  the  esteem  of  their  neighbors  in  every 
relation  of  life  by  sincere  effort,  and  deserve  the  high  standing  they  enjoy. 
Allen  J.  Deibert  is  a  son  of  Nathan  Deibert  and  grandson  of  Joseph  Deibert. 

Joseph  Deibert,  the  grandfather,  bom  Nov.  5,  1810,  was  a  prosperous 
farmer  in  the  vicinity  of -Orwigsburg,  owning  two  tracts  of  land,  about  two 
hundred  acres  in  all,  much  of  which  was  cleared  by  his  own  labor.  He  lived 
on  the  place  now  owned  by  Jacob  Moyer,  and  died  there  Feb.  22,  1895.  ^is 
wife,  Elizabeth  Sheipe,  born  April  7,  1816,  died  May  31,  1896,  and  they  are 
buried  in  the  cemetery  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church  at  Orwigsburg.  Joseph 
Deibert  was  a  faithful  member  of  that  church,  which  many  of  his  descendants 
have  also  attended  and  supported.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  To  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Sheipe)  Deibert  were  bom  the  following  children:  Diana, 
who  married  William  Freed,  of  Orwigsburg,  Pa. ;  Henry ;  Charles,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Riegel;  William,  who  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  being 
Susan  Riegel;  Daniel;  Joseph;  Nathan;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Yeager; 
Rebecca,  who  married  Joseph  Boyer;  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  Swalm. 

Nathan  Deibert,  father  of  Allen  Joseph  Deibert,  was  born  Dec.  29,  1845, 
on  the  homestead  farm,  and  obtained  his  education  at  Orwigsburg,  attending 
the  pay  schools.  He  worked  for  his  father  until  he  attained  his  majority, 
and  continued  to  assist  him  for  four  years  afterwards,  though  in  the  mean- 
time he  went  to  live  on  a  tract  of  twelve  acres  which  he  owned,  the  place 
where  his  son  Allen  now  resides.  Then  he  bought  some  land  from  the  home- 
stead tract,  increasing  the  area  of  his  property  to  forty-one  acres,  all  of  which 
was  cleared  and  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Deibert  continued  to  operate  this 
tract  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  31,  191 1.  He  did  general  farming, 
and  marketed  at  Pottsville.  Diligent,  and  honorable  in  all  his  transactions,  he 
was  a  creditable  member  of  a  family  generally  known  for  solid  worth,  and 
like  his  father  was  a  Democrat  and  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  St.  Paul's  Church 
at  Orwigsburg.  Mr.  Deibert  married  Susanna  Gerber,  who  was  bom  June 
22,  1848,  daughter  of  John  and  Louisa  (Bock)  Gerber,  natives  of  East  Bruns- 
wick township,  this  county.  Mrs.  Deibert  died  a  few  months  before  her  hus- 
band, on  Sept.  27,  1910,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  St.  Paul's 
Church.  They  had  the  following  children:  John  Franklin,  bom  Sept.  9, 
1871,  married  Kjate  Heine;  Annie  Elizabeth,  bom  Aug.  20,  1872,  married 
Wellington  Lengle;  Allen  Joseph  is  next  in  the  family;  Edwin  Lewis,  bom 
Oct.  12,  1874,  married  Sallie  Meek;  Sallie  Louisa,  bom  Nov.  25,  1875,  niar- 
ried  Harvey  Fisher;  Gertrude  May,  bom  Jan.  5,  1877,  married  Paul  Lengle; 
Ada  Rebecca,  bom  Jan.  25,  1878,  is  unmarried;  Charles  Walter,  born  Nov. 
13,  1879,  married  Maude  Milton;  Mary  Alice,  bom  Feb.  7,  1881,  is  unmar- 
ried; Howard  Nathan,  born  Nov.  16,  1882,  married  Jennie  Fessler;  George 
Abner,  bom  May  29,  1884,  married  Gertrude  Horton.;  Oscar  Luther,  bom 
June  13,  1885,  married  Sadie  Sechler;  Florence  Hannah,  bom  Jan.  8,  1887, 
is  unmarried;  Elmer  Robert,  bom  March  31,  1889,  is  unmarried;  Alice  Mabel, 


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748  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

bom  June  20,  1891,  died  Oct.  15,  1896;  Clayton  Gerber,  bom  April  13,  1892, 
married  Mabel  Frantz;  Richard  Ellsworth,  bom  March  11,  1894,  died  Sept. 
30,  1900. 

Allen  Joseph  Deibert,  bom  July  26,  1873,  in  the  borough  of  Orwigsburg, 
was  reared  and  educated  there,  and  received  his  agricultural  training  prin- 
cipally at  home,  working  for  his  father  until  eighteen  years  old.  After  that 
he  hired  out  to  other  farmers  for  several  years,  and  then  tumed  to  railroad 
work,  entering  the  employ  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railway  Company,  by  whom 
he  was  engaged  as  section  hand  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years.  In  1913  he 
bought  his  father's  farm  from  the  estate,  and  there  he  has  since  carried  on 
general  agriculture  with  steady  success.  He  sells  some  of  his  produce  in  his 
own  borough  and  some  at  Pottsville,  and  finds  a  ready  market  for  all  his  crops. 
Mr.  Deibert  devotes  practically  all  his  time  to  his  own  business,  but  he  is 
always  found  on  the  side  of  progress  and  local  improvement  in  movements 
affecting  his  section.  His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Democratic  party, 
and  his  religious  connection  is  with  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  the  religious 
home  of  his  family  for  several  generations.  Socially  he  belongs  to  Industrial 
Council,  No.  437,  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  of  Orwie^burg. 

Mr.  Deibert  married  Amanda  Heim,  who  was  bom  Feb.  19,  1871,  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  where  she  began  her  schooling.  Then  the  family 
moved  to  Chase  county,  Kans.,  where  she  also  attended  school  four  years, 
receiving  the  rest  of  her  education  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.  She  was  sixteen  years  old  when  she  left  home,  thereafter  working 
out  until  her  marriage.  With  her  husband  she  belongs  to  St.  Paul's  Lutheran 
Church  of  Orwigsburg.  Four  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Deibert:  Nathan  Allen,  bom  Feb.  15,  1902;  Lillian  Amanda,  Oct.  22,  1903; 
Stella  Levira,  Dec.  12,  1905;  Mahlon  Edwin,  Jan.  6,  1909.  All  have  attended 
school  in  Orwigsburg. 

Benjamin  Helm,  father  of  Mrs.  Allen  T.  Deibert,  was  bom  on  Sculp's 
Hill,  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  lived  to  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  By  trade  he  was  a  carpenter,  and  he  also  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  he  and  his  brother  Jonathan  owning  in  partnership  a  farm 
of  103  acres,  of  which  about  eighty  acres  were  cleared.  After  farming  on 
that  place  for  a  number  of  years  Benjamin  Heim  sold  his  interest  therein  to  his 
brother,  and  subsequently  worked  as  a  boatbuilder  at  Landingville,  this  county, 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  member  of  Zion's  (Red)  Church  in  West  Bmns- 
wick township.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Heim's  first  wife,  Sarah 
(Heckman),  was  bom  May  4,  1840,  in  East  Ringgold,  Ohio,  and  died  Sept. 
30,  1881,  in  Chase  county,  Kans.,  where  she  is  buried.  Subsequently  he  mar- 
ried Susanna  Miller,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years,  and  is  buried  with 
him  at  Zion'^s  Church.  All  his  children  were  by  the  first  union,  viz. :  Amanda 
is  Mrs.  Allen  Joseph  Deibert,  of  Orwigsburg;  Sarah  Alice  is  married  to  John 
Flammer;  William  Ellsworth  died  when  sixteen  years  old;  Eliza  Henrietta 
married  Morris  Faust;  Benjamin  Herlin  is  deceased:  Lucy  Ellen  married 
John  Moyer;  Jacob  Franklin  married  Gertmde  Follweiler;  Jonathan  Monroe 
married  Lizzie  Wilshire. 

WILLIAM  H.  SIEFERT,  one  of  the  leading  manufacturers  in  his  line 
at  Cressona,  Pa.,  is  proprietor  of  the  Cressona  Wagon  Works,  which  he 
established  in  1905.  He  was  bom  in  the  city  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  March  30, 
1865,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Siefert,  the  family  being  of  German  descent. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  749 

many  of  the  name  coming  from  the  Fatherland  and  locating  in  various  parts 
of  the  United  States. 

'  WiUiam  Siefert,  the  father,  was  a  resident  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he 
ran  a  blacksmith  shop  for  many  years,  also  building  wagons  for  his  patrons  in 
the  surrounding  country.  His  children  were  as  follows:  William  H.;  Peter; 
Jacob;  Amiie,  wife  of  Lee  Albert;  Charles;  Joseph;  George;  Leonard;  and 
Elizabeth,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  England. 

William  H.  Siefert  received  his  education  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  wagonmaker  with  Jacob  Norbeck.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  he  left  Lancaster,  and  thereafter  worked  at  different  places,  following 
his  trade  until  he  settled  at  York,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  for  fourteen  years. 
In  1905  he  came  to  Cressona  and  established  his  present  business.  He  now 
has  a  iai^e  ntunber  of  men  in  his  employ  and  commands  a  fine  patronage, 
carrying  a  line  of  carriages  and  wagons  at  all  times,  besides  building  them  to 
order. 

On  Jan.  30,  1896,  Mr.  Siefert  was  married  to  Emma  Jacobs,  of  York 
county.  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Siefert  have  had  no  children,  but  they  have  reared 
a  son,  Albert  Louis  Tomes,  who  is  employed  with  his  foster  father  in  the  wagcm 
works.  Mr.  Siefert  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church.  He  is  a  man  of  prominence  in  the  community  where  he  resides  and 
is  respected  by  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

JACOB  WILLIAM  CLAUSER,  painter,  decorator  and  paperhanger,  of 
Auburn,  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  Oct.  5,  1867,  i"  Upper  Bern  (now 
Tilden)  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Simon  Clauser  and  grandson  of 
Wilhelm  Clauser,  all  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  descent.  The 
name  of  Clauser  (or  Klauser)  is  well  known  in  the  eastern  part  oTE  Pennsyl- 
vania, many  of  the  prominent  families  of  that  section  being  in  some  way 
connected  with  it  by  ties  of  blood.  It  is  not  known  who  was  the  founder  of 
the  branch  of  the  family  to  which  Jacob  WilUam  Clauser  belongs. 

Wilhelm  Clauser;  the  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  in  Upper  Bern  town- 
ship, where  he  cleared  and  cultivated  a  farm  of  seventy  acres.  He  was  a 
Democrat  politically,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  active  members  of  St.  Michael's 
Church  in  Upper  Bern  township.  Both  lived  to  beyond  threescore  and  ten, 
and  are  laid  at  rest  near  the  church  which  they  so  faithfully  attended  in  life. 
By  his  wife  Elizabeth  (Kauffman)  Wilhelm  Clauser  had  seven  children,  as 
follows:  William  married  a  Sauser;  Daniel  married  Catherine  Lindermuth; 
Simon  is  mentioned  below;  Kate  married  Joseph  Savage;  Harrison  married 
Rebecca  Snyder;  Adam  married  a  Nunnemacher;  Tacob  married  Sarah  Long. 

Simon  Clauser  was  bom  in  Upper  Bern  township,  Berks  county,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  all  of  his  life.  He  had  a  tract  of  twenty  acres  which  he  brought 
to  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  thereby  supported  a  large  family.  He  was 
a  Democrat  and  a  zealous  member  of  St.  Michael's  Reformed  Church  in 
Upper  Bern  township,  having  served  in  all  of  the  offices  within  its  gift.  He 
and  his  wife  are  both  buried  in  the  cemetery  adjoining  the  church.  Mr. 
Qauser  married  Mary  Kline,  a  daughter  of  John  Kline,  and  they  had  these 
children:  Kate  married  Jacob  Haas  and  lives  in  Reading,  Pa.;  Amelia  mar- 
ried Nathaniel  ICalbach,  and  both  are  deceased;  Emma  married  Henry  Weid- 
man  and  resides  at  Bern  Station,  Pa. ;  Simon  J.  married  Sarah  Kramer,  and 
is  living  at  Summit  Station,  Pa. ;  Frank  married  Amelia  Knoll  and  lives  in 
Tulpehockcn  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa. ;  Alice  married  William  Kirst,  of  Ham- 


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750  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

burg,  Pa. ;  Joanna  married  Frank  Dunkelberger  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four,  of  diphtheria;  Agnes  died  when  three  months  old;  Mary  married  a  Mr. 
Bowers,  of  Reading,  and  is  deceased;  Sallie  married  Howard  Nunnemacher, 
and  is  deceased ;  Jacob  W.  is  mentioned  below ;  Lillie  married  Claude  Reber, 
of  Hamburg.  Simon  Clauser  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  and  his 
wife  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven. 

Jacob  William  Clauser  was  educated  in  the  township  schools  and  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  Then  he  went  to 
Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  became  apprenticed  to  his 
brother  Simon  J.,  learning  paperhanging,  decorating  and  painting.  After  the 
end  of  his  apprenticeship  he  remained  with  his  brother  for  three  years  more, 
and  then  went  to  Pottsville  and  entered  the  employ  of  Spehrley  &  Shappell, 
with  whom  he  continued  in  the  same  line  of  work  for  eight  years.  He  then 
went  into  business  for  himself  at  Summit  Station,  Wayne  township,  continu- 
ing there  for  seven  years,  but  as  the  greater  portion  of  his  business  engage- 
ments were  in  Auburn  he  decided  to  settle  there.  Since  his  removal  to  Auburn 
twelve  years  ago  he  has  built  up  a  business  of  about  three  hundred  rooms 
a  year  (decorating  and  papering),  and  employs  on  an  average  six  painters 
all  the  year  round. 

Mr.  Clauser  married  Carrie  V.  Krammes,  who  wa^  bom  near  Summit 
Station  July  2,  1869,  daughter  of  C.  H.  Krammes,  of  Auburn.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  have  been  born  five  children:  Alberta  Agnes,  born  Oct.  13,  1887, 
married  to  Wilson  Reed,  of  Auburn,  Pa. ;  Earlin  Francis,  bom  July  8,  1891 ; 
Clarence  Clayton,  bom  July  17,  1899;  Reynold  Ray,  bom  March  30,  1905; 
and  Arthur  Jacob,  bom  June  26,  1908.  Mr.  Clauser  is  a  Democrat,  has  held 
the  office  of  auditor  of  Wayne  township  for  two  terms  of  three  years  each, 
and  is  now  serving  his  third  three-year  term  as  councilman  of  the  borough 
of  Aubum.  He  is  a  member  and  past  president  of  Washington  Camp  No. 
507,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Summit  Station,  was  financial  and  recording  secretary 
of  his  home  camp  for  thirteen  years,  and  has  been  delegate  to  the  State  camp. 
Formerly  a  member  of  the  Summit  Reformed  Church,  he  is  now  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  Church  at  Aubum. 

John  Kline,  matemal  grandfather  of  Jacob  W.  Clauser,  was  a  farmer  of 
Upper  Bern  township,  Berks  county,  where  he  cultivated  a  piece  of  ground 
comprising  thirty  acres.  He  married  a  Nunnemacher,  and  they  had  three 
children,  only  one  daughter  surviving  at  this  writing.  Both  parents  died  in 
extreme  old  age,  and  are  buried  in  St.  Michael's  cemetery,  Tilden  township, 
Berks  county. 

The  Krammes  family,  of  which  Mrs.  J.  W.  Clauser  is  a  member,  is  of 
German  origin  and  is  one  of  prominence  in  this  section  of  the  State.  A  detailed 
sketch  of  the  family  will  be  found  in  the  personal  sketch  of  C.  H.  Krammes, 
of  Aubum,  elsewhere. 

ERNEST  GRUBE  is  one  of  the  notably  progressive  farmer  citizens  of 
East  Bmnswick  township,  enterprising  in  the  management  of  his  business 
undertakings  and  public-spirited  in  all  matters  involving  the  general  welfare. 
His  praiseworthy  attention  to  public  affairs  and  to  the  religious  activities  of 
the  locality  has  won  the  approval  and  gratitude  of  the  best  element,  and  he 
has  surely  had  his  reward  in  the  good  results  which  have  marked  Jhe  wake 
of  his  efforts. 

Mr.  Gmbe  belongs  to  a  substantial  German  family  which  was  founded  in 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  751 

the  township  over  fifty  years  ago.  His  grandfather,  Christian  Grube,  lived  in 
the  province  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  was  a  silver  miner  by  occupation. 
He  died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  thirty-six,  leaving  a  wife  and  five 
children,  namely:  Charles,  the  father  of  Ernest  Grube;  Charlotte;  Louisa, 
Mrs.  Charles  Heberling;  Dorothy,  Mrs.  John  Weist;  and  William,  who  was 
one  year  old  when  his  father  died.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Hannah  Shear,  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  at  the  home 
of  her  son-in-law,  Charles  Heberling.  She  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church,  and  is  buried  in  the  Frieden's  Church  cemetery.  Mrs. 
Grube  came  to  America  with  her  children  eighteen  years  after  her  husband'^ 
death,  the  family  settling  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  for  two  years,  and  removing 
thence  to  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Chartes  Grube,  son  of  Christian,  was  bom  in  Klausthal,  Province  of  Han- 
over, Germany,  and  he  was  reared  and  educated  there.  Like  his  father  he 
became  a  silver  miner,  and  continued  to  follow  that  occupation  until  twenty- 
five  years  old,  when  he  came  to  America  with  his  brother  William,  landing 
at  Baltimore,  Md.  After  some  residence  there  the  brothers  came  to  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Pa.,  locating  at  Lewistown,  in  Walker  township,  and  for  a  time 
worked  out  among  the  farmers  of  that  section.  Subsequently  they  settled 
in  East  Brunswick  township^  this  county,  where  they  bought  a  tract  of  about 
sixty-six  acres,  which  they  cleared  and  settled  on,  each  brother  putting  up  his 
own  farm  buildings,  though  the  land  was  operated  in  partnership.  They  con- 
tinued to  live  there  for  a  period  of  about  thirty  years,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
time  Charles  Grube  sold  his  share  of  the  tract  to  his  son-in-law,  Henry  Weast. 
Then  he  returned  to  Baltimore,  where  he  had  a  dairy  and  milk  route  for  a 
few  years,  giving  it  up  to  take  employment  in  the  William  Wilkens  bristle 
works,  as  a  jointer.  There  he  remained  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  work, 
retiring  about  four  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  about  1909,  when 
he  was  seventy-seven  years  old.  While  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  county  Mr. 
Grube  belonged  to  the  Frieden's  Lutheran  Church  of  New  Ringgold.  Polit- 
ically he  was  identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  All  of  his  children  were 
bom  to  his  first  marriage,  to  Melsena  Depmeier,  who  died  aged  forty-eight 
years  and  is  buried  in  the  Frieden's  Church  cemetery.  His  second  marriage 
was  to  Mrs.  Julia  Smith,  who  is  also  deceased,  and  is  buried  with  Mr.  Grube 
at  Baltimore.  We  have  the  following  record  of  his  family:  Malinda  is  the 
wife  of  Frank  Kroll,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Hannah  married  Daniel  S.  Bock, 
of  Lehighton,  Pa.;  Louisa  married  Henry  Weast  (deceased)  and  (second) 
Henry  Keffer,  and  is  a  resident  of  Leesport,  Pa. ;  Ernest  is  next  in  the  family ; 
John,  of  Scranton,  Pa.,  married  Hannah  Dillinger;  Christian,  who  lives  in 
East  Brunswick  township,  married  Clara  Dennis. 

Ernest  Grube  was  bom  Au^.  17,  1862,  in  East  Brunswick  township,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  received  a  common  school  education.  He  worked 
for  his  father  until  he  attained  his  majority.  When  he  commenced  life  on 
his  own  account  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  driver 
by  the  Knickerbocker  Ice  Company,  and  assisted  in  unloading  vessels.  Going 
West,  for  a  time  he  was  located  at  Janesville,  Wis.,  where  he  was  employed 
as  a  telegraph  operator,  and  from  there  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years  as  operator  in  the  employ  of  the  Western  Union  Company.  His 
next  change  was  to  Hamilton  (now  Savage),  Minn.,  where  he  was  employed  as 
a  telegraph  operator  by  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  &  Omaha  Railroad 


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752  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Company,  and  he  subsequently  wdrked  at  Windom  and  Le  Sueur,  that  State, 
remaining  two  years  at  the  latter  place,  where  he  was  married.  Returning 
to  Savage,  he  wa^  again  stationed  there  for  a  considerable  period,  working 
for  the  railroad  company  mentioned  ten  years  in  all,  and  on  leaving  that 
employ  returned  to  his  old  home  in  East  Bnmswick  township,  Schuylkill 
county.  Here  he  bought  the  Frank  McGorvin  farm  of  148  acres,  forty  of 
which  are  imder  cultivation,  devoted  to  general  crops.  Mr.  Grube  has  had 
excellent  returns  for  his  labor,  and  markets  his  produce  at  Tamaqua.  He 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  affairs,  was  formerly  auditor  of  the  township, 
and  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  board  of  school  directors,  of  which  body 
he  served  seven  years  as  secretary.  He  is  independent  in  politics,  giving  his 
support  to  the  men  and  measures  he  likes  best,  r^^ardless  of  party.  Mr. 
Grube  is  a  Lutheran  in  religious  faith,  belonging  to  the  Frieden's  Church  at 
New  Ringgold,  in  which  he  holds  the  office  of  trustee  at  present. 

Mr.  Grube  married  Minnie  Catherine  Ipsen,  who  was  bom  at  Elmshom, 
Holstein,  Germany,  Oct.  24,  1867,  and  received  her  education  there,  being 
twelve  years  old  when  she  came  to  America  with  her  parents.  She  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Frieden's  Lutheran  Church  at  New  Ringgold.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Grube  have  had  the  following  children :  Melsena,  bom  Feb.  22,  1893,  attended 
the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  class  of  191 5;  Lucy,  bora 
Feb.  12,  189s,  died  in  infancy,  and  is  buried  at  Le  Sueur,  Minn.;  Harriet;  bom 
Feb.  17,  1896,  is  teaching  at  the  Bachert  school  in  East  Brunswick  township; 
Ema  was  bom  Jan.  26,  1900;  Doris,  June  26,  1902;  Jessie,  Oct.  20,  1904; 
Emest,  March  15,  1907;  Marian,  July  26,  1910;  Marvin,  June  2,  1913. 

Mrs.  Grube's  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Elmshom,  Holstein,  Germany, 
and  passed  all  his  life  at  that  place,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a  mail  clerk. 
He  and  his  wife  died  and  are  buried  in  Germany.  They  were  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  Their  children  were:  August,  Carl, 
Ferdinand,  Herman,  Edward,  Adolph,  Minnie  and  Louisa. 

Adolph  Ipsen,  father  of  Mrs.  Gmbe,  was  bom  Dec.  18,  1842,  at  Elms- 
hom, was  reared  there,  and  received  an  excellent  common  school  education. 
When  twenty  years  old  he  became  a  mail  clerk  in  the  post  office  with  his  father. 
About  thirty-five  years  ago  he  came  to  America  with  his  family,  landing  at 
New  York  City,  whence  they  proceeded  to  Le  Sueur,  Minn.,  where  he  still 
makes  his  home.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  the  same  railroad  company  as  his 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Grube,  retiring  after  a  service  of  twenty  years.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Anna  Catherine  Schumacher,  was  also  a  native  of 
Germany,  bom  Aug.  14,  1844,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Lucy'(Kelting)  Schu- 
macher, and  the  following  children  were  bom  to  this  union:  Augusta,  now 
the  wife  of  John  Buckland,  of  Crookston,  Minn.;  Minnie  Catherine,  Mrs. 
Emest  Gmbe;  Carl;  Margaret,  who  died  in  Germany;  Ferdinand,  who  died 
in  Germany;  Celia,  who  died  when  twenty-two  years  old;  Julius  and  Jessie, 
at  home;  Lucy,  Mrs.  Henry  Brocker,  of  Mankato,  Minn.;  and  Adolph,  who 
lives  at  home.  The  parents  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
and  Mr.  Ipsen  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views. 

FRANK  J.  HUMMEL,  of  MinersviUe,  is  a  son  of  a  worthy  resident 
of  that  borough,  Engelhart  Hummel,  who  established  the  name  there  in 
1850,  and  father  and  son  have  been  associated  with  the  same  line  of  business 
in  the  sixty-five  years  which  have  elapsed  since*    The  father  was  a  cabinet- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  753 

maker  and  Frank  J.  Hummel  is  the  leading  undertaker  at  MinersviUe,  and 
also  engaged  as  a  furniture  dealer. 

Engelhart  Hummel  was  bom  at  Hofheim,  Germany,  July  21,  1824,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood,  meantime  learning  cabinetmaking.  Q)ming  to  America 
in  1849,  he  landed  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  found  employment  for  a  short 
time  in  a  piano  factory.  The  same  year  he  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  locat- 
ing at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  whence  in  1850  he  removed  to  Miners- 
viUe, at  which  place  he  made  his  permanent  honxe.  For  about  the  first  two 
years,  until  1852,  he  was  in  the  employ  of  M.  Weiser,  was  afterwards  with 
Ambrose  McGee  until  1853,  and  then  returned  to  Mr.  Weiser  for  a  brief 
p>eriod.  In  1854  he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  Brock,  and  though  they 
were  burned  out  the  same  year,  they  kept  up  the  business,  remaining  in  part- 
nership until  1856.  In  1857  Mr.  Hummel  embarked  in  business  on  his  own 
account,  and  was  so  occupied  until  1884.  He  was  a  skilled  workman  and  a 
typical  German  artisan,  and  he  made  the  first  walnut  casket  ever  produced  in 
MinersviUe.  He  was  a  substantial  citizen  and  took  an  intelligent  interest  in 
the  general  aflfairs  of  the  town,  serving  as  a  member  of  its  council  from  1861 
to  1864,  and  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  from  1864  to  1901.  His  death 
occurred  Dec.  13,  1902,  when  he  was  aged  seventy-eight  years,  four  months, 
twenty-two  days,  and  he  is  buried  in  the  German  Catholic  cemetery  at  Miners- 
viUe. Mr.  Hummel's  first  wife,  Barbara,  whom  he  married  in  Baltimore  Nov. 
25,  1849,  was  bom  in  1822  and  died  in  1865.  His  second  marriage  was  to 
Gertrude  Gehn  and  took  place  June  27,  1869.  To  them  were  bom  two  sons, 
Frank  J.,  on  March  15,  1870,  and  Engelhart,  on  May  15,  1871.  The  mother 
died  in  1872,  and  in  October,  1874,  Mr.  Hummel  married  (third)  Mrs.  Bar- 
bara Ritzel. 

Frank  J.  Hummel  was  bom  at  MinersviUe,  where  he  passed  his  boyhood 
in  attendance  at  the  public  schools.  As  his  father's  assistant  he  became  thor- 
oughly grounded  in  the  details  of  the  furniture  business,  and  in  1890  went  to 
New  York  City,  where  he  clerked  in  a  hardware  store,  meantime  also  taking 
a  course  at  a  school  of  embalmin^^,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1898. 
Returning  to  MinersviUe,  he  established  his  present  business  on  Feb.  15,  1901, 
and  he  has  had  a  steadily  increasing  trade  ever  since.  His  location  is  at  the 
comer  of  Fourth  and  Sunbury  streets.  He  has  coaches  for  hire,  deals  exten- 
sively in  fine  furniture  and  conducts  the  leading  undertaking  business  in  this 
section,  having  had  charge  of  2,600  funerals.  Mr.  Hummel  has  been  thor- 
oughly progressive  about  keeping  abreast  with  the  modem  ideas  and  methods 
in  his  line,  and  he  is  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  give  the  utmost  satisfaction  to 
all  his  patrons,  his  reputation  in  this  respect  being  proverbial.  He  has  gained 
a  substantial  position  in  the  business  world,  and  is  also  regarded  as  a  trust- 
worthy public  official,  having  given  three  years  of  efficient  service  on  the 
school  board. 

Mr.  Hummel  married  Mar^ret  Connelly,  and  they  have  five  children, 
Engelhart  P.,  Gertrude  and  Regina  (twins),  Helen  and  Jack. 

REV.  HENRY  HEPLER  has  been  a  minister  of  the  United  Evangelical 
Church  for  over  twenty-five  years,  and  though  now  retired  to  some  extent 
from  active  duties  still  retains  his  interest  and  connection  with  the  work,  giv- 
ing useful  service  to  the  denomination  in  his  own  locality  or  wherever  he  is 
called. 

The  Hepler  family  has  been  in  Schuykill  county  from  pioneer  days,  and 

Vol.  n— 10 


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754  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Jacob  M.  Hepler,  father  of  Rev.  Henry  Hepler,  was  bom  here,  in  the  Ma- 
hantongo  valley.  He  learned  blacksmithing  and  followed  his  trade  entirely 
during  his  earlier  years,  devoting  the  later  part  of  his  life  to  preaching  as  a 
minister  of  the  Church  of  God.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1894,  he  was  making  his  home  with  his  son  Henr)'.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Haupt,  who  was  bom  in  the  Mahanoy  valley,  this  county,  and  was  also  of 
pioneer  stock.  She  died  in  i8p2.  We  have  the  following  record  of  the  ten 
children  bom  to  them:  Catherine,  the  eldest,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Kehler,  of  this  county;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  William 
Stitzer;  Sarah,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  George  Krause,  of  this  county; 
Polly,  deceased,  wa*  the  wife  of  Daniel  Snyder;  Hettie,  the  widow  of  Louis 
Lybolt,  lives  at  Tamaqua,  this  county;  Henry  is  next  in  the  family;  Samuel, 
deceased,  was  in  ^he  Union  service  during  the  Civil  war ;  Lydia,  deceased,  was 
the  wife  of  John  Phillips ;  Harriet  married  Isaac  Christ  and  both  are  deceased, 
his  death  occurring  first ;  Elmira  is  the  wife  of  Michael  Sickinger,  of  Johns- 
town, Pennsylvania. 

Henry  Hepler  was  bom  Nov.  2,  18^8,  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  this 
county,  where  he  was  reared,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  neighborhood.  In  his  boyhood  he  started  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
which  he  has  followed  practically  all  his  life,  although  for  many  years  much 
of  his  time  was  given  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  upon  which  he  entered  in 
the  year  1888.  He  has  been  one  of  the  efficient  servants  of  the  United  Evan- 
gelical denomination  in  his  section,  doing  valuable  work  for  the  church  and 
Sunday  school,  and  still  continues  his  activities,  although  not  to  the  same 
extent  as  formerly.  Meantime  he  has  also  followed  the  occupation  of  carpen- 
ter very  successfully.  Mr.  Hepler  has  not  been  associated  with  public  affairs 
directly,  but  he  has  always  been  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  during  the  Civil 
war  gave  almost  four  years  of  service  to  the  Union  cause,  enlisting  in  Sep- 
tember, 1 86 1,  in  Company  E,  55th  Pennsylvania  Infantry.  He  became  sergeant 
of  his  company.  Considerable  field  service  fell  to  the  lot  of  his  command,  and 
he  took  part  in  sixteen  battles,  including :  Edisto  Island,  Pocotaligo,  Old  Town 
Creek,  Proctor's  Creek,  Derry  Creek,  Cold  Harbor,  Correctory  Hill,  Signal 
Hill,  Hatcher's  Run,  Chapin  Farm,  capture  of  Petersburg  and  Appomattox. 
Mr.  Hepler  was  mustered  out  in  August,  1865,  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  received 
an  honorable  discharge.  Returning  to  his  home  after  the  war  was  over,  Mr. 
Hepler  resumed  work  at  his  trade.  In  1879  he  moved  to  Ashland,  where  he 
has  since  resided,  and  he  has  owned  his  present  home  at  No.  1219  Arch  street 
for  several  years. 

In  1866  he  was  married  to  Fietta  Schwalm,  who  was  bom  in  Schuylkill 
county,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Christana  (Klinger)  Schwalm,  who  lived  and 
died  at  their  birthplace  in  Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  Schwalm  was  a  carpenter 
and  farmer  all  his  life.  Mrs.  Hepler  was  the  eldest  of  his  thirteen  children, 
the  others  being:  Samuel,  now  deceased;  Catherine,  deceased,  who  was  the 
wife  of  Abram  Carr,  of  this  county;  Hannah,  who  is  the  widow  of  Gerald 
Faust,  of  Reading,  Pa.;  Chestina,  wife  of  Charles  Hoffman,  of  Schuylkill 
county ;  Nathaniel,  a  resident  of  Williamstown,  Pa. ;  Henry,  who  lives  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Schuylkill  county;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Herb,  of  this 
county;  Monroe,  a  farmer  in  Schuylkill  county;  Ellen,  the  wife  of  Victor 
Blyler,  of  this  county;  George,  deceased;  Polly,  deceased;  and  Victoria, 
deceased. 

Eight  children  have  been  bom  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hepler:  Eliza- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  755 

beth  is  married  to  Thomas  Hughes,  of  Ashland ;  Oscar  is  a  resident  of  Ash- 
land ;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  David  Grove,  of  Northampton,  Pa. ;  the  other 
five  are  deceased.  Mrs.  Hepler,  like  her  husband,  is  a  faithful  member  of  the 
United  Evangelical  Church. 

JACKSON  M.  SHELLHAMER  has  recently  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness at  Orwigsburg,  where  he  acquired  his  early  experience  in  the  furniture 
trade  and  undertaking  with  Mr.  Greenawald,  one  of  the  old  merchants  of  that 
place. 

The  Shellhamer  family  is  of  German  origin,  and  former  generations  spelled 
the  name  Schellhammer.  They  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Berks  county, 
this  State.  Jared  Shellhamer,  grandfather  of  Jackson  M.  Shellhamer,  was  a 
native  of  Strausstown,  Berks  county,  and  came  to  Schuylkill  county  when  a 
young  man,  settling  at  McKeansburg.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade  and  followed 
that  calling  at  McKeansburg  during  his  active  years.  He  died  there  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven  years.  His  children  were:  Albert,  Willoughby,  James, 
Louisa  and  Geonous. 

Geonous  Shellhamer,  father  of  Jackson  M.  Shellhamer,  was  a  carpenter, 
and  followed  his  trade  at  McKeansburg  and  throughout  the  adjoining  terri- 
tory. His  death  occurred  in  1885.  His  wife,  Josephine,  was  a  daughter  of 
Charles  Shellhamer,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  four  children :  Rosa,  Cora, 
Harrison  and  Jackson  M. 

Jackson  M.  Shellhamer  was  bom  Nov.  3,  1882,  at  McKeansburg,  Schuylkill 
county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  attending  the  public  schools.  He 
remained  on  the  farm  until  the  ag-e  of  sixteen  years,  when  he  came  to  Orwigs- 
burg and  entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  Greenawald,  with  whom  he  remained 
seven  years,  learning  the  details  of  the  undertaking  business  thoroughly  under 
his  efficient  tutelage.  Having  decided  to  embark  in  the  business  on  his  own 
account,  Mr.  Shellhamer  established  himself  at  Pine  Grove,  where  he  had  a 
successful  trade.  After  several  years,  however,  he  concluded  that  Orwigs- 
burg offered  a  wider  field  and  better  promise  for  expansion  of  trade,  and  he 
entered  business  in  that  borough  April  i,  1914.  Both  as  a  dealer  in  furniture 
and  as  an  undertaker  he  has  a  large  trade,  with  every  prospect  of  becoming 
one  of  the  leading  men  in  his  line  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  is  ambitious  and 
willing  to  work  to  further  his  enterprises,  and  he  has- the  substantial  qualities 
which  win  and  hold  confidence. 

In  June,  1914,  Mr.  Shellhamer  married  Beulah  Martin,  of  Pipe  Grove, 
daughter  of  John  Martin.  Fraternally  Mr.  Shellhamer  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 
While  at  Pine  Grove  he  became  a  member  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church 
there. 

EDWARD  KLASE,  a  prosperous  and  prominent  farmer  and  dairyman  of 
Butler  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Germany,  in  the  kingdom 
of  Saxony,  son  of  Ferdinand  and  Amelia  Klase,  both  also  natives  of  that 
country. 

Edward  Klase  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Germany  and  for  a  time 
worked  in  the  mines  there.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  came  to  America, 
in  the  year  1861,  settling  at  Ashland,  where  he  found  work  in  the  mines, 
continuing  to  be  so  employed  until  1881.  He  then  bought  a  tract  of  twenty- 
eight  acres,  the  beginning  of  his  present  farm  of  ninety-eight  acres,  and  has 


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756  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

since  developed  all  its  possibilitfes  agriculturally  until  it  is  one  of  the  best  in 
the  county.  He  also  runs  a  dairy  in  connection,  selling  his  milk  to  residents 
of  Girardville. 

On  June  2,  1872,  Mr.  Klase  was  married,  at  Girardville,  to  Barbara  Wick- 
line,  who  was  bom  in  Germany  July  15,  1848,  and  died  April  2,  1914;  she  is 
buried  in  the  Island  cemetery,  near  her  home. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klase  were  bom  six  children,  as  follows:  Edward,  who 
is  in  Nebraska ;  August,  who  is  at  home  on  the  farm ;  William  C,  a  shoe  mer- 
chant, of  Ashland;  Frederick,  at  home  on  the  farm;  Anna,  wife  of  Louis 
Schlee,  of  Girardville;  and  Eva,  wife  of  Charles  Tmnmetter,  of  Gordon,  this 
county.  Mr.  Klase  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church.    He  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Island  cemetery. 

HENRY  LEONHARDT,  proprietor  of  a  bakery  and  confectionery  at 
Girardville,  Schuylkill  county,  was  born  in  Fountain  Springs,  this  county, 
July  30,  1867,  son  of  Peter  and  Louise  (Uhl)  Leonhardt. 

The  family  is  of  German  descent.  Peter  Leonhardt  was  bom  in  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  at  an  early  date,  settling  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  where 
he  worked  in  the  mines  all  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  April,  1904. 
For  a  time  he  lived  at  Fountain  Springs.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  George 
Uhl,  who  came  to  America  in  the  early  forties  and  settled  in  Sdiiiylkill  county, 
where  he  farmed  until  his  death.  Mrs.  Leonhardt  died  in  1907.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Leonhardt  had  these  children:  Henry;  Barbara,  wife  of  Frank  Weiss, 
of  Philadelphia;  George,  who  is  a  baker  of  Mahanoy  City;  John,  deceased; 
ai^d  one  child  that  died  in  infancy. 

Henry  Leonhardt  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Girardville,  his  parents 
having  come  here  in  1868.  He  worked  for  a  short  time  in  the  mines,  and  then 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  baker.  After  he  com- 
pleted his  apprenticeship  he  was  employed  at  Shenandoah  and  Hazleton,  and 
twenty-two  years  ago  came  to  Girardville,  where  he  went  into  business  for 
himself.  He  has  made  a  success  of  his  chosen  work,  now  owning  the  build- 
ing in  which  he  has  his  store.  Mr.  Leonhardt  was  married  Feb.  16,  1892,  to 
Annie  Gillespie,  a  native  of  Carbon  county,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Anna 
Gillespie,  early  settlers  of  that  county.  To  this  union  five  children  were  bom : 
Marie,  Anna,  Raymond,  Louise  and  Clara,  the  two  last  named  being  deceased. 
The  mother  died  Jan.  15,  1904,  and  on  April  17,  1906,  Mr.  Leonhardt  was 
married  to  Katie,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Durkin,  deceased,  of 
Girardville.  Mr.  Leonhardt  is  a  member  of  Fort  Sheridan  Council,  Knights 
of  Columbus,  of  which  he  is  treasurer,  and  of  the  Order  of  Foresters.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  St.  Joseph's  Roman  Catholic  Church,  of 
Girardville. 

AMOS  R.  LAMBERSON,  of  Tremont,  settled  in  Schuylkill  county  shortly 
after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the  borough  for 
over  thirty  years.  He  has  been  a  highly  useful  citizen,  doing  his  share  in 
the  maintenance  of  social  and  religious  activities,  and  taking  a  helpful  part 
in  all  local  affairs  of  general  interest.  His  birth  took  place  in  Luzerne  county, 
Pa.,  and  the  family  is  of  Welsh  extraction,  the  ancestor  who  came  to  this 
section  from  Wales  first  settling  in  Maryland.  Jacob  Lamberson,  grandfather 
of  Amos  R.,  came  thence  to  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  making  his  home  near 
Catawissa,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  remained  until  his  death.    His 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  757 

f aniily  consisted  of  six  children :  Nicholas,  John,  Samuel,  Aaron,  Esther  and 
Elizabeth. 

Samuel  Lamberson,  father  of  Amos  R.  Lamberson,  was  a  native  of  Co- 
lumbia county,  Pa.,  and  passed  all  his  early  life  there.  Moving  to  Luzerne 
county,  he  lived  a  number  of  years  in  the  Black  Creek  valley,  from  which 
r^on  he  eventually  removed  to  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  spent  his  remain- 
ing years.  He  died  in  this  county.  Mr.  lamberson  was  a  shoemaker  by 
occupation,  and  took  an  active  part  in  politics  durine  his  residence  in  Luzerne 
county,  his  fellow  citizens  honoring  him  frequently  with  election  to  town- 
ship offices.  He  served  faithfully  and  intelligently  in  every  trust.  Samuel 
Lamberson  married  Elizabeth  Fenstermacher,  like  himself  a  native  of  Columbia 
county,  where  her  father  was  a  pioneer  settler ;  he  followed  farming,  and  died 
in  Columbia  cotmty.  Mr.  Fenstermacher  had  children  as  follows:  Eli,  John, 
Peter,  Franklin,  Deborah,  Rebecca  and  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Lamberson).  The 
last  named  died  in  Schuylkill  county.  She  was  the  mother  of  five  children, 
namely:  Jacob  (the  eldest)  and  Eli  are  deceased;  Aaron  died  in  the  Soldiers' 
Home  at  Hot  Springs,  S.  Dak. ;  Amos  R.  is  the  youngest  son ;  Rebecca  is  the 
wife  of  William  Zimmerman,  a  farmer  of  Schuylkill  county.  All  the  sons 
were  Union  soldiers  during  the  Civil  war,  Aaron  serving  in  the  129th  and  52d 
R^ments,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  remaining  in  the  army  until 
the  war  closed. 

Amos  R.  Lamberson  was  bom  Oct.  31,  1842,  in  Luzerne  county.  Pa.,  and 
grew  up  in  Black  Creek  township,  receiving  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  there.  After  leaving  school  he  took  up  telegraphy,  learning  the  work 
in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  and  he  followed  it  until  he  entered  the  service  during 
the  Civil  war.  He  enlisted  twice,  the  first  time  from  Whitehall  township, 
Lehigh  county,  as  a  member  of  Company  E,  27th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry,  with  which  he  served  about  two  months.  Reenlisting  in  Company  G, 
52d  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  he  continued  in  the  service  until  the 
war  ended,  principally  engaged  in  guard  duty  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  His 
command  was  attached  to  Sherman's  army.  Mr.  Lamberson  was  mustered 
out  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  and  received  his  discharge  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

For  about  two  years  after  his  return  from  the  army  Mr.  Lamberson  was 
in  the  service  of  the  Lehigh  Company  in  Lehigh  county,  was  subsequently 
in  Luzerne  county  for  a  time,  and  soon  came  to  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  After  six  years'  service  as  chief  of  police  at  Tamaqua 
he  located  at  Tremont,  and  here  for  thirty  years  he  has  been  special  officer 
for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company.  His  long  retention 
in  their  service  is  the  best  comment  on  his  fidelity  to  duty  and  reliable 

character.  r   t     ^    a    t>  t- 

Mr.  Lamberson  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at  Tremont, 
has  filled  all  the  offices,  and  is  serving  at  present  as  adjutant.  He  is  a  local 
leader  in  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the 
chairs,  and  he  has  also  served  in  all  the  official  positions  in  the  Methodist 
Church,  of  which  he  is  an  active  member. 

On  Nov.  26,  1867,  Mr.  Lamberson  was  married,  in  Luzerne  county,  to 
Mary  E.  Hape,  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine  Hape,  natives  of  Germany 
who  came  to  America  many  years  ago,  and  settled  in  Luzerne  county,  Pa., 
where  Mrs.  Lamberson  was  bom,  in  Conyngham  township.  Mr.  Hape  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.    He  and  his  wife  died  in  Luzerne  county.    Mrs.  Lam- 


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758  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

berson  died  Aug.  30,  1906,  the  mother  of  six  children,  viz. :  Eugene,  the  eldest, 
IS  now  a  resident  of  Clifton,  N.  J.;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  Clarence  E.  Bierce 
and  lives  at  Oak  Lane,  near  Philadelphia;  Martha,  widow  of  J.  Newton  Kauf- 
man, lives  in  Philadelphia ;  Dora  is  the  wife  of  Frank  H.  Kaufman,  of  Tower 
City,  Pa.;  Minerva  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  F^ley,  of  Tremont;  Harvey,  of  Clifton, 
N.  J.,  is  manager  of  an  asphalt  plant. 

On  Aug.  28,  1910,  Mr.  Lamberson  married  (second)  Mrs.  Mary  E.  (Hess) 
McElwee,  of  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania. 

JOHN  A.  STIEF,  of  Ashland,  who  has  recently  assumed  the  duties  of 
postmaster  at  that  borough,  has  been  one  of  its  lifelong  residents,  and  his 
father  was  one  of  the  most  respected  business  men  there  for  a  period  of  forty 
years. 

The  family  is  of  German  extraction.  Michael  Stief,  father  of  John  A. 
Stief,  was  bom  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  coming  to  America  in  1855  first 
located  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  The  same  year  he  removed  to 
Ashland,  where  he  engaged  in  business  as  a  grocer,  continuing  this  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1894;  he  is  buried  at  Ashland.  He  was  married  to 
Mary  Tretter  at  Pottsville,  who,  like  himself,  was  a  native  of  Bavaria,  and 
came  to  Schuylkill  county  when  young,  with  brothers.  She  survives  her 
husband,  and  tiiough  now  (1914)  eighty-one  years  of  age  is  in  good  health. 
Eleven  children  were  bom  to  her  and  her  husband  of  whom  Elizabeth,  Mrs. 
Knoblach,  hves  in  Mount  Carmel,  Pa. ;  John  A.  is  mentioned  below ;  Herman 
J.,  a  resident  of  Ashland,  is  engaged  in  the  hardware  business;  Michael  lives  at 
Shamokin,  Pa.;  Peter  lives  at  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.;  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Theodore  Lentas,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  Joseph  G.  is  a  business  man  at  Ashland; 
Josephine  is  living  at  home;  Lena  is  the  wife  of  John  Felker,  of  Mount 
Carmel.    The  father  was  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment. 

John  A.  Stief  was  bora  in  May,  1857,  at  Ashland,  where  he  received  his 
early  education  in  the  public  schools.  Later  he  attended  St.  Vincent's  Col- 
lie, at  Latrobe,  Pa.,  and  after  leaving  school  was  in  the  store  with  his  father 
for  a  time.  In  1873  he  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  stonecutter  under 
Frank  Grantz,  at  one  time  county  commissioner  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  he 
continued  in  his  employ  after  completing  his  apprenticeship,  eventuaUy  buying 
him  out,  in  1894.  He  has  since  conducted  the  business  in  his  own  name,  and 
has  been  very  successful,  his  thorough  workmanship  and  reliable  character 
gaining  and  holding  the  confidence  of  his  patrons.  His  high  reputation  in 
business  has  been  supplemented  by  a  most  desirable  record  in  public  service. 
In  1900  he  was  elected  burgess,  holding  that  position  until  1903,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1906,  his  work  during  both  terms  showing  commendable  public 
spirit,  and  strengthening  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  his  ability 
and  trustworthiness.  For  about  four  years  he  was  deputy  coroner  at  Ash- 
land, and  for  five  years  he  filled  the  position  of  health  officer,  in  both  capacities 
discharging  his  duties  with  intelligence  and  the  utmost  fidelity.  In  1913  he 
was  appointed  postmaster,  in  which  position  it  may  reasonably  be  expected  he 
will  acquit  himself  with  characteristic  efficiency.  He  has  always  been  a 
Democrat  in  political  connection.  The  Stiefs  are  Catholics,  and  he  belongs 
to  St.  Mauritius'  Church  at  Ashland,  of  which  his  family  are  also  members. 

In  August,  1877,  Mr.  Stief  was  married  to  Mary  Pelstring,  a  native  of 
Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  Anthony  and  Lena  (Killhower)  Pelstring,  who 
were  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  came  to  Schuylkill  county  many  years 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  759 

ago.  They  settled  at  Ashland,  where  Mr.  Pelstring  died  in  1905,  and  where 
his  widow  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He  was  a  soap 
and  candle  maker  by  trade.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pelstring  had  a  family  of  five 
children,  some  of  whom  are  Hving  in  Philadelphia.  Three  children  have 
been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stief :  Louis,  who  is  assistant  to  his  father  in 
business,  married  Olla  Fulton,  of  Girardville;  Frank,  who  is  also  in  his  father's 
employ,  married  Minnie  Leverentz,  of  Ashland,  and  three  children  have  been 
bom  to  them,  Louis,  Frank  and  John;  Joseph,  who  Uves  at  Mount  Carmel, 
following  the  profession  of  music  teacher,  married  Ellen  Young,  of  that  place, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Helen. 

GREGORY  ACHENBACH,  of  Pine  Grove,  has  displayed  versatile  abil- 
ity in  the  prosecution  of  his  various  activities,  which  have  included  professional, 
business  and  official  occupation.  At  present  he  gives  all  his  time  to  his  duties 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  has  held  since  1896. 

The  Achenbach  family  is  of  German  origin,  and  of  old  standing  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  William  Achenbach,  grandfather  of  Gregory,  having  been  bom 
in  this  section.  By  calling  he  was  a  farmer.  Removing  to  Pine  Grove,  he 
made  his  permanent  home  there.  His  children  were:  Reuben,  who  is  de- 
ceased ;  William ;  Henry,  a  resident  of  Nebraska ;  Emanuel,  of  Kansas ;  Israel, 
of  Lebanon,  Pa. ;  Louis,  who  lives  at  Iowa ;  Jacob,  deceased ;  Angeline ;  Cath- 
erine, wif6  of  Charles  Brommer,  of  Philadelphia ;  and  Cecilia,  wife  of  Solomon 
Gottschall,  of  Elizabeth,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

Reuben  Achenbach  was  bom  near  Pine  Grove,  and  having  Jeamed  the  trade 
of  blacksmith  established  himself  in  business  in  the  borough,  being  so  engaged 
until  his  death,  June  24,  1905.  He  held  a  creditable  place  as  a  trustworthy 
citizen,  his  diligence,  honesty  and  straightforward  character  winning  him  the 
good  will  of  all  his  fellow  men.  He  married  Rebecca  Sotzin,  who  was  bom 
in  Pine  Grove,  daughter  of  Henry  Sotzin,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  who  came 
to  America  many  years  ago  and  settled  in  this  vicinity,  where  he  carried  on 
farming  until  his  death.  His  children  were:  Matthias,  Henry,  Samuel, 
Susanna,  Mary,  Elizabeth  and  Rebecca  (Mrs.  Achenbach),  all  now  deceased. 
Mrs.  Achenbach  died  Dec.  i,  1884.  She  was  the  mother  of  nine  children, 
namely:  Isaac,  a  wheelwright,  who  lives  at  Pine  Grove;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of 
F.  F.  Brommer,  of  Pine  Grove ;  Reuben,  of  Pine  Grove,  a  retired  blacksmith ; 
Daniel,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  employed  as  a  blacksmith  by  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  Railway  Company;  Gregory;  Andrew,  who  died  young;  and  others 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Gregory  Achenbach  was  bom  in  1871  in  Pine  Grove  township,  was  reared 
near  the  borough,  and  began  his  literary  training  in  the  public  schools  there. 
After  graduating  from  high  school  in  1888,  he  entered  the  Keystone  State 
Normal  School,  at  Kutztown,  which  he  attended  in  1892,  obtaining  an  excellent 
education.  In  his  young  manhood  he  taught  school  for  eleven  terms  in  Pine 
Grove  township,  later  turning  his  attention  to  business.  He  had  a  bakery 
at  Pine  Grove  for  eighteen  years,  building  up  a  wide  trade  by  courteous 
treatment  of  his  patrons  and  solicitude  for  their  wants.  He  continued  the 
business  until  1913,  when  he  gave  it  up  in  order  to  devote  all  his  time  to  offi- 
cial responsibilities.  Mr.  Achenbach  was  first  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in 
1896,  before  he  gave  up  teaching,  and  has  filled  that  position  continuously 
since.    He  has  also  given  three  years'  service  on  the  board  of  school  directors. 


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ISO  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  in  every  trust  to  which  he  has  been  called  has  proved  his  fitness  and 
shown  himself  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  the  community. 

^  Mr.  Achenbach  has  niunerous  fraternal  affiliations,  belonging  to  Lodge 
No.  148, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  Ije  is  a  past  grand ;  to  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle,  of  which  he  is  a  past  chief;  to  the  Independent  Americans;  and  to  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  of  which  he  is  a  past  regent 

On  May  25,  1889,  Mr.  Achenbach  married  Mary  E,  Lehman,  a  native  of 
Pine  Grove,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Angelina  (Huber)  Lehman,  both  now 
deceased,  who  were  residents  of  Pine  Grove  in  pioneer  days.  Nine  children 
have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Achenbach,  viz. :  Laura  R.,  deceased ;  Mae 
E.;  Ahna  A.,  deceased;  Harvena  M.;  Arthur  A.;  Stanley  E.;  Lyman  I.; 
Grace  E. ;  and  Ruth  F.,  deceased.  The  family  home  is  an  attractive  residence 
on  the  main  street  of  the  borough.  * 

ELISHA  FILER,  Jr.,  of  Mahanoy  City,  has  made  a  wide  circle  of  ac- 
quaintances among  officials  and  lawyers  in  Schuylkill  county  during  his  sev- 
eral years'  experience  as  court  crier  and  law  librarian.  He  has  been  serving 
as  such,  by  appointment,  since  1909.  Mr.  Filer  is  a  native  of  Mahanoy  City 
and  his  early  life  was  quite  typical  of  Schuylkill  county,  having  been  spent 
in  work  at  the  anthracite  mines. 

Bom  July  13,  1870,  he  is  a  son  of  Elisha  Filer,  who  was  bom  in  Wales 
and  came  to  this  country  when  a  yomig  man.  Settling  at  Mahanoy  City, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  he  followed  mining  for  a  number  of  years,  later  obtain- 
ing employment  with  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company.  He  was  given 
charge  of  the  local  work  train,  and  still  fills  that  position. 

Elisha  Filer,  Jr.,  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Mahanoy 
City.  When  a  boy  of  nine  years  he  began  work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the 
breaker  of  what  is  now  the  Tunnel  Ridge  colliery,  under  John  Shipman,  who 
was  the  outside  foreman.  He  continued  mine  work  until  the  year  1905,  filling 
various  positions,  for  thirteen  years  in  the  capacity  of  coal  inspector  for  the 
Lehigh  Valley  Coal  Company.  Becoming  a  clerk  for  Harrison  Ball,  lumber 
and  hardware  dealer,  he  remained  with  him  three  years,  after  which  he  was  a 
clerk  in  the  employ  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Coal  Company  at  Centralia,  Columbia 
Co.,  Pa.,  for  a  time.  Meantime  he  had  been  in  the  insurance  business  for 
eighteen  months.  In  1909  he  was  appointed,  by  Judge  Bmmm  and  ex- Judge 
Shay,  as  court  crier  and  librarian  at  the  courthouse  of  Schuylkill  county,  and 
has  served  creditably  in  that  capacity  ever  since.  He  also  maintains  his  office 
at  No.  334  East  Centre  street,  Mahanoy  City,  doing  considerable  busmess 
as  a  fire  insurance  agent  and  in  the  handling  of  real  estate;  he  represents 
several  of  the  old-line  insurance  companies.  Mr.  Filer  has  served  one  term 
as  school  director  of  the  borough,  and  has  also  been  borough  auditor,  and  m 
all  the  public  service  he  has  undertaken  has  made  a  most  creditable  record. 
In  political  activities  he  has  always  been  associated  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  one  of  its  most  reliable  workers  in  his  section  of  the  county.  He  holds 
membership  in  several  fratemal  bodies— Mahanoy  9^  Lodge,  No.  357,  F.& 
A  M  •  the  Jr  O  U.  A.  M. ;  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and  the  local  lodge  of  B.  P.  O. 
Elks  *  He  also  belongs  to  the  Schuylkill  County  Historical  Society.  In  religious 
connection  he  is  a  Baptist,  and  in  all  his  associations,  busmess,  official,  social 
and  purely  personal,  he  has  the  unqualified  respect  of  his  fellows  as  an  all- 
around  good  citizen.  ^    ,  .    ^  .  "^i,  t-i-      t    1  • 

Mr.  Filer  has  been  twice  marned.    By  his  first  union,  with  Eliza  Jenkins, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  761 

he  had  three  children,  Earle,  Myrtle  and  Wilbur.    After  their  mother's  death 
he  was  united  to  Lottie  Webb,  by  whom  he  has  one  son,  Paul  W. 

CHARLES  H.  MAY,  one  of  the  oldest  native-born  residents  of  Port 
Carbon,  is  now  living  retired.  In  former  years  he  was  associated  with  various 
activities  in  the  borough  of  a  public  nature  or  common  interest,  but  except 
for  his  work  in  the  United  Evangelical  Church  he  has  withdrawn  from  par- 
ticipation in  such  matters.  He  was  bom  Feb.  i6,  1845,  son  of  Philip  H.  May, 
a  native  of  Germany  who  came  to  America  in  young  manhood  and  was  an 
early  settler  at  P6rt  Carbon,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four  years.  He  is  buried  there,  in  the  Lutheran  cemetery.  Mr. 
May  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter.  He  had  six  children:  Charles  H., 
Sallie,  Rosie,  Mary,  Wesley  and  John. 

Charles  H.  May  received  his  education  in  Port  Carbon,  and  when  yet 
a  boy  began  work  in  a  sawmill.  He  learned  the  trade  of  machinist  in  the 
Boyer  establishment  at  Port  Carbon,  and  followed  it  for  about  forty-nine 
years  in  all,  for  many  years  in  the  shops  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal 
&  Iron  Company  at  Pottsville,  this  county.  A  few  years  ag^o  he  retired  to 
enjoy  well  earned  leisure.  Mr.  May  is  independent  on  political  questions, 
supporting  the  policies  he  likes  best  regardless  of  their  origin.  He  has  served 
three  years  as  borough  councilman.  During  the  Civil  war  his  sympathies  were 
with  the  Union,  and  in  1862  he  enlisted  in.  the  129th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry  for  nine  months'  service  (during  which  the  regiment  was  part  of  the 
State  militia),  participating  in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Cnancellors- 
ville.  The  regiment  was  organized  in  August,  1862,  and  five  companies  were 
recruited  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  reenlisted  in  the  48th  Pennsylvania  Regi- 
ment, and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war;  in  front  of  Petersburg  he  was 
wounded  in  the  left  shoulder.  Mr.  May  was  a  charter  member  of  the  old 
Grand  Army  post  at  Port  Carbon,  and  he  is  now  a  member  of  Allison  Brothers 
Post,  No.  144,  of  his  borough,  of  which  he  has  been  commander.  He  was  an 
early  member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church  at  Port  Carbon,  and  he  has 
been  a  class  leader  for  many  years,  still  serving  in  that  capacity,  and  also  as 
trustee.  For  many  yeai's  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Sunday 
school. 

Mr.  May  married  Emma  L.  Krecker,  who  is  deceased.  They  became  the 
parents  of  the  following  children :  Fred,  Charles,  Raymond,  Harold,  Florence, 
Elsie,  Beulah  and  Olive,  the  last  named  deceased. 

DAVID  STARR,  of  Branch  township,  is  a  member  of  the  fourth  gener- 
ation of  his  family  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  in  intelligence,  good  citizenship 
and  other  worthy  qualities  a  typical  representative  of  the  name  he  bears. 
From  the  time  of  his  great-grandfather,  who  settled  in  Schuylkill  county 
when  he  came  to  this  country  from  Germany,  the  Starrs  have  been  counted 
among  its  most  useful,  substantial  residents,  thrifty  in  business  and  alive  to 
the  general  welfare,  showing  their  interest  in  public-spirited  service  to  their 
fellow  citizens  at  every  opportunity. 

Peter  Starr,  Sr.,  grandfather  of  David  Starr,  was  born  in  Schuylkill  county. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  tailor,  at  which  he  worked  in  Branch  and  Reilly  town- 
ships, and  was  a  well  known  man  in  that  section  in  his  day.  He  lived  to  the 
great  age  of  ninety-eight  years,  seven  months,  fifteen  days,  and  is  buried  in  the 
old  Frieden's  Church  cemetery  near  Llewellyn,  in  Branch  township.     His 


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762  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

children  were:  Abraham,  Peter,  Jr.,  John,  Jacob,  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Maria 
and  Catherine. 

Abraham  Starr,  father  of  David  Starr,  was  born  and  reared  in  Schuylkill 
county,  and  passed  all  his  life  here,  dying  when  sixty-eight  years  old.  He  is 
buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Frieden's  Oiurch.  He  always  worked  by  the  day. 
By  his  marriage  to  Rebecca  Zechman  he  had  a  large  family,  five  of  whom 
still  survive :    Charles,  William,  Jacob,  Abraham  and  David. 

David  Starr,  son  of  Abraham,  was  bom  Feb.  28,  1845,  at  Llewellyn,  in 
Branch  township.  When  but  six  years  old  he  came  to  the  place  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home,  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  Peter  Starr,  Jr.,  who  reared  and 
educated  him,  having  no  children  of  his  own.  David  Starr  remained  with  his 
uncle  until  the  latter's  death.  He  assisted  with  the  farm  work,  and  is  still 
engaged  in  cultivating  what  he  retains  of  the  tract,  having  sold  the  part  upon 
which  the  famous  Black  Diamond  colliery  is  situated.  In  his  uncle's  day  it 
was  worked  by  independent  operators,  but  it  is  now  owned  by  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company. 

Mr.  Starr  is  one  of  the  best  loiown  men  in  his  locality.  The  efficient  man- 
agement he  gave  to  his  own  affairs  attracted  the  attention  of  his  neighbors  and 
business  associates  generally,  and  he  was  picked  as  a  desirable  candidate  for 
the  office  of  township  treasurer,  was  elected,  and  gave  g^eat  satisfaction  in  the 
performance  of  its  duties.  He  succeeded  his  uncle  Peter  as  supervisor  of 
Branch  township,  holding  that  office  six  months.  Mr.  Starr  has  been  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  has  filled  the  position  of  elder. 

By  his  marriage  to  Mary  M.  Henry,  Mr.  Starr  has  had  nine  children: 
Sarah  R.  is  unmarried ;  William  A.  is  in  the  hotel  business ;  Catherine  is  the 
wife  of  Fred  A.  Barras  and  lives  in  Boston,  Mass. ;  Jane  G.,  wife  of  Milton 
Starr,  lives  in  Branch  township ;  Samuel  O.  is  at  home ;  four  died  young. 

Peter  Starr,  Jr.,  the  uncle  by  whom  David  Starr  was  reared,  was  a  prom- 
inent resident  of  Branch  township,  well  known  in  and  around  the  town  of 
Llewellyn.  He  kept  store,  carried  on  a  huckster  business,  and  owned  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  acres,  much  of  which  proved  to  be  valuable  coal  land.  He 
was  also  in  the  timber  business,  and  was  successful  in  all  his  undertakings. 
He  and  his  wife  are  both  deceased. 

PETER  J.  SCHNEIDER,  of  Locustdale,  has  been  a  resident  of  Schuylkill 
county  for  thirty  years  and  has  become  one  of  the  substantial  business  men 
of  his  section.  As  postmaster  he  comes  into  contact  with  most  of  the  members 
of  the  community,  and  the  universal  respect  in  which  he  is  held  is  a  fair  indica- 
tion of  the  honorable  methods  which  have  characterized  all  his  dealings  with 
his  fellow  citizens. 

A  native  of  Germany,  Mr.  Schneider  was  bom  Aug.  24,  1864,  son  of  Frank 
W.  and  Catherine  (Utterbaugh)   Schneider.     The  mother  died  in  Germany,  ^ 
and  the  father  subsequently  came  to  America  with  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter.    They  located  at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  the  father  died  in 
March,  1901. 

Peter  J.  Schneider  was  reared  and  educated  in  Germany,  where  he  lived 
until  twenty  years  old,  coming  to  this  country  with  his  father  in  the  year  1884. 
Previous  to  this  time  he  had  begun  work  in  the  mines,  and  he  followed  mine 
work  during  the  first  fifteen  years  of  his  residence  here  also.  He  had  accom- 
panied his  father  to  Ashland,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time,  and  has 
since  been  at  Locustdale.    Some  fifteen  years  ago  he  embarked  in  business  as 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  76? 

a  general  merchant,  and  has  been  so  engaged  until  the  present  time,  having 
established  a  profitable  trade  by  obliging  attention  to  the  wants  of  his  custom- 
ers. In  19 1 3  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  in  which  office  he  has  been  giving 
highly  satisfactory  service.  Mr.  Schneider  has  proved  himself  a  man  of 
thoroughly  reliable  character,  and  is  trusted  unreservedly  by  his  fellow  men. 
In  1891  Mr.  Schneider  married  Elizabeth  Mellon,  of  Schuylkill  county, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Theresa  Mellon,  who  are  residents  of  this  county,  and 
six  children  have  been  bom  to  this  union :  Frank,  Anthony,  Marie,  Veronica, 
Elizabeth  and  Retta.  Mr.  Schneider's  religious  connection  is  with  the  German 
Catholic  Church. 

SIMON  HARTMAN,  a  merchant  of  Valley  View,  has  been  in  business 
since  he  settled  there,  in  1906,  and  has  built  up  a  profitable  trade  and  creditable 
reputation  by  dealings  which  stamp  him  as  being  worthy  of  the  confidence  of 
his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  where  the  family 
has  been  known  and  respected  from  the  early  days.  His  grandfather,  Simon 
Hartman,  was  bom  at  Gratz,  that  county,  and  followed  farming  in  Dauphin 
county. 

Amos  Hartman,  father  of  Simon  Hartman,  was  bom  at  Gratz,  where  he 
farmed  throughout  his  active  years,  now  living  retired.  He  married  SalHe 
Paul,  a  native  of  Northumberland  county,  daughter  of  George  Paul,  who 
resided  near  Hemdon,  that  county,  until  his  death ;  he  was  a  mason  by  trade. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartman  have  had  six  children,  namely:  Jennie,  the  eldest,  is 
the  wife  of  Maurice  Zerfing,  of  Gratz,  Pa. ;  Allen  is  a  farmer  at  Gratz ;  Wilson 
is  deceased ;  Simon  is  next  in  the  family ;  Sallie  and  Lloyd  are  at  home. 

Simon  Hartman  was  bom  at  Gratz,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated,  attending  the  public  schools.  After  he  undertook  his  own  sup- 
port he  lived  for  a  time  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  for  six  years  was  at  Chicago, 
111.,  in  the  service  of  the  Pullman  Company,  settling  at  Valley  View,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1906.  Here  he  has  been  engaged  in  business  on  his  own 
account,  having  the  largest  and  best  assorted  stock  of  the  kind  in  the  town 
and  vicinity.  He  carries  a  well  selected  line  of  general  hardware  and  builders' 
supplies,  and  is  always  willing  to  give  customers  the  benefit  of  his  advice  as 
well  as  good  service,  his  accommodating  disposition  and  familiarity  with  his 
chosen  line  bringing  customers  from  all  over  this  part  of  the  county.  He  has 
become  identified  with  other  interests  in  the  town,  being  a  member  of  the  Val- 
ley View  Odd  Fellows  lodge,  and  has  earned  a  name  for  himself  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  his  adopted  place. 

In  1910  Mr.  Hartman  married  Sallie  Klinger,  a  native  of  Gratz,  Dauphin 
county,  daughter  of  Tobias  and  Emma  (Shaflfer)  Klinger,  the  former  now 
deceased,  the  latter  still  a  resident  of  Gratz..  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartman  have 
two  children,  Florence  and  Mae. 

GEORGE  BOND,  late  of  Tamaqua,  was  a  pioneer  blacksmith  of  that  place 
and  one  of  the  successful  business  men  of  his  day  there,  founding  many  years 
ago  the  establishment  which  is  still  conducted  by  his  son.  A  proficient  mechanic 
and  man  of  practical  executive  ability,  Mr.  Bond  combined  with  good  business 
qualities  an  admirable  personal  character  which  made  him  worthy  of  the 
esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens,  among  whom  he  occupied  for  many  years  an 
honorable  position. 

Mr.  Bond  was  bom  in  England  in  1826,  and  his  father,  John  Bond,  was 


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764  SCHUYLKILL  CXDUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

also  a  native  of  that  country.  The  latter  brought  his  family  to  America,  and 
first  settled  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  later  removing  to  Port  Clinton, 
same  county.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  had  one  son,  George. 
To  his  second  marriage  was  bom  a  daughter,  Angelia,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Dr.  George  Nice,  of  Port  Clinton. 

During  his  boyhood  George  Bond  attended  public  school  at  Tamaqua, 
making  his  home  there  with  his  cousin,  John  Bond.  For  a  time  he  lived  at 
Port  Clinton,  returning  to  Tamaqua  in  1847  ^"^  here  serving  his  apprentice- 
ship to  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  was  his  life  work.  Starting  in  business 
on  his  own  account  when  yet  a  young  man,  he  built  up  a  wide  patronage  by 
reliable  work  and  honesty  in  all  his  transactions,  and  in  time  had  a  large  plant 
with  all  conveniences  for  first-class  work,  of  which  he  always  had  plenty. 
He  carried  on  the  establishment  until  his  death,  in  1900,  and  it  has  since  been 
operated  by  his  son  George.  George  Bond  is  buried  at  Tamaqua.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  local  Masonic  lodge,  No.  238,  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  connection. 

On  March  24,  1851,  Mr.  Bond  married  Miranda  Boughner,  who  died  in 
1905.  The  following  children  were  bom  to  this  union:  John  C.  is  now  a 
resident  of  Montana;  Catherine,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  Masterson; 
Emily  G.  lives  at  the  old  home  in  Tamaqua ;  William,  Albert  and  George  live  at 
Tamaqua,  the  last  named  continuing  the  business  his  father  established. 

Abraham  Boughner,  father  of  Mrs.  George  Bond,  lived  for  a  time  in  Rush 
to\irnship,  this  county,  later  settling  at  Tamaqua,  where  he  died.  He  served 
as  county  commissioner  in  the  later  thirties,  when  the  courthouse  was  located 
at  Orwigsburg.  Mr.  Boughner  married  Catherine  Fetter,  and  their  children 
were:  Mary  married  John  Brady,  who  was  a  contractor,  of  Philadelphia, 
Pa. ;  Catherine  married  Gideon  Wetstone ;  Caroline  married  Albert  Dewel,  of 
New  York  State;  Miranda  was  the  wife  of  George  Bond. 

JOHN  HERMAN  KEILMAN  is  considered  one  of  the  most  valuable 
citizens  of  Rush  township,  where  his  helpful  activity  in  all  good  works  has 
furthered  many  a  cause  for  the  general  welfare.  Public-spirited,  intelligent 
and  unselfish  in  devoting  his  efforts  to  conserving  the  best  interests  of  the 
community,  he  well  deserves  the  influential  position  he  enjoys  among  his 
neighbors  and  fellow  townsmen  generally. 

The  Keilman  family  is  of  German  descent.  John  Herman  Keilman,  Sr., 
father  of  John  Herman  Keilman,  Jr.,  was  bom  at  Hoenebach,  Germany,  and 
came  to  America  in  young  manhood,  in  1855.  Locating  at  Mahanoy  City, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  he  followed  mining  for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1871 
settled  in  Rush  township,  where  he  had  purchased  a  farm.  It  was  all  bush 
land  then,  but  he  cleared  it  and  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  its 
cultivation,  dying  Feb.  20,  1888.  He  is  buried  at  Mahanoy  City.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Susanna  Young,  was  a  native  of  Suess,  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  on  the  same  ship  as  Mr.  Keilman,  whom  she  afterwards 
married.  She  is  now  living  at  Allentown,  Pa.,  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Weil. 
Children  as  follows  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Herman  Keilman,  Sr.: 
Margaret,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Steinert,  a  Reformed  minister; 
Mary,  married  to  John  A.  Weil,  of  Allentown ;  Susan,  wife  of  William  Moeller, 
of  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Dora,  who  married  Alphinous  Gouldner,  and  died  in 
Detroit,  Mich,  (she  is  buried  at  Mahanoy  City)  ;  and  John  Herman. 

John  Herman  Keilman  was  born  Dec.  31,  1870,  at  Mahonoy  City,  Schuyl- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  765 

kill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  a  young  child  when  the  family  settled  on  the  farm  in 
Rush  township.  There  he  spent  his  boyhood,  received  his  education  in  the 
public  school  at  Bamesville,  and  was  early  trained  to  farming,  which  he  has 
followed  most  of  his  life.  However,  during  his  young  manhood  he  held  the 
position  of  assistant  postmaster  at  Bamesville,  was  assistant  station  agent 
there,  and  also  clerked  in  a  store,  spending  four  years  thus.  He  married  in 
1898  and  then  took  upon  himself  the  operation  of  his  father's  farm,  renting  it 
first  and  buying  the  property  Feb.  22,  1907.  It  consists  of  fifty-two  acres 
located  near  Bamesville,  and  under  his  systematic  care  has  increased  steadily 
in  value,  being  now  one  of  the  best  cultivated  tracts  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Keil- 
man  has  given  his  work  the  strict  attention  necessary  to  make  it  prosper,  but 
he  has  also  found  time  for  other  interests,  and  he  is  one  of  the  men  who  have 
assisted  in  bettering  local  conditions  and  endeavored  to  put  township  affairs 
upon  a  solid  basis.  He  has  served  four  years  as  member  of  the  school  board, 
of  which  he  was  vice  president  for  six  months  and  is  now  secretary ;  for  three 
years  he  was  a  clerk  on  the  election  board,  chosen  by  the  Democratic  party; 
for  twelve  years  he  has  been  a  deacon  of  Christ  Reformed  congregation,  and 
he  is  secretary  of  both  the  Reformed  and  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregations 
which  worship  at  Christ  Church.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  its 
enterprises,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  energetic  workers  in  the 
Sunday  school.  Socially  he  belongs  to  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  having  been 
a  charter  member  of  Lakeside  Grange,  No.  1418,  which  he  helped  to  oi^nize. 
His  cooperation  is  always  sought  in  any  cause  which  has  for  its  object  the 
promotion  of  local  interests. 

On  March  16,  1898,  Mr.  Keilman  was  married,  in  Iowa,  to  Anna  L. 
Scherer,  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Tillie  (Merely)  Scherer,  and  six  children 
have  been  bom  to  them :  Mabel  E. ;  Roy  H. ;  Ruth  D.  and  Mildred  C,  twins ; 
John  Harold,  and  Elmer  L. 

JOHN  R.  DOLBIN,  of  Minersville,  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  Schuylkill 
county  family,  founded  here  by  his  grandfather,  Goodman  Dolbin,  who  came 
from  Wales. 

Goodman  Dolbin  lived  at  Minersville,  Pa.,  for  a  short  time  after  his  arrival 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  then  removed  to  what  is  now  known  as  Forestville,  a 
small  village  in  Cass  township,  and  was  a  pioneer  at  that  place.  He  was  a  man 
of  energetic  character,  well  fitted  for  leadership  in  promoting  the  development 
of  a  young  community,  having  a  progressive  disposition  and  plenty  of  initiative. 
He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  independent  coal  operators  there,  and  in  that  busi- 
ness was  in  partnership  for  a  time  with  David  Rodgers,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Dolbin  &  Rodgers.  Some  of  their  contemporaries  who  had  small  operations 
in  the  locality  were  Robert  Patten,  Thomas  Lloyd,  William  Britton  and  a 
Mr.  Bristow.  Mr.  Dolbin  took  an  interest  in  all  the  affairs  of  the  locality,  and 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  St.  Stephen's  Episcopal  Church  of  Forestville. 
Before  its  establishment  the  people  of  that  faith  walked  to  Pottsville  to  divine 
services.  Mr.  Dolbin  died  at  his  ^home  in  Forestville,  and  is  buried  in  the 
Union  cemetery  at  Minersville.  He  married  Mary  Thomas,  and  they  reared 
a  large  family,  having  become  the  parents  of  nine  children,  namely:  John, 
^ho  married  Elizabeth  Robertson;  Robert,  who  married  Caroline  Groom; 
David,  who  married  Harriet  Groom;  Margaret,  Mrs.  Samuel  Taylor;  Annie, 
Mrs.  WiUiam  Moore ;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Edward  Griffith ;  Jennie,  who  married 


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766  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

John  Woolcock,  of  PottsviUe;  Mary,  Mrs.  Richard  Brennan;  and  Sarah,  who 
lives  with  her  sister  Mrs.  Woolcock. 

John  Dolbin,  son  of  Goodman  Dolbin,  was  bom  in  1835  ^^  Minersville, 
Schuylkill  county.  He  lived  at  Forestville  from  the  early  days  of  that  town, 
and  in  1876  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  that  place.  For  many  years 
he  was  also  a  mining  contractor,  afterwards  becoming  an  engineer  at  the  col- 
lieries. He  retired  about  six  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1903, 
and  he  is  buried  beside  his  father  in  the  Union  cemetery,  at  Minersville.  Like 
his  father  John  Dolbin  was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  Cass  township, 
highly  respected  for  his  useful  life  and  his  public  spirit  in  furthering  the 
interests  of  the  community.  In  1857  he  married  Elizabeth  Robertson,  a  native 
of  Scotland,  daughter  of  John  Robertson,  who  was  an  uncle  of  the  late 
Andrew  Robertson,  a  prominent  coal  operator  in  the  anthracite  fields.  Mrs. 
Dolbin,  now  past  eighty  years  of  age,  continues  to  reside  in  the  old  homestead 
at  Forestville.  She  is  known  to  all  the  residents  of  that  district,  and  held  in 
affectionate  esteem  by  her  many  friends.  Seven  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dolbin,  namely :  Mary,  the  wife  of  Archie  Dunlop,  of  Forestville,  who 
has  three  children,  John  R.,  Nelson  R.  and  William  R. ;  John  R.,  who  is  men- 
tioned below;  Andrew  R.,  bom  April  28,  1871 ;  William,  deceased;  Goodman, 
deceased;  James,  living  at  home;  and  George,  of  Minersville,  who  married 
Mary  Jenkins  and  has  had  three  children,  Elizabeth,  George,  and  one  deceased. 
Of  this  family  Andrew  R.  Dolbin, was  employed  at  the  mines  until  twenty-one 
years  old,  and  then  for  four  years  followed  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  He  has 
since  been  carrying  on  a  wholesale  liqudr  business  at  Forestville,  and  makes 
his  home  there,  living  with  his  aged  mother.  He  has  never  married.  Mr.  Dol- 
bin is  a  vestryman  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  Forestville,  and  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens  of  that  town. 

John  R.  Dolbin  was  bom  Nov.  29,  i860,  at  Forestville,  Cass  township,  and 
had  such  educational  advantages  as  the  local  public  schools  afforded.  Like 
most  boys  of  the  coal  region  he  began  work  when  very  young,  being  only 
eight  years  old  when  he  started  to  work  at  the  mines,  where  he  was  employed 
until  he  reached  his  majority.  He  then  went  to  Mount  Carmel,  Northumber- 
land Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  became  engaged  in  the  grdcery  business,  meeting  with 
success  in  this  line,  in  which  he  continued  for  twenty-two  years.  Retuming 
to  his  old  home  at  Forestville  some  time  ago,  he  became  interested  with  his 
brother  Andrew  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business,  and  they  are  engaged  as 
bottlers  as  well  as  dealers.  Mr.  Dolbin  is  an  able  business  man  and  his  various 
ventures  have  prospered  under  his  careful  management.  Like  all  representa- 
tives of  his  family  he  is  a  citizen  of  recognized  worth,  and  holds  a  substantial 
position  in  his  home  town. 

Mr.  Dolbin  married  Amelia  Hoffman,  by  whom  he  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  namely:  Elizabeth,  deceased;  William,  deceased;  Clyde,  at  home; 
Andrew,  deceased ;  Florence,  deceased ;  Donald,  who  is  a  student  at  the  State 
College,  Pa. ;  and  Mary,  deceased.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Dolbin  married 
Ida  Morgans,  and  to  this  union  also  have  been  bom  seven  children,  namely: 
Delroy,  who  is  at  home ;  Margaret ;  George,  deceased ;  James,  at  home ;  Ken- 
neth, deceased ;  and  Elizabeth  and  Florence  L.,  both  at  home. 

HENRY  C.  KREIS,  of  Middleport,  Schuylkill  county,  is  a  man  of  solid 
standing  in  business  circles  and  held  in  the  highest  respect  for  his  personal 
qualities,  which  have  gained  him  the  favor  and  good  will  of  his  associates  in 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  767 

all  the  relations  of  life.  He  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  bom  Jan.  23, 
1863,  at  Brockton,  son  of  Henry  C.  and  Charlotte  (Schlimmer)  Kreis. 

The  parents  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  the  father  bom  in  Kreissau- 
briicken,  Pmssia.  He  was  a  youth  of  about  eighteen  years  when  he  came  to 
America,  and  first  settled  in  the  Tumbling  Run  valley,  in  Schuylkill  county, 
Pa.,  where  he  did  farm  work.  Later  he  went  to  Coal  Hill  and  followed  mining 
for  a  time,  thence  removing  to  Patterson,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business  for  three  years.  From  there  he  came  to  Middle- 
port,  where  he  also  had  a  hotel,  carrying  it  on  for  twenty  years.  His  death 
occurred  at  Middleport  when  he  was  forty-seven  years  old,  and  he  is  buried 
in  the  Lutheran  cemetery  there.  To  his  marriage  with  Charlotte  Schlimmer 
were  bom  the  following  children :  Peter,  Charlotte,  Dorothy,  Sophia,  Henry 
C,  William  and  Mary. 

Henry  C.  Kreis  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Middleport. 
His  early  years  were  spent  in  mine  work.  He  began  picking  slate  at  the  Palmer 
vein  colliery,  and  later  did  different  kinds  of  work  about  collieries,  until  he 
received  the  appointment  of  health  officer  of  the  713  district,  which  includes 
Blythe  township,  Schuylkill  county.  After  filling  this  position  capably  for 
five  years  he  determined  to  start  in  business  on  his  own  account,  and  in  19 10 
he  opened  the  store  at  Middleport  which  he  has  since  carried  on,  having  a 
good  stock  of  general  merchandise  and  commanding  his  full  share  of  the  local 
patronage.  His  store  is  up-to-date  in  every  particular  and  his  customers  receive 
prompt  attention  and  first-class  service,  of  which  ,they  have  shown  their  appre- 
ciation in  a  very  substantial  manner. 

Aside  from  business ^Mr.  Kreis  has  been  interested  in  a  number  of  local 
enterprises.  He  is  serving  as  president  of  the  Citizens'  Fire  Company,  No.  i, 
of  Middleport ;  for  the  last  twenty  years  he  has  been  secretary  of  the  P.  O.  S. 
of  A.  camp  in  the  borough ;  for  the  last  ten  years  secretary  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  there ;  and  he  also  holds  membership  in  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks  at  Tamaqua. 
Politically  he  has  been  associated  with  the  Republican  party,  and  for  six  years 
he  held  the  office  of  tax  collector  at  Middleport.  Every  good  movement  there 
receives  his  hearty  support. 

Mr.  Kreis  married  Emma  Singley,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Yost) 
Singley.  They  have  no  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kreis  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

AARON  STRUBHAR  is  occupying  the  place  at  Suedberg,  in  Pine  Grove 
township,  whfere  he  was  bom,  and  he  belongs  to  an  old  family  of  Swiss  origin 
which  was  planted  in  Pennsylvania  in  the  early  days. 

John  George  Strephauer,  the  first  of  his  ancestors  to  come  to  America, 
was  bom  in  Switzerland.  On  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  first  lived  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  thence  moving  to  what  is  now  Suedberg,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  bought  a  farm  upon  which  he  resided  for  many  years.  It  was  the  property 
where  his  great-grandson,  Aaron  Strubhar,  now  lives,  and  his  son  George, 
grandfather  of  Aaron,  built  the  house  which  the  latter  occupies.  The  great- 
grandfather and  grandfather  were  both  lifelong  farmers,  and  they  died  at 
Suedberg,  where  they  are  buried.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  children. 
George  Strephauer  was  bom  in  Berks  county. 

John  Strubhar,  son  of  George,  was  bom  in  the  house  on  the  farm  which 
his  father  built  July  31,  1819,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  dying 
Feb.  9,  1901.    Throughout  his  life  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  prospered 


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768  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

in  his  work.  Mr.  Strubhar  married  Mary  Reed,  who  was  bom  March  2,  1820, 
in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  died  Feb.  18,  1886,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at 
Suedberg.  She  was  one  of  the  large  family  bom  to  Jacob  Reed,  a  farmer,  at 
one  time  living  in  Berks  county,  whence  he  removed  to  Schuylkill  county  in  an 
early  day,  settling  in  Pine  Grove  township.  He  died  at  Suedberg.  Mr.  Reed 
belonged  to  a  large  family.  Of  the  three  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  lllrs.  John 
Strubhar  Aaron  is  the  only  one  now  living. 

Aaron  Stmbhar  was  bom  Dec.  10,  1842,  was  reared  at  his  birthplace,  and 
has  been  engaged  in  farming  there  ever  since  he  began  work.  He  has  been 
highly  successful,  and  the  thrifty  condition  of  his  property  shows  that  he  has 
spared  neither  thought  nor  effort  to  achieve  results.  Wherever  his  interests 
have  called  him  among  his  fellow  men  his  worthy  character  has  called  forth 
expressions  of  respect  and  confidence  from  his  associates.  He  has  been  elected 
school  director  and  tax  collector  of  his  district,  and  discharged  the  duties  of 
both  offices  acceptably.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Church  of  God,  and 
is  serving  the  congregation  as  trustee  and  elder.  He  was  a  charter  member 
of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp  at  Suedberg,  held  the  position  of  treasurer  for 
eleven  years,  and  has  been  chaplain  and  senior  vice  commander  of  Wolf  Post, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Pine  Grove,  where  he  is  very  popular  with  his  Civil  war  comrades. 
He  enlisted  from  Suedberg  during  1865  in  Company  F,  93d  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel  Heckman,  and  remained  in  the  service  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  being  mustered  o|it  at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  June,  1865. 
He  was  wounded  at  Petersburg,  March  25,  1865. 

In  1862  Mr.  Stml^har  married  Anna  R.  Reed,  and  the  following  children 
have  been  bom  to  them:  Mary  D.,  the  eldest,  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles 
Christenson,  of  Annville,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.;  Iva  E.  is  the  wife  of  Alorris 
Krickbaum,  of  Pine  Grove  township ;  Lyman  E.  is  a  resident  of  Palmyra,  Pa. ; 
Harvey  lives  at  home;  George,  the  youngest,  is  at  Pottstown,  Montgomery 
Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

Mrs.  Strubhar  was  bom  near  Orwigsburg  in  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Esther  (Faust)  Reed,  both  natives  of  this  county,  the  former  bom 
near  Orwigsburg,  the  latter  at  Llewell)rn.  They  had  three  children,  Thomas  F. 
still  living  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  parents;  Phoebe  Ann  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Conard,  of  Kansas.  Thomas  Reed,  Mrs.  Stmbhar's  grandfather, 
settled  near  Orwigsburg,  and  died  at  Friedensburg,  this  county.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  His  wife  also  died  at  Friedensburg,  where  they  are 
buried. 

ROBERT  CHARLES  BRAUN,  of  Pottsville,  has  exercised  an  appreciable 
influence  upon  musical  culture  in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania  in  bringing  possi- 
bilities of  musical  enjoyment  into  the  lives  of  local  communities  and  first-class 
instruction  to  ambitious  students. 

Born  in  Port  Carbon,  Pa.,  Feb.  18,  1886,  he  is  a  son  of  Charles  T.  Brown, 
cashier  of  the  Pennsylvania  National  Bank  of  Pottsville,  and  a  descendant 
of  Johannes  Braun,  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  who  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Pennsylvania,  near  McKeansburg.  The  great-grandfather's  son, 
Charles  Maul  Braun,  came  to  Pottsville,  and  he  changed  the  spelling  of  the 
name  to  Brown,  as  C.  T.  Brown  writes  it.  Robert  Charles  takes  the  original 
form  Braun.  Charles  T.  Brown  married  Sarah  Frances  Pugh,  who  was  of 
Welsh  descent  and  a  fine  contralto  singer.  Robert  Braun  was  brought  to 
Pottsville  when  one  year  old.    His  mother  died  when  he  was  five  years  old. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  769 

leaving  him  with  a  brother,  Edgar  D.,  one  year  old.  The  father  and  two 
sons  then  lived  with  Frederic  Gerhard,  an  uncle  by  marriage,  from  1891  until 
the  father  married  again,  in  1904. 

It  is  to  Frederic  Gerhard  that  Mr.  Braun  owes  all  of  his  early  teaching  and 
inspiration.  Under  Gerhard  he  studied  violin  at  the  age  of  six ;  took  up  piano 
in  his  seventh  year,  and  continued  with  Mr.  Gerhard  until  sixteen,  receiving 
a  thorough  grounding  in  technic  and  ensemble  playing.  The  Beethoven  piano 
and  violin  sonatas  were  daily  bread.  He  made  a  tour  through  Pennsylvania 
at  the  age  of  eleven  as  a  "boy  wonder."  In  his  fourteenth  year  he  played  piano 
in  theatre  orchestra,  later  double  bass,  and  became  a  member  of  the  Third 
Brigade  Band.  He  learned  a  number  of  orchestral  and  military  band  instru- 
ments, studying  saxophone  with  Fredinand  Paul,  of  Sousa's  Band,  and  oboe 
with  Max  Lachmuth,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Doucet  of  the  Paris  Conservatoire. 
In  the  summer  of  19 12  he  was  oboe  soloist  with  the  AUentown  Band. 

Mr.  Braun  was  a  graduate  in  the  honor  division,  class  of  1904,  Pottsville 
high  school,  class  prophet,  organized  the  High  School  Glee  Club  in  1902,  and 
composed  the  high  school  marches  for  1901,  1902,  1903,  1904.  He  also  com- 
posed the  march  accepted  for  the  Pottsville  Old  Home  Week  Centennial,  1908, 
and  arranged  all  of  these  for  military  band  and  orchestra. 

In  1902  Mr.  Braun  went  to  Philadelphia  weekly  to  study  piano  under 
Constantin  von  Sternberg,  technic  under  Mattie  B.  Moulton,  and  theory  under 
G.  A.  A.  West,  also  boy  choir  training.  He  studied  pipe  oi^n  with  S.  H. 
Unger,  and  occupied  an  organ  position  with  the  English  Lutheran  Church, 
Pottsville,  from  1903  until  1905.  He  was  then  appointed  organist  and  choir- 
master of  Trinity  Episcopal  Church,  Pottsville,  which  had  a  boy  choir  of 
sixty-five.  Under  his  direction  they  gave  the  St.  Cecilia  Mass  by  Gounod. 
In  1905  he  taught  private  pupils  in  Pottsville ;  played  Beethoven  and  Schumann 
Concertos  in  Wither  spoon  Hall,  Philadelphia,  in  1905-06.  In  1907  he  opened 
the  Reading  branch  of  the  Sternberg  School  of  Music. 

In  the  spring  of  1909  Mr.  Braun  sailed  for  Europe,  traveling  through  Italy, 
Switzerland  and  Germany  with  his  teacher  and  friend — Constantin  von  Stem- 
berg,  in  the  summer.  Then  he  entered  the  ROyal  Conservatory  of  Music  in 
Leipzig,  exempt  from  technic,  under  Teichmuller,  piano  (finishing  class),  and 
Schreck,  theory,  received  his  certificate  the  following  Easter,  and  left  for 
Vienna  to  study  with  Godowsky,  but  arrived  too  late  in  the  year.  Besides 
studying  with  Pugno,  while  he  was  concertizing  in  Leipzig,  Mr.  Braun  made 
weekly  trips  to  Berlin  to  study  systematic  memorizing  with  Vernon  Spencer. 
After  touring  through  France  and  England  he  returned  to  America  in  the  fall 
of  1910.  He  remained  in  Philadelphia  until  the  spring  of  191 1,  going  on 
short  concert  tours  through  the  State;  received  an  appointment  as  oi^nist 
and  choirmaster  of  St.  Philip's  Episcopal  Church,  Forty-second  street  and 
Baltimore  avenue.  West  Philadelphia ;  and  shortly  after  began  to  make  weekly 
visits  to  Pottsville  to  teach  a  few  private  pupils.  This  was  the  beginning 
of  the  Braun  School  of  Pianoforte  Playing  first  conducted  in  his  home,  at  No. 
805  West  Market  street.  It  was  not  long  before  the  school  grew  to  such 
proportions  as  to  warrant  an  assistant.  In  June,  1912,  the  school  was  moved 
to  the  old  Whitney  building,  formerly  occupied  by  the  Pottsville  Club,  Nos. 
223-225  South  Centre  street.  Its  name  was  changed  to  "The  Braun  School 
of  Music,"  and  violin  and  vocal  departments  were  added.  This  was  the  first 
school  of  its  kind  organized  in  this  section,  and  at  present  has  a  faculty  of 
twelve  instructors. 
Vol.  11—11 


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770  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

At  this  time  Mr.  Bratin  opened  a  studio  in  the  Greble  building  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  later  moved  to  the  Estey  building,  at  Seventeenth  and  Walnut 
streets,  where  a  branch  of  his  school  was  established.  In  June,  191 3,  a 
thrifty  branch  was  opened  in  Minersville  and  in  November  of  the  same  year 
a  branch  was  opened  in  Reading.  At  the  death  of  Professor  Gerhard,  Oct.  7, 
1913,  he  was  appointed  conductor  of  the  Gerhard  Symphony  Orchestra.  He 
has  been  conductor  of  the  Pottsville  Liederkranz  since  1912,  and  of  the 
lamaqua  Maennerchor  since  1914. 

On  Monday,  Jime  16,  1913,  Mr.  Braim  married  Miss  Frances  Zerbey, 
daughter  of  J.  H.  Zerbey,  proprietor  and  editor  of  the  Pottsville  Republican, 
Mrs.  Bratm  is  a  talented  violinist,  and  she  was  the  first  woman  to  be  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Pennsylvania  as  a  full-fledged  lawyer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Braun 
reside  at  Fifteenth  street  and  Howard  avenue,  Pottsville.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Outdoor  Club,  Pottsville  Club  and  Rotary  Club,  of  Pottsville ;  of  the  ^ 
Musical  Art  Qub  and  Philadelphia  Sketch  Club,  both  of  Philadelphia;  and  of 
the  English  lAitheran  Church,  Pottsville. 

JONATHAN  BULL,  Sr.,  bears  a  name  which  has  been  respected  in  Port 
Carbon  for  three  quarters  of  a  century  and  more.  His  father,  Ross  Bull,  was 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  borough  in  his  day.  Mr.  Bull's  grandfather 
lived  near  Springfield,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  died.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  blacksmith. 

Ross  Bull  came  to  Port  Carbon  at  an  early  day  and  here  followed  his  trade 
of  shoemaker.  He  was  one  of  the  most  effective  workers  at  the  time  of  the 
organization  of  the  borough,  in  1852,  was  honored  with  election  as  its  first 
chief  burgess,  and  later  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  filling  that  office  for 
many  years.  He  was  also  major  of  the  State  militia  at  Port  Carbon.  He 
assisted  in  founding  the  Methodist  Church  here  and  was  one  of  its  most 
faithful  officials,  serving  as  choir  leader  and  for  many  years  was  superintend- 
*ent  of  the  Sunday  school.  His  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  10,  1892,  was 
regarded  as  a  loss  to  the  entire  community.  He  is  buried  in  the  Presbyterian 
cemetery  at  Port  Carbon.  Mr.  Bull  married  Maria  Garis,  a  native  of  Berks 
coimty.  Pa.,  who  was  the  mother  of  a  large  family,  namely :  Thomas  G.,  who 
was  one  of  the  "First  Defenders'*  during  the  Civil  war;  Sarah,  wife  of  Charles 
Morgan;  Jonathan;  Maria,  who  died  young;  William;  Martha,  who  married 
James  Hess  and  (second)  Ed.  Seddon;  Philip;  Margaret,  who  married  William 
Fry  and  (second)  Ed.  Thomas;  James;  George;  Oiarles;  Lillie,  who  married 
Thomas  Nichols ;  and  Mary,  who  married  Harry  DeHaven. 

Jonathan  Bull,  Sr.,  was  bom  Oct.  21,  1839,  at  Port  Carbon,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  During  his  boyhood  he  worked  for  a  short  time  at  the 
coal  breaker.  In  1855  he  started  to  learn  the  trade  of  molder  at  Port  Carbon 
and  served  twenty-one  months,  after  which  he  went  to  work  for  his  father 
at  shoemaking.  In  1859  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad 
Company  in  Easton,  Pa.,  as  a  blacksmith,  remaining  there  about  eighteen 
months,  and  enlisted  at  that  town  in  Company  C,  ist  Pennsylvania  Regiment, 
upon  the  first  call  for  troops  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  Under  this 
enlistment  he  served  three  months.  In  1862,  on  the  emergency  call,  he  enlisted 
in  the  4th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  under  Colonel  Litzinger  and  Capt.  B.  L. 
Eshelman,  and  served  as  second  sergeant.  On  his  third  enlistment  he  became 
a  member  of  Company  A,  39th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  in  which  he  was  third 
sergeant.    Later  he  enlisted  in  the  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  of  the  Twenty- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  771 

fourth  ward,  Philadelphia,  and  he  received  his  last  discharge  Aug.  23,  1865. 
Returning  home  after  the  war,  Mr.  Bull  in  1866  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  at  St.  Qair,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
he  remained  in  its  service  for  the  long  period  of  forty-three  years,  six  months, 
being  retired  in  1909  with  a  pension.  He  has  since  been  spending  his  days  in 
leisure  at  Port  Carbon.  Mr.  Bull  has  never  taken  any  active  part  in  public 
affairs,  but  he  has  been  an  interested  worker  in  AlHson  Brothers  Post,  No.  144, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Port  Carbon,  and  is  a  past  official  of  that  organization. 

On  June  6,  1863,  Mr.  Bull  married  Amanda  Maria  Kailey,  daughter  of 
Seteriah  Kailey,  of  Schuylkill  county.  On  June  6,  1913,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bull 
had  the  pleasure  of  celebrating  the  golden  anniversary  of  their  wedding,  and 
on  that  occasion  entertained  ninety-six  relatives  at  their  home  in  Port  Carbon. 
Their  children  are  all  living,  namely :  Margaret,  Mrs.  WilHam  Major;  Thomas 
W.,  who  is  a  resident  of  Huntington,  W.  Va. ;  Ross,  of  Port  Carbon ;  Jonathan, 
Jr.,  of  Port  Carbon ;  James,  of  Port  Carbon ;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Robert  Hamilton  ; 
Ida,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Fletcher;  Carrie,  Mrs.  Samuel  Reeber;  Frederick,  Howard 
and  Amanda,  the  last  three  at  home.  The  family  are  Methodists  in  religious 
connection. 

PAUL  WOLFGANG  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Hegins  township  ano 
is  operating  a  well  established  business  at  Valley  View,  where  he  has  carried 
on  a  prosperous  trade  in  the  manufacture  and  repair  of  wagons  for  a  period 
of  forty  years.  His  grandfather,  Jonas  Wolfgang,  was  a  farmer  in  the  Mahan- 
tongo  valley,  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  many  years  ago,  and  there 
John  Wolfgang,  father  of  Paul,  was  bom. 

John  Wolfgang  also  followed  farming  most  of  his  life.  He  moved  eventu- 
ally into  the  town  of  Valley  View,  where  he  piu-chased  the  home  which  he 
occupied  until  his  death.  He  was  in  the  Union  army  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  Civil  war,  serving  from  Hegins  township.  He  married  Sophia  Upde- 
grave,  who  was  bom  in  Hubley  township,  this  county,  where  her  father,  Henry 
Updegrave,  passed  all  his  life.  He  was  a  farmer  and  shoemaker  by  occupa- 
tion. Mrs.  Wolfgang  died  at  Valley  View,  in  the  house  where  her  son  Paul 
now  lives. 

Paul  Wolfgang  was  bom  in  Hegins  township,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated,  attending  the  public  schools.  During  his  boyhood  and  early  youth 
he  did  farm  work,  and  he  learned  his  trade  with  Jacob  Wolfgang.  For  a  short 
time  after  completing  his  apprenticeship  he  remained  working  for  Mr.  Wolf- 
gang, but  he  commenced  working  on  his  own  account  over  forty  years  ago, 
and  during  all  that  time  has  been  engaged  principally  in  the  manufacture  of 
wagons.  He  has  become  known  as  an  all-around  reliable  mechanic  in  his  line, 
and  the  long  continued  patronage  of  many  of  his  customers  is  sufficient  to 
show  their  appreciation  of  his  thorough  workmanship.  Personally,  he  enjoys 
the  same  high  standing  in  all  his  associations.  He  is  a  tmstee  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  of  which  he  and  his  wife  are  devoted  members. 

When  twenty-one  years  old  Mr.  Wolfgang  married  Catherine  Schwalm,  a 
native  of  Hegins  township,  this  county,  where  her  parents,  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Klinger)  Schwalm,  were  also  bom.  Mr.  Schwalm  was  a  farmer.  He 
was  a  Civil  war  veteran,  having  been  a  captain  in  the  50th  Regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Infantry.  He  is  survived  by  Mrs.  Schwalm,  who  is  now 
(191 5)  eighty-six  years  old.  Four  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wolfgang:     Isabella,  the  eldest,  is  now  the  wife  of  William  Troutman,  of 


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772  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Hegins  township;  Amelia  is  married  to  J.  G.  Romberger,  a  miller,  of  H^ns 
township;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  John  Rickert,  of  Valley  View;  Clara  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  M.  UnderkofBer,  of  Valley  View. 

Charles  M.  Underkoffler,  son-in-law  of  Paul  Wplfgang,  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Valley  View,  and  is  now  doing  business  there  in  association 
with  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Wolfgang,  being  a  wheelwright  by  calling.  He 
learned  the  trade  at  Valley  View.  He  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  this 
section,  a  leading  member  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp  of  the  town,  which  he 
is  at  present  serving  in  the  capacij:y  of  treasurer. 

SAMUEL  QUICK,  of  Butler  township,  bought  the  farm  he  now  occupies 
thirty  years  ago,  and  has  been  devoting  his  time  to  its  cultivation  with  very 
satisfactory  results.  With  the  exception  of  five  years  in  California,  during 
his  early  manhood,  he  has  passed  his  life  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  by  wisely 
directed  energy  he  has  become  one  of  the  well-to-do  agriculturists  of  his 
section. 

Bom  March  13,  1842,  at  Pottsville,  Mr.  Quick  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Maria  (Stephens)  Quick,  natives  of  England,  who  came  to  this  country  in 
1837.  At  that  time  they  had  one  child.  Locating  first  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
they  subsequently  removed  to  Pottsville,  Pa.,  Mr.  Quick  being  a  miner  by 
.  occupation.  Thence  they  removed  to  Ashland,  this  county,  where  Mr.  Quick 
remained  until  his  death.  His  wife  died  in  California  while  visiting  her 
son  Samuel.  Of  the  children  bom  to  Samuel  and  Maria  Quick,  fourteen  in  all, 
only  two  survive,  James  and  Samuel,  the  former  a  resident  of  Columbia  county. 

In  1856  Samuel  Quick  accompanied  his  father  to  Ashland,  where  he  spent 
the  next  few  years.  Reared  and  educated  at  Pottsville,  he  began  work  in  the 
mines  when  a  boy,  and  was  thus  engaged  for  some  time.  In  i860  he  went  out 
to  California,  where  he  spent,  about  five  years,  returning  to  Schuylkill  county 
in  1865.  Becoming  engaged  in  teaming  in  Girardville,  this  county,  he  contin- 
ued to  follow  that  occupation  until  1882.  In  1884  he  bought  his  present  farm 
in  Butler  township,  which  he  has  operated  continuously  since.  His  industry 
and  systematic  attention  to  its  cultivation  have  been  well  rewarded,  and  his 
useful  life  has  earned  him  the  regard  of  all  who  know  him. 

In  1867  Mr.  Quick  was  married  to  Ann  Harlan,  who  was  bom  at  Centralia, 
Columbia  county,  where  her  parents  resided.  Thirteen  children  have  been 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Quick,  of  whom  eight  survive,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters :  Samuel,  living  at  home ;  William,  of  Mahanoy  City,  this  county ; 
Aaron,  of  Ashland;  Hannibal,  of  Mahanoy  City;  John,  located  at  Harrisburg; 
Maria,"of  Pottsville,  wife  of  John  Trout;  Anna  Jane,  married  to  R.  Seitzinger; 
and  Sallie,  wife  of  Gustav  Klase. 

JOHN  IFFERT,  late  of  Rush  township,  was  in  his  day  one  of  the  foremost 
citizens  in  that  part  of  Schuylkill  county.  His  high  character  made  him  uni- 
versally respected,  and  his  industrious  life  brought  him  prosperity,  the  sub- 
stantial reward  of  thrift  and  energy  well  directed. 

Mr.  IflFert  was  a  German  by  birth  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  land, 
coming  to  America  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  During  most  of  his  residence 
in  this  country  he  was  a  citizen  of  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  first  settling  at 
Tamaqua.  While  there  he  followed  mining,  at  which  he  was  also  employed 
after  his  removal  to  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  farming  at 
Wilkes-Barre,  whence  he  removed  to  Locust  Valley,  in  Ryon  township,  Schuyl- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  773 

kill  county,  remaining  there  one  year.  He  then  bought  the  Neifert  homestead 
in  Rush  township,  this  county,  a  tract  of  about  sixty-five  acres,  where  he  passed 
the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  there  April  13,  1905.  Mr.  Iffert  was  buried  in  the 
cemetery  of  the  White  Church,  in  which  congregation  he  had  been  an  active 
worker,  having  served  as  deacon  for  thirty  years. 

In  Tamaqua  Mr.  Iffert  married  Martha  Vurburg,  who  was  bom  in  Ger- 
many and  came  to  America  when  twenty-one  years  old,  and  she  survived  her 
husband,  passing  away  Sept.  9,  1914,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  She  is 
also  buried  at  the  White  Church,  in  Rush  township.  The  following  children 
were  bom  to  this  worthy  couple:  (i)  William,  who  is  engaged  in  business 
as  a  merchant  at  Tamanend,  tWs  county,  married  Louisa  Zimmerman,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Jacob,  Susan  and  Annie.  (2)  Mary  married  Henry 
Hauck,  and  is  living  at  Tamanend.  They  have  had  two  children,  Frederick 
and  Clarence,  both  deceased.  (3)  Henry,  now  a  resident  of  Hazleton,  Pa., 
married  Elizabeth  Bauchman,  and  their  children  are  Adam,  Harry,  Florence, 
Clayton,  Irene,  Walter  and  Helen.  (4)  Christine  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Krouse, 
of  Ryon  township,  and  has  children,  Gertrude,  John  and  Martha.  (5)  John 
F.  P.  is  proprietor  of  the  **Stone  Tavern*'  in  Rush  township.  He  married 
Ella  Gearhart,  and  their  children  are  Bessie  and  Elmer.  (6)  Conrad  is  a  fore- 
man in  the  Bethlehem  steel  plant.  He  married  Emma  Herring,  but  they  have 
no  children.  (7)  Amnie  is  the  wife  of  Martin  Fritz.  (8)  Martha  married 
Thomas  Keams  and  has  three  children.  Earl,  Harold  and  Mildred.  They  live 
in  Philadelphia. 

Martin  Fritz,  who  now  owns  and  occupies  the  old  homestead  of  his  father- 
in-law,  John  Iffert,  in  Rush  township,  was  bom  Sept.  22,  1876.  His  father, 
Henry  Fritz,  lived  and  died  at  Locust  Valley,  in  Ryon  township,  and  worked 
by  the  day.  He  married  Angeline  Bankes,  who  also  died  there,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  a  large  family:  Malinda,  Henry,  Frank,  Joseph,  Jane,  Lucy, 
Annie,  Martin,  Alvin  and  Gabriel. 

Martin  Fritz  had  ordinary  common  school  advantages  in  his  boyhood  and 
was  trained  to  farm  work  from  his  youth.  At  an  early  age  he  b^an  to  work 
for  John  Iffert,  by  whom  he  was  employed  for  seventeen  years,  a  fact  which 
speaks  well  for  his  capability  and  diligence,  which  were  much  appreciated  by 
Mr.  Iffert.  He  and  his  wife  now  own  the  Iffert  homestead,  'which  they  occupy, 
and  he  gives  all  his  time  to  farming,  in  which  he  has  met  with  unusual  success. 
He  is^held  in  high  esteem  by  his  neighbors  and  friends  everywhere.  Mr.  Fritz 
is  a  member  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  but  he  pays  little  attention  to  affairs  outside 
of  his  home  interests. 

Mr.  Fritz  married  Annie  Iffert,  daughter  of  John  Iffert,  and  three  children 
have  been  bom  to  them :    Oarence,  Arthur  and  H.  Russell. 

ALBERT  L.  MOSER  has  an  up-to-date  farm  and  home  in  Union  town- 
ship and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  enterprising  agriculturists  of  that  sec- 
tion. He  belongs  to  an  old  family  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  his  ancestors  for 
generations  have  been  prosperous  farmers. 

William  Moser,  grandfather  of  Albert  L.  Moser,  was  bom  in  Albany 
township^  Berks  county,  where  he  spent  all  his  life.  He  farmed  a  tract  of 
150  acres.  The  Mosers  are  Lutherans,  and  he  belonged  to  St.  Jacob's  Church 
at  Jacksonville,  which  is  just  across  the  line  in  Lehigh  county.  He  took  an 
active  p^irt  in  its  work,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  there.  In  politics  he 
became  u  Republican  when  the  tum  in  national  affairs  drew  him  into  sympathy 


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774  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

with  the  principles  of  that  party.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Kuntz,  and 
they  had  the  following  children:  James,  deceased,  a  farmer  and  miller  in 
North  Union  township,  Schuylkill  county,  who  married  Cordelia  Wanamaker 
(she  lived  at  AUentown,  Pa.)  ;  Thomas,  deceased;  Charles;  William  K. ;  Albert, 
who  died  when  about  twenty  years  old;  Ellen;  Mi.ry;  Kate;  Sarah;  Amanda; 
and  Lucy. 

William  K.  Moser,  father  of  Albert  L.  Moser,  was  born  in  Albany  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  near  the  Lehigh  county  line,  and  attctided  school  in  Lehigh 
county.  He  followed  agriculture  and  sawmilling,  having  two  farms  in  Albany 
township,  and  lived  to  be  about  sixty-seven  years  old.  Like  his  father  he  was 
a  very  zealous  member  of  St.  Jacob's  Lutheran  Church  at  Jacksonville,  and  a 
Republican  in  his  political  convictions.  He  married  Sarah  Lutz,  who  was 
also  bom  in  Albany  township,  where  her  family  were  farming  people,  and 
she  died  in  1913,  when  about  seventy-one  years  old.  Mr.  atul  Mrs.  Moser  are 
buried  at  St.  Jacob's  Church.  They  had  children  as  follow^:  William,  who 
married  Carrie  Stroup,  lives  at  Chester,  Pa.;  Edward  married  Mabel  Christ 
and  lives  at  Steinsville,  Pa. ;  Robert,  married  to  Anna  Colver,  is  living  at  Read- 
ing, Pa.;  Albert  L.  is  next  in  the  family;  Lena  is  the  wife  of  Francis  Keller, 
of  Reading;  Clara  is  married  to  Lewis  Lenhart,  of  Reading:  Nellie  and  Daisy 
also  live  in  Reading. 

Albert  L.  Moser  was  bom  May  12,  1874,  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county, 
and  obtained  his  schooling  at  the  neighboring  town  of  Steinsville,  across  the 
line  in  Lehigh  county.  Up  to  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  {^ave  his  services 
to  his  father  at  home,  and  after  that  worked  one  year  on  the  home  place  for 
wages.  Then  for  nearly  a  year  he  was  in  the  employ  of  his  uncle,  lames  Moser, 
at  Zion  Grove,  in  North  Union  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  for  the  three 
years  following  was  a  tenant  on  his  uncle's  farm,  which  he  operated  on  shares. 
Buying  a  farm  from  Fred  Hosier,  he  settled  at  Zion  Grove  attd  followed  gen- 
eral farming  on  his  own  account,  having  a  tract  of  102  acr*-  ,  of  vyijhich  all 
but  twenty  were  cleared.  For  eleven  years  he  continued  to  'opt  rate  that  place, 
which  he  then  rented  for  two  years,  on  shares,  at  the  end  of  that  lime  selling 
it  to  Cyms  Moyer.  In  March,  191 1,  Mr.  Moser  bought  his  present  farm  in 
Union  township  from  Nathan  Fitzgibbons,  and  he  has  been  livinjr  there  since 
and  devoting  his  time  to  its  cultivation.  At  the  time  he  purchased  the  place 
it  comprised  213  acres,  of  which  113  acres  were  cleared,  the  balance  covered 
with  sprouts,  and  he  has  sold  fifty-four  acres  of  the  sprout  land  to  the  Girard 
Estate  Water  Company.  His  cleared  land  is  planted  in  general  crop?,  and  he 
has  been  especially  successful  in  growing  potatoes,  cabbages  and  other  vege- 
tables. He  attends  market  at  Shenandoah.  Mr.  Moser  has  made  remarkable 
progress  in  the  improvement  of  the  property  during  the  few  years  it  has  been 
in  his  possession.  He  has  remodeled  the  dwelling,  and  equipped  it  with  all  the 
modem  conveniences,  running  water,  hot  water  heat,  gaslight,  etc.,  and  he  has 
been  equally  enterprising  about  putting  the  other  buildings  into  excellent  shape, 
everything  about  the  place  being  kept  in  the  good  condition  which  he  has  found 
to  be  profitable  economy.  His  fellow  citizens  availed  themselves  of  his  serv- 
ices for  different  purposes,  and, he  served  them  very  efficiently  as  road  com- 
missioner. He  is  a  Republican  and  was  much  interested  in  politics,  taking 
an  active  part  in  local  elections,  at  which  he  served  as  judge  and  inspector.  He 
belongs  to  the  Mount  Zion  Lutheran  Church  at  Zion  Grove,  in  North  Union 
township,  aqd  was  one  of  the  deacons. 

When  twenty  years  old  Mr.  Moser  was  married  to  Millie  Geneva  Oswald, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  775 

who  was  born  Sept.  3,  1877,  at  Lynnport,  Lehigh  county,  where  she  was  brought 
up  and  educated.  She  lived  at  home  until  her  marriage.  Like  her  husband 
she  is  a  member  of  the  Mount  Zion  Lutheran  Church.  They  are  the  parents  of 
five  children:  George  Raymond,  bom  March  28,  1895;  Pearl  Cleo,  May  26, 
1900;  Ralph  Lewis,  Oct.  22,  1902;  May  Ella,  Jan.  10,  1910;  and  Olive  Oswald, 
Dec.  22,  191 1.  They  are  all  still  at  home.  George  was  educated  in  the  John- 
son school  at  Zion  Grove,  and  the  others  have  attended  in  Union  township. 

Samuel  Oswald,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Moser,  was  bom  at  Lynnport,  Lehigh 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  farmed  all  his  life,  living  to  seventy-four  years  of  age. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Catherine  Fetherolf,  died  when  seventy- 
one  years  old^  and  they  were  the  parents  of  four  children :  Edward,  who  is 
deceased;  Lewis;  Kate,  wife  of  Charles  Kressley,  of  Jacksonville,  Lehigh 
Co.,  Pa.;  and  Mary,  living  at  Jacksonville.  The  parents  are  buried  at 
St.  Jacob's  Reformed  Church,  and  Mr.  Oswald  was  an  active  member  of  that 
organization.     Politically  he  was  a  Republican. 

Lewis  Oswald  was  bom  Sept.  12,  1842,  at  Lynnport,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood  and  received  his  education.  He  worked  on  the  farm  for  his  father 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  was  married  two  years  later,  and  became  a  well 
known  farmer  and  merchant  of  that  locality,  bu)ring  a  farm  of  over  one  hun- 
dred acres  at  Lynnport,  where  he  also  had  a  general  store  and  served  for  many 
years  as  postmaster.  After  conducting  his  farm  and  store  for  a  number  of 
years  he  sold  out,  and  though  he  is  now  doing  a  little  huckstering  is  prac- 
tically retired.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  St. 
Jacob's  Reformed  Church  at  Jacksonville,  where  he  and  his  wife  attend  serv- 
ices. Mr.  Oswald  married  Mary  Ann  Faust,  who  was  bom  April  12,  1843, 
in  Albany  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  a  family  of  five  children : 
Charles  Samuel,  who  is  now  carrying  on  his  father's  old  business  at  L)mn- 
port,  married  Messina  Smith;  Ellen  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Wilson  Werley,  of 
Bemville,  Berks  county;  Lena  Alice  is  married  to  Nathaniel  Shearer,  of 
Lynnport;  Millie  Geneva  is  the  wife  of  Albert  L.  Moser;  Cora  Mamie  is  tl^ 
wife  of  William  Mader,  of  Roscoe,  South  Dakota. 

Charles  Faust,  Mrs.  Oswald's  father,  was  a  farmer  in  Albany  township, 
owning  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  spent  all  his  life  in  that  section.  He  and 
his  wife  are  buried  at  the  New  Bethel  Church  in  that  township,  and  he  was 
one  of  the  leading  workers  in  the  Reformed  congregation  of  that  church.  In 
political  faith  he  was  a  Republican.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Zettlemoyer,  and 
their  children  were:  Amandus,  who  married  Eliza  Trexler;  Albert,  who 
married  Malinda  Sechler;  James,  who  married  Kate  Christ;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Elias 
Fetherolf;  Cordelia,  Mrs.  Isaac  Deisher;  Ellen,  Mrs.  Obediah  Shuler;  Malinda, 
Mrs.  John  Hunsicker;  Jeanetta,  Mrs.  Samuel  Loy;  Mary  Ann,  Mrs.  Lewis 
Oswald;  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Smith. 

THOMAS  A.  FARRELL  is  one  of  the  popular  residents  of  Middleport, 
where  he  is  serving  his  fellow  citizens  at  present  in  the  capacities  of  post- 
master and  justice  of  the  peace.  Mr.  Farrell  belongs  to  the  third  generation 
of  his  family  resident  at  that  place,  his  grandfather,  James  Farrell,  having 
settled  there  in  1845. 

James  Farrell  was  a  native  of  County  Carlow,  Ireland,  and  in  1832  landed 
at  Quebec,  Canada.  From  there  he  went  to  Steuben  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
1844  settled  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  did  not  remain  long, 
removing  thence  to  Middleport,  where  he  made  his  permanent  home.     By 


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776  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

trade  he  was  a  butcher,  but  he  did  not  follow  that  calling  long,  working  at  the 
mines  after  locating  at  Middleport.  He  died  there  in  1878,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  His  children  were:  Matthew,  James  T.,  Andrew,  John  and 
William.  Of  these,  James  T.  Farrell  became  a  member  of  Company  E,  of 
the  famous  48th  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  wounded  in  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  dying  in  the  Eighth  Street  hospital,  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
Sept.  25,  1862.  He  is  buried  at  Port  Carbon,  this  county.  His  nephew,  Thomas 
A.  Farrell,  has  in  his  possession  several  letters  that  he  wrote  home  during  his 
service  in  the  army, 

Andrew  Farrell,  son  of  James  Farrell,  was  bom  in  Steuben  county,  N.  Y., 
and  came  to  Schuylkill  county  with  his  parents.  He  was  a  mine  worker  all 
his  life,  employed  at  the  Big  Vein,  and  made  his  home  at  Middleport,  where 
he  died  June  16,  1910.  His  brother  William  died  June  i8th,  and  they  were 
buried  at  New  Philadelphia,  in  one  grave.  Andrew  Farrell  married  Catherine 
Muldowney,  who  survived  him  nearly  five  years,  passing  away  Feb.  21,  1915, 
and  is  buried  at  New  Philadelphia.  Nine  children  were  bom  to  this  marriage : 
James,  Mary,  Thomas  A.,  William,  Ellen,  Sarah,  Lucy  C.  (deceased),  Andrew 
and  Matthew. 

Thomas  A.  Farrell  was  bom  Nov.  28,  1876,  at  Middleport,  and  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Blythe  township.  When  a  boy  he  began  picking  slate 
at  the  Big  Vein  breaker,  where  he  was  employed  for  twenty-six  years  in  all, 
during  sixteen  years  of  that  time  having  charge  of  the  lamps.  He  also  ran 
a  pump  and  hoisting  engine  there.  In  1914  he  made  a  change,  taking  his  pres- 
ent position  at  the  Maryd  colliery.  Mr.  Farrell  has  always  maintained  an 
interest  in  local  affairs,  working  zealously  in  the  furtherance  of  good  move- 
ments, and  he. has  been  active  in  the  Democratic  p^rty,  in  whose  councils  he 
has  served  as  committeeman.  In  191 1  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
on  Oct.  13,  1913,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Middleport,  continuing  to 
fill  both  positions,  in  which  he  has  given  general  satisfaction  by  his  conscientious 
attention  to  their  duties.  In  his  various  associations  he  has  made  numerous 
friends  in  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county. 

Mr.  Farrell  married  Rose  E.  Gallagher,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Tolan)  Gallagher,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  Andrew  and  Thomas; 
Andrew  died  Nov.  4,  19 15. 

ANDREW  W.  HUBER,  of  Pine  Grove,  is  one  of  a  numerous  family  whose 
members  have  shown  themselves  worthy  of  the  high  regard  in  which  they  are 
held  in  that  boroueh.  He  is  a  native  of  Pine  Grove,  bom  July  4,  1844,  son 
of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Minnick)  Huber  and  grandson  of  John  Huber,  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  this  sectk)n.  By  occupation  John  Huber  was  a  farmer. 
Washington  Huber,  a  resident  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  is  now  the  only  survivor 
of  his  family  of  ten  children,  viz.:  John,  Jacob,  Isaac,  William,  Jefferson, 
Washington,  David,  Mary,  Rachel  and  Sarah. 

Isaac  Huber  was  bom  in  1817  in  Pine  Valley,  Schuylkill  county,  and  died 
Oct.  24,  1896,  in  Pine  Grove,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  He  was  en- 
gaged at  mine  work  near  that  borough.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Minnick),  was 
bom  Feb.  15,  1820,  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  reached  the  ag^e  of  ninety-two 
years,  dying  July  9,  1912.  She  was  a  daujp^hter  of  John  Minnick,  also  a  native 
of  Schuylkill  county,  a  wheelwright  and  farmer,  who  was  the  father  of  eight 
children,  Mrs.  Huber's  brothers  and  sisters  being:  John,  Jonathan,  Henry  (a 
half  brother),  Dena,  Barbara,  Kate  and  Mary  (a  half  sister)  ;  Henry,  Barbara 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  777 

and  Mary  are  still  living.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Huber  were  bom  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Andrew  W. ;  William  A.,  who  died  Nov.  ii,  191 1 ;  Isaac  A., 
a  resident  of  Tremont,  Schuylkill  county;  Mary,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife 
of  William  Heimbach;  Lilla,  widow  of  George  W.  Stuckey,  of  Harrisburg; 
Ellen,  wife  of  Walter  Miller,  of  Omaha,  Nebr. ;  and  Laura,  widow  of  Edward 
Zimmerman,  of  Bristol,  Pennsylvania. 

Andrew  W.  Huber  was  reared  and  educated  at  Pine  Grove,  and  upon  leav- 
ing school  began  work  at  the  mines.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  employed 
by  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company  in  different  capacities,  for  several 
years  before  his  retirement  being  engaged  as  engineer  at  one  of  the  collieries. 
For  thirteen  years  he  held  the  position  of  loader  boss  at  the  Lincoln  colliery. 
During  the  last  few  years  he  has  been  living  in  comparative  retirement,  enjoy- 
ing well  earned  rest  after  a  life  of  steady  industry  and  conscientious  attention 
to  duty.    He  is  serving  as  janitor  of  the  Pine  Grove  borough  annex  school. 

In  June,  1863,  Mr.  Huber  enlisted  from  Pine  Grove  in  Company  H,  3Qth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  .Infantry,  under  Col.  James  Nagle,  and  after  serv- 
ing that  term  reenlisted,  in  August,  1864,  joining  Company  G,  7th  Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry,  with  which  he  served  to  the  close  of  the  war.  His  command 
was  attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  he  participated  in  eight 
important  battles:  Vinnings  Station,  Gra. ;  Columbia,  Oct.  i,  1864;  Rome,  Ga. ; 
Leeds  Cross  Roads,  Nov.  i,  1864;  Bardstown,  Ky.,  Dec.  29,  1864;  Selma,  Ala.; 
Columbia,  Ga.,  April  16,  1865;  and  Macon,  Ga.,  May  5,  1865.  He  was  dis- 
charged at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  23,  1865,  by  reason  of  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  returned  to  his  home  and  his  work,  proving  his  good  citizenship  as  much 
in  his  private  life  as  in  his  military  service.  He  is  th^  present  commander  of 
Wolf  Post,  No.  203,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Pine  Grove;  has  l>een  a  member  of  the 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.  since  1869;  and  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Ameri- 
cans. He  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  at  Pine  Grove  on  the  board  of  health, 
of  which  he  is  still  a  member.  For  fourteen  years  Mr.  Huber  was  a  member 
of  the  famous  Huber  Band  of  Pine  Grove,  which  had  fourteen  Hubers  in  its 
membership.  He  has  been  quite  prominent  in  the  local  Evangelical  Church, 
which  he  has  served  as  trustee,  and  his  wife  also  belongs  to  that  congregation. 

On  Nov.  3,  1866,  Mr.  Huber  married  Lizzie  A.  Berger,  a  native  of  Wayne 
township,  this  county,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Eva  (Auman)  Berger  and 
granddaughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Mumbeck)  Berger,  who  lived  in 
Williamsport,  Pa.  Henry  Berger  died  there,  his  wife  passing  away  near 
Reading,  Pa.  They  had  two  children,  Daniel  and  Mary,  both  now  deceased. 
Daniel  Berger  was  bom  in  this  section,  possibly  in  Wayne  township,  and  died 
Oct.  24,  1907,  when  eighty-two  years  old.  He  was  a  plasterer,  and  also  owned 
a  farm.  His  wife,  Eva  (Auman),  was  born  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county, 
and  died  Feb.  11,  1859.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (GoHff) 
Auman,  who  had  a  family  of  eight  children:  Eva,  Mrs.  Berger:  Jacob;  Solo- 
mon ;  Gabriel ;  Hannah ;  Kate ;  Julia,  and  Harriet.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel 
Berger  were  bom  six  children :  Mrs.  Huber ;  Levi,  of  Pottsville,  Pa. ;  Henry, 
of  Lisbon,  Iowa;  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Mangle,  of  Auburn,  Pa.;  Ella, 
wife  of  Henry  Zweizig;  and  Mary,  widow  of  Frank  Burkhiser,  living  in  the 
State  of  Indiana. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huber  have  been  bom  two  children:  (i)  Agnes,  the 
eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Harvey,  of  Pine  Grove,  and  they  have  two  children. 
Myrtle  and  Olive ;  Myrtle  is  the  wife  of  Howard  Hughes,  of  Pine  Grove,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Luther;  Olive  is  the  widow  of  Harry  Christ.    (2)  Gertmde 


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778  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANLV 

is  the  widow  of  Peter  Hehn,  who  was  a  hotelkeeper  of  Landing^ville,  this 
county,  and  has  two  children,  Agnes  (wife  of  John  Peiffer,  of  Auburn)  and 
Robert.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubert  have  a^lso  raised  an  adopted  son,  Benjanun  H., 
who  still  lives  at  Pine  Grove ;  he  married  Lillie  Stabler,  of  Cressona,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Ruth  M.  and  Paul  A. 

SAMUEL  MOORE  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Schuylkill  county,  and 
since  September,  1909,  has  been  stationed  at  Port  Carbon  as  superintendent 
of  the  mines  of  the  Port  Carbon  Coal  Company,  independent  operators.  He 
has  been  a  mine  worker  from  boyhood,  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  busi- 
ness, and  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  that  connection  all  over  the 
county. 

Mr.  Moore  was  bom  Aug.  14,  1873,  ^^  Tremont,  Schuylkill  county,  son  of 
Richard  Moore,  a  native  of  England,  who  has  lived  in  this  coimtry  since  two 
years  old.  Mr.  Moore  began  picking  slate  at  the  North  Franklin  colliery  in 
boyhood,  and  eventually  became  a  full-fledged  miner,  following  this  work  for  a 
period  of  twenty-eight  years.  He  then  gave  up  mine  work,  moving  to  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  where  he  is  now  employed  at  the  Midvale  Steel  works.  He  married 
Harriet  Faust,  daughter  of  the  well  known  Samuel  Faust,  and  member  of  a 
family  which  has  long  been  prominent  in  the  southern  part  of  Schuylkill  county, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Samuel,  Mary,  Emma, 
Sadie,  Elizabeth,  Minnie,  William  and  Edward  (who  died  in  infancy). 

Samuel  Moore  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Tremont  and 
Minersville,  this  county.  His  first  work  was  picking  slate  at  the  Lincoln 
colliery.  After  a  time  he  became  pumpman  and  engineer,  and  when  com- 
petent was  promoted  to  foreman,  his  first  position  of  that  kind  being  at  the 
Crystal  Run  colliery,  where  he  remained  for  nine  years.  In  September,  1907, 
he  came  to  Port  Carbon,  where  he  took  charge  of  the  mines  of  the  Port  Car- 
bon Coal  Company,  operated  by  Slattery  Brothers.  They  ship  a  very  fine 
grade  of  coal,  and  the  works  are  ranked  among  the  most  successful  in  this 
district.  The  development  of  the  workings  has  gone  forward  steadily  under 
Mr.  Moore's  efficient  management,  and  the  highly  satisfactory  conditions  which 
prevail  at  the  mines  are  credited  to  his  ^ood  judgment  and  superior  executive 
ability.  Since  assuming  his  present  duties  Mr.  Moore  has  made  his  home  at 
Port  Carbon,  where  he  has  many  friends.  Formerly  he  resided  at  Frack- 
ville,  this  county,  and  he  was  considered  one  of  the  most  valuable  citizens  of 
that  borough,  where  he  served  his  fellow  citizens  as  councilman  for  nine 
years,  and  had  the  honor  of  being  president  of  the  council.  Fraternally  he 
holds  membership  in  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  The  family 
are  Lutherans  in  religious  connection. 

Mr.  Moore  married  Carrie  Reber,  daughter  of  William  Reber,  of  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  children  as  follows  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage :  Harriet, 
George,  Oair,  Olive,  Mary,  Ruth,  and  Harvey. 

JOHN  F.  HANNEY  has  been  a  prosperous  blacksmith  of  Pottsville,  Pa., 
for  over  twenty  years,  having  combined  skillful  workmanship  with  excellent 
business  methods  in  acquiring  a  profitable  patronage.  He  and  his  brother  are 
doing  business  together  under  the  style  of  Hanney  Brothers,  and  their  estab- 
lishment, at  No.  551  North  Centre  street,  is  well  equipped  for  prompt  atten- 
tion to  all  customers. 

The  Hanney  brothers  are  sons  of  John  Hanney,  a  native  of  County  Galway, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  779 

Ireland,  who  was  a  young  man  when  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Nor- 
wegian township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  near  Pottsville.  The  father  followed 
mining  throughout  his  active  years.  He  became  very  well  known  in  this  part 
of  Schuylkill  county,  having  served  his  township  for  thirty  years  as  tax  col- 
lector, and  he  also  held  the  county  office  of  jury  commissioner,  giving  the 
public  good  service  in  both  capacities.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  He 
and  his  wife,  Mary  (Cumings),  died  at  their  home  in  Norwegian  township. 
They  had  the  following  children :  Catherine,  Patrick,  Sarah,  Thomas,  Martin, 
Edward  J.,  John  F.  and  Mary. 

Edward  J.  Hanney,  son  of  John,  above,  was  bom  at  the  homestead  in 
Norwegian  township  in  1863,  and  worked  at  the  mines  for  several  years  before 
learning  the  blacksmith's  trade,  beginning  as  a  slate  picker.  He  learned  his 
trade  with  Joseph  Schablein,  with  whom  he  remained  two  and  a  half  years, 
and  in  1892  he  engaged  4n  business  with  his  brother,  John  F.  Mr.  Hanney 
has  been  prominent  in  local  affairs,  particularly  as  a  member  of  the  township 
school  board,  on  which  he  has  served  for  twenty-five  years,  part  of  the  time 
acting  as  president  and  also  as  secretary.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mr. 
Hanney  is  unmarried  and  makes  his  home  with  his  brother  John. 

John  F.  Hanney  was  bom  March  3,  1867,  in  Norwegian  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  near  Pottsville,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the  local  public 
schools.  When  a  boy  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  Wadesville  colliery  in  New 
Castle  township,  continuing  at  this  work  for  about  four  years.  Subsequently 
he  drove  mules  at  the  colliery  for  a  time,  till  he  began  to  leam  the  trade  of 
horseshoer  with  Thomas  Brennan,  of  Pottsville.  After  four  years  in  JMr. 
Brennan's  employ  he  spent  a  short  time  in  Philadelphia,  was  later  employed 
for  about  one  year  in  a  lumber  camp  in  Potter  county.  Pa.,  at  his  trade,  and 
then  returned  to  Pottsville,  where  he  and  his  brother  started  their  present 
business  in  1892.  Thoroughly  conversant  with  all  the  needs  of  their  business, 
they  have  given  solicitous  attention  to  all  their  patrons,  who  have  showed 
due  appreciation  of  the  high-class  service  which  may  be  obtained  at  their  estab- 
lishment. Mr.  Hanney  has  taken  considerable  interest  in  keeping  abreast  of 
the  times  in  his  line,  and  he  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Master  Horseshoers' 
Association  of  Pottsville,  of  which  he  is  at  present  financial  secretary.  Move- 
ments for  development  in  any  line  have  also  had  his  hearty  support,  but  he  has 
never  cared  for  public  office,  preferring  to  do  his  share  by  choosing  reliable 
officials  and  supporting  good  causes  with  his  influence.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat.    He  and  his  family  belong  to  St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

In  1904  Mr.  Hanney  married  Florence  V.  Carr,  daughter  of  John  Carr,  of 
Schuylkill  Haven,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely :  Esther 
and  Edward,  who  are  attending  school ;  John ;  Thomas ;  and  Martin,  who  died 
March  10,  1914,  when  he  was  one  year,  six  months  old. 

JAMES  CURRAN,  of  Gordon,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  now  living  retired 
after  fifty  years'  service  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Readmg  Rail- 
way Company,  was  bom  in  Ireland  in  October,  1830.  His  parents,  Edward 
and  Catherine  (Cowan)  Curran,  were  natives  of  King's  County,  Ireland,  where 
they  died.  John  Curran,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  James,  lived  to  the  age 
of  105,  while  his  wife  reached  the  still  greater  age  of  108  years. 

James  Curran  came  from  Ireland  to  America  in  1849,  landing  at  New 
York  City  on  April  8th  of  that  year.  He  remained  there  but  a  short  time, 
before  the  end  of  the  year  going  to  Port  Carbon,  Schuylkill  county,  and  from 


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780  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

there  to  Carlisle,  Pa.  In  1854,  when  the  Indians  of  the  West  became  trouble- 
some, Mr.  Curran  enlisted  in  the  United  States  army,  serving  mitil  the  end 
of  the  disturbances.  He  then  came  to  St.  Qair,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  went  to  work  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  during 
the  next  four  years  assisting  in  the  construction  of  the  road,  being  foreman 
of  a  construction  crew.  After  the  completion  of  the  work  he  came  to  Gordon, 
where  he  continued  work  for  the  same  company  until  he  had  rounded  out  a 
service  of  fifty  years,  when  he  was  pensioned. 

In  i860  James  Curran  was  married  to  Anna  Riley,  daughter  of  Bartlett 
and  Anna  (Murphy)  Riley,  natives  of  Ireland,  who  emigrated  to  America  in 
an  early  day.  The  father  returned  to  Ireland,  where  he  died,  but  the  mother 
passed  away  in  this  country.  Mrs.  James  Curran  died  in  November,  1904. 
She  was  the  mother  of  children  as  follows:  Katherine,  deceased;  Mary, 
widow  of  Michael  Conway,  who  has  two  children,  James  and  Margaret  (Mrs. 
Conway  is  housekeeper  for  her  father)  ;  James,  postmaster  at  Gordon ;  Edward, 
Julia  and  James,  all  deceased.  Mr.  Curran  is  now  the  only  member  of  his 
parents'  family  alive,  and  coming  of  a  remarkably  long-lived  race,  he  bids  fair 
to  hold  their  record  for  age  and  vitality.  He  and  his  family  have  always  been 
devout  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

EDWARD  SHOENER,  at  present  an  official  of  Orwigsburg,  is  a  native 
of  West  Brunswick  township,  this  county,  and  a  member  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  that  section.  The  family  is  of  German  extraction,  and  his  first 
ancestors  in  America  settled  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  the  branch  here  under  con- 
sideration moving  to  southern  Schuylkill  county,  where  its  members  have 
been  prominent  for  many  years. 

John  Shoener,  grandfather  of  Edward  Shoener,  followed  farmine  in  West 
Brunswick  township,  and  was  a  highly  respected  man  in  his  neighborhood. 
He  died  upon  his  farm,  and  is  buried  in  the  Reformed  cemetery  at  Orwigs- 
burg. His  children  were:  Henry,  John,  Daniel,  William,  Jacob,  Anna  and 
Susanna. 

Henry  Shoener,  son  of  John,  was  bom  July  23,  1813,  in  West  Brunswick 
township,  and  died  Jan.  20,  1890.  He  is  buried  with  his  wife  in  the  Reformed 
cemetery  at  Orwigsburg.  He  followed  farming  in  his  native  township,  clear- 
ing part  of  his  land,  and  was  a  well  known  man  of  his  day.  His  wife,  Christiana 
(Schipe),  daughter  of  Henry  Schipe,  was  bom  Dec.  31,  1818,  and  died  Oct. 
6,  1891.  Her  father  died  Nov.  25,  1879.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoener  had  a  large 
family,  viz. :  Lewis,  Caroline,  Joseph,  Edward,  William,  John,  Charles,  Albert, 
Daniel,  Thomas,  Clara  and  Mary. 

Edward  Shoener  was  bom  April  i,  1844,  in  West  Bmnswick  township, 
and  obtained  his  education  there  in  the  public  schools.  He  was  a  youth  of 
nineteen  when  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  joining  Company  I, 
48th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  served  eighteen 
months,  being  in  the  army  until  the  close  of  ttie  war.  Among  the  battles  in 
which  he  took  part  were  ttiose  of  the  Wildem^ss,  Spottsylvania  Court  House, 
North  Anna  River,  Cold  Harbor,  Shady  Grove,  Poplar  Road  Church,  and  the 
actions  around  Petersburg,  including  the  mine  explosion.  After  the  war  he 
retumed  home  and  for  a  short  tin^e  was  engaged  in  agricultural  work,  subse- 
quently spending  two  years  as  an  employe  in  the  coal  mines.  Then  he  engaged 
in  the  contracting  and  building  business  at  Orwigsburg,  where  he  put  up  many 
residences  and  also  the  first  factory  of  the  H.  S.  Albright  Shoe  Company. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  781 

There  are  many  bams  of  his  construction  in  soUthem  Schuylkill  county.  He 
retired  from  the  contracting  business  in  1907,  but  he  has  not  withdrawn 
entirely  from  active  life,  still  holding  the  office  of  tax  collector  for  the  borough, 
which  office  he  has  filled  for  the  last  twenty-five  years.  He  has  had  other  con- 
nections with  the  administration  of  the  municipal  government,  having  served 
one  year  as  chief  burgess,  one  year  as  assessor  and  eight  years  as  special  police- 
man, to  which  position  he  was  appointed.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
prominent  in  the  local  activities  of  the  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  of  the  Independent  Americans,  and  of  Jere  Helms  Post,  No.  26,  G. 
A.  R.,  of  Schuylkill  Haven.  There  are  few  citizens  in  Orwigsbiirg  or  that 
vicinity  more  generally  known. 

Mr.  Shoener  married  Carrie  E.  Porter,  daughter  of  Plini  Porter,  and  they 
have  had  two  children :  Plini,  deceased ;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Morton  Zulick, 
an  electrician,  of  New  York  City. 

FRANKLIN  WAGNER,  a  resident  of  Pine  Grove  since  1891,  is  now 
enjoying  his  leisure  years  after  an  industrious  early  career.  He  has  spent  all 
his  life  in  Schuylkill  county,  having  been  bom  June  6,  1843,  i"  Washington 
township,  where  he  lived  until  his  removal  to  Pine  Grove,  with  the  exception 
of  the  period  of  his  absence  while  in  the  army  during  the  Civil  wah  He  is 
a  son  of  Philip  Wagner  and  grandson  of  a  pioneer  of  the  county,  a  substantial 
agriculturist  of  his  day. 

Philip  Wagner  was  bom  in  Washington  township,  where  he  followed 
farming,  as  well  as  his  trade  of  plasterer,  all  his  life.  His  wjfe,  Susan  (Har- 
ring),  was  also  a  native  of  Washington  township,  where  her  father  was  an 
early  settler  and  farmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner  had  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren: Lydia,  now  deceased;  Louis,  deceased;  Mary,  deceased;  Franklin; 
John,  deceased ;  Eliza,  wife  of  George  Moyer,  of  Washington  township ;  Jona- 
than, who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  that  township;  Susan,  wife  of  Fred- 
erick Theil,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.;  Henry,  living  in  Washington  township;  Tillie, 
wife  of  Jacob  Knausz,  of  Lebanon;  and  Emma,  wife  of  Reuben  Keefer,  of 
Pine  Grove  township. 

Franklin  Wagner  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Washington  township 
and  attended  the  local  schools  in  his  boyhood.  When  he  took  up  the  business 
of  earning  a  livelihood  on  his  ov^n  account  he  did  farm  work  for  one  year,  and 
then  leamed  his  father's  trade,  plastering,  at  which  he  was  profitably  engaged 
until  his  retirement,  meantime,  in  1891,  settling  at  Pine  Grove,  where  he  has 
had  his  home  since.  High  class  work  and  dependable  service  were  at  the 
foundation  of  his  success  and  drew  a  patronage  which  kept  him  busy  as  long 
as  he  continued  at  his  calling.  He  has  had  a  thoroughly  domestic  life,  his  only 
association  outside  of  his  business  being  his  membership  in  Wolf  Post,  No.  203, 
G.  A.  R.  (which  he  is  serving  as  officer  of  the  day),  and  in  Salem  Lutheran 
Church  in  Washington  township.  He  is  entitled  to  connection  with  the  Grand 
Army  by  reason  of  his  two  terms  of  service  during  the  Civil  war.  During  the 
emergency  of  1863  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  26th  Pennsylvania  Regiment, 
and  on  Feb.  i,  1864.  he  joined  Company  F,  ii6th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry,  with  which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered 
out  at  Washington  July  14,  1865,  with  the  rank  of  corporal,  to  which  he  had 
been  promoted  June  i,  1865,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Washington 
July  24,  1865.  His  command  was  attached  to  the  2d  Corps,  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  he  saw  service  in  a  number  of  important  engagements,  including 


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782  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Po  River,  Tody's  Tavern,  North  Anna  River, 
Pamunkey  River,  Tolopotomy,  Cold  Harbor,  Williams  Farm,  Deep  Bottom, 
Strawberry  Plains,  Hatcher's  Run,  Dabney's  Mill,  Sunderland  Station,  Amelia 
Court  House,  Sailor's  Creek,  Farmville  and,  Appomattox. 

Returning  home  at  the  end  of  his  military  service,  Mr.  Wagner  was  mar- 
ried shortly  afterwards,  in  1866,  to  Elizabeth  Kemmerling,  who  was  bom  in 
Washington  township,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Salome  (Fenstermacher) 
Kemmerling.  She  died  May  14,  1882,  the  mother  of  four  children:  Louisa 
A.;  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Schwambach,  of  Reading;  Alice,  wife  of  George 
Schneck,  of  Washington  township;  and  Eva  Savannah,  deceased. 

ROBERT  W.  C.  HOOPER,  late  of  Pottsville,  was  one  of  the  most 
respected  citizens  of  that  borough  throughout  his  residence  there.  A  native 
of  Cornwall,  England,  he  was  a  son  of  Robert  Hooper,  who  lived  and  died  in 
Cornwall. 

Mr.  Hooper  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  and  after  settling  at  Pottsville, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  engaged  as  such  in  the  Reading  shops,  where  his  skill 
as  a  mechanic  and  admirable  personal  character  made  him  valued  as  a  reliable 
employe.  For  twenty  years  he  served  as  a  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  Pottsville,  and  was  specially  well  known  in  that  capacity,  having 
been  an  earnest  Bible  student  and  a  forceful  speaker.  Local  public  affairs  also 
came  in  for  a  share  of  his  attention,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  serving 
as  a  member  of  the  borough  council,  in  which  position  he  acquitted  himself 
honorably  and  to  the  thorough  satisfaction  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Politically 
he  was  a  Republican.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Pottsville,  No.  1 107  West  Market 
street,  Feb.  9,  1898,  aged  fifty-eight  years. 

Mr.  Hooper  was  married  in  England  to  Mary  J.  Spry,  daughter  of  Richard 
and  Ann  (Job)  Spry.  Like  her  husband  she  was  bom  in  Cornwall,  England, 
and  three  of  her  children  were  bom  in  that  country,  the  family  coming  to 
America  in  September,  1868.  They  landed  at  Castle  Garden,  N.  Y.,  and  lived 
at  various  locations  for  a  number  of  years  before  coming  to  Pottsville.  Mrs. 
Hooper  continues  to  reside  in  her  home  there  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Miller. 
Five  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hooper,  namely:  (i)  William 
John  Spry,  bom  Nov.  6,  1859,  is  now  employed  as  a  foreman  in  the  Baldwin 
Locomotive  Works  at  Philadelphia.  He  married  Mary  Casper,  and  they 
reside  in  Philadelphia.  They  have  two  children.  May  and  Susanna,  who  are 
married  respectively  to  Harry  Snyder  and  John  Snyder,  brothers.  (2)  Ann 
Job,  bom  Oct.  16,  i860,  is  the  wife  of  Edwin  Miller,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.,  wire 
clerk  for  the  Westem  Union  Telegraph  Company  at  this  point.  They  live 
with  her  mother,  Mrs.  Hooper.  (3)  Josephine,  bom  Jan.  8,  1863,  is  the  widow 
of  James  Buddell,  and  resides  at  Pottsville.  She  has  a  family  of  six  children : 
Robert  Hooper,  Annie  Laveme  (Mrs.  Roy  Hartranft),  Beatrice  Josepha 
(Mrs.  Julian  Schwartzwald),  Clair,  Winifred  and  Evelyn.  (4)  Robert,  bom 
Jan.  22,  1874,  is  a  linotype  operator  at  Jersey  City.  He  married  Martha 
Gutzell.  (5)  Mary  Winifred,  bom  Nov.  20,  1876,  died  Oct.  10,  1901.^  She 
was  the  wife  of  Charles  Alter. 


Ananias  and  Ann  Job  had  the  following  children,  all  bom  in  England: 
Ananias,  Feb.  28,  1784;  Mary,  Sept.v26,  1785;  Ann,  May  8,  1788;  John,  June 
II,  1790;  Thomas,  March  13,  1793  (died  in  infancy);  Thomas  (2),  May  3, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  783 

1795;  Zephaniah,  Sept.  14,  1800;  Ann  (2),  April  16,  1802;  James,  Dec.  7, 
1804. 

JEREMIAH  SEITZINGER,  the  oldest  living  resident  of  Port  Carbon, 
now  retired  from  active  pursuits,  is  a  worthy  representative  of  an  old  family 
founded  here  by  Col.  Nicholas  Seitzinger,  his  grandfather. 

The  Seitzingers  are  one  of  the  families  descended  from  Hessian  soldiers 
who  remained  in  America  following  their  services  in  the  American  Revolu-  • 
tionary  war,  and  no  family  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county  is  more  deserv- 
edly honored.  Col.  Nicholas  Seitzinger  was  a  German  by  birth.  He  was  sent 
to  this  country  as  one  of  the  Hessian  soldiers  hired  by  England,  and  thus 
came  to  take  part  in  the  Revolution,  but  his  sympathies  were  with  the  Colonies, 
and  after  the  war,  in  which  he  served  as  a  colonel,  he  did  not  return  to  the 
old  cotmtry.  For  a  time  he  lived  in  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  removing  thence  to 
what  is  now  Schuylkill  cotmty,  where  he  took  up  1,600  acres  of  land.  The 
region  was  then  a  wilderness,  but  he  set  bravely  about  the  task  of  making  a 
home  for  himself  and  family,  and  it  was  he  who  established  the  town  of 
Fotmtain  Springs  (near  Ashland),  which  was  really  named  in  his  honor.  He 
is  buried  in  the  cemetery  there.  His  family  consisted  of  children  as  follows : 
Catherine,  who  married  Samuel  Scott  and  (second)  Henry  Fisher;  George; 
Peter ;  Samuel ;  Harry ;  Nicholas ;  Edward ;  John ;  and  Jacob  W.  Jacob  built 
the  "Exchange  HoteV'  at  Pottsville. 

Samuel  Seitzinger,  father  of  Jeremiah,  was  bom  at  Reading,  Pa.,  in  i8o(f^  3L 
and  came  to  Port  Carbon  in  young  manhood.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
and  did  canal  work  in  that  line,  and  later  built  the  "Port  Carbcm  House."  On 
April  I,  1834,  he  removed  to  Fountain  Springs,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for 
two  years.  On  April  i,  1836,  he  returned  to  Port  Carbon,  where  he  continued 
to  work  at  blacksmi thing  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  25,  1871.  He 
is  buried  in  the  Presbyterian  cemetery  in  that  borough.  His  wife,  Hannah 
(Reed),  was  bom  in  1807  at  Minersyille,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Thomas  Reed,  and 
died  July  25,  1886.  She  is  buried  at  Port  Carbon.  Children  as  follows  were 
bom  to  this  marriage :  Augustus,  who  is  deceased ;  Charity,  deceased ;  Jona- 
than; Lucinda,  deceased;  Eliza,  decea^sed;  Samuel,  who  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness  May  6,  1864,  while  serving  with  the  96th  Pennsylvania 
Regiment;  Matilda,  deceased;  Ellen,  Mrs.  James  Teasdale,  now  living  at 
Reading,  Pa.;  Thomas,  who  served  during  the  Civil  war  in  the  7th  Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry;  and  Jeremiah. 

Jeremiah  Seitzinger,  son  of  Samuel,  was  bom  Nov.  22,  1828,  at  Pottsville, 
Pa.  When  a  boy  he  worked  with  his  father,  and  he  was  but  eleven  years  old 
when  he  commenced  boating  on  the  canal,  in  which  work  he  was  engaged 
for  four  summers^  meantime  attending  school  in  the  winter  season.  He  then 
leamed  the  trade  of  blacksmith  with  Tobias  Wintersteen,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  1850.  He  continued  to  follow  that  calling  until  he  retired,  for 
over  thirty  years  m  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company,  for 
whom  he  worked  from  1855  "^^^il  December,  1887.  F^^  ^  f^w  years  afterwards 
he  was  employed  in  the  Franklin  Iron  Works  at  Port  Carbon,  retiring  when 
he  gave  up  his  position  there.  Mr.  Seitzinger  has  always  led  a  quiet  life,  and 
to  this  fact  he  attributes  his  old  age  and  good  health.  However,  he  never  failed 
to  do  his  duty  in  any  of  the  positions  he  held,  having  an  excellent  reputation 
for  industry  and  faithfulness  to  every  obligation.     He  is  an  Odd  Fellow  of 


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784  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

long  standing,  having  joined  Schuylkill  Lodge,  No.  27,  of  Port  Carbon,  Dec. 
6,  1849 ;  he  is  a  past  grand  of  that  body.  , 

Mr.  Seitzinger  married  Mary  Martin,  who  was  bom  Aug.  15,  1824,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Martin,  a  native  of  Ireland.  She  died  Jan.  5,  1896,  and  is  buried 
at  Port  Carbon.  Children  as  follows  were  bom  to  this  marriage:  George, 
who  lives  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  married  Rose  Martin ;  Margaret,  deceased,  was 
the  wife  of  James  Rowe;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  James  Burke; 
'  Samuel,  of  Philadelphia,  married  Catherine  Gilmartin;  Peter  is  deceased; 
Thomas  resides  at  Port  Carbon  and  is  married  to  Mary  Flannery ;  John  died 
when  two  years  old ;  Jeremiah  is  a  resident  of  Philadelphia ;  Mary  F.  is  the 
wife  of  Robert  Harron. 

ROBERT  HARRON  was  bom  in  Blythe  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
June  22,  1865.  His  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth  (Steen)  Harron,  were  natives 
of  Ireland  and  Scotland,  respectively,  came  to  the  United  States  when  young, 
and  settled  in  Blythe  township,  Schuylkill  Co',  Pa.  John  Harron  was  a  mine 
superintendent  for  many  years,  and  one  of  the  early  coal  operators  in  Schuyl- 
kill county.  He  died  at  Palo  Alto,  this  county,  and  is  buried  at  Port  Carbon. 
His  children  were:  Alexander,  William,  James,  Isabella  (wife  of  Bernard 
Murray),  Samuel,  Robert,  and  Mary  (who  died  in  infancy). 

Robert  Harron  has  spent  his  entire  working  life  in  the  employ  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  and  is  at  present  employed  as 
flagman  from  Pottsville  to  Silver  Creek.  He  makes  his  home  at  Port  Carbon, 
where  he  is  well  known  and  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.  and  P.  O.  of  A.  lodges.  On  Aug.  28,  i^,  he  married  Mary 
F.  Seitzinger,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Seitzinger,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Robert  L.,  Ruth  E.  and  Anna  C.  The  family  are  Presbyterians  in  religious 
connection. 

JOSEPH  F.  MOLONY  (deceased)  was  known  personally  to  many  of  the  ^ 
residents  of  Palo  Alto,  his  long  service  in  the  ticket  office  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Railway  Company,  his  experience  in  the  hotel  business  and  as  tax 
collector  at  Palo  Alto,  having  brought  him  into  touch  with  many  of  his  fellow 
citizens. 

Mr.  Molony  was  bom  at  Palo  Alto  Feb.  22,  i860,  son  of  William  Molony,  ' 
a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1847.  He  soon  located  at 
Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  an  employe  of 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  with  whom  he  continued  until 
his  death,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  In  his  native  country  he  had  married 
Catherine  McDermott,  who  was  also  bom  in  Ireland,  and  the  young  couple 
emigrated  to  America  shortly  afterwards.  Ten  children  were  bom  to  them, 
several  of  whom  died  young.  Of  those  who  reached  maturity  Christopher  was 
well  known  as  a  train  dispatcher  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
Company;  Edward  W.,  deceased,  is  mentioned  farther  on  in  this  article;  Frank 
died  when  twenty  years  old ;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Phillips,  and  they 
occupy  the  old  homestead  at  Palo  Alto. 

Joseph  F.  Molony  obtained  his  education  in  the  local  public  schools.  At 
an  early  age  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
Company,  with  whom  he  remained  for  a  period  of  twenty  years,  during  much 
of  this  time  as  ticket  man  at  the  local  office.  He  sold  the  last  ticket  issued 
by  the  company  at  the  old  station.     In    1897   Mr.   Molony  engaged  in  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  785 

hotel  business  at  Palo  Alto,  which  he  carried  on  continuously  thereafter  until 
his  sudden  death,  on  May  i,  191 5.  His  friendly  disposition  was  as  much 
of  a  factor  in  his  success  here  as^  his  methodical  business  ways.  In  1899 
Mr.  Molony  was  elected  to  the  position  of  tax  collector  at  Palo  Alto,  in  which 
he  continued  to  serve  to  the  end  of  his  life,  though  he  was  independent  politi- 
cally, giving  his  support  to  the  men  and  measures  he  favored  most,  regardless 
of  party  ties.  He  was  a  member  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  Church  at  Pottsville. 
Mr.  Molony  married  Catherine  C.  Lee,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Ralph  Lee,  of 
Pottsville,  who  was  well  known  as  superintendent  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing shops  there.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Molony  had  no  children. 

Edward  W.  Molony,  brother  of  Joseph  F.  Molony,  was  for  many  years 
a  representative  of  the  newspapers  of  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.  He  died  March 
20,  1902.  His  arduous  and  exacting  labors  as  a  telegraph  operator  and  news- 
paper reporter  for  years  had  undermined  his  health,  and  when  he  was  stricken 
with  a  severe  attack  of  pneumonia  his  greatly  weakened  system  gave  way 
under  the  strain.  Mr.  Molony  was  bom  in  Palo  Alto,  Pa.,  Aug.  15,  185 1, 
and  after  a  few  years  of  school  took  up  the  study  of  telegraphy.  He  was 
employed  as  operator  in  Philadelphia  for  a  time  and  later  entered  the  service 
of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  for  whom  he  worked  until 
1890.  During  the  "Molly  Maguire"  troubles  and  subsequent  pursuit  he  was 
intrusted  with  many  secret  messages,  the  knowledge  alone  of  which  was  a 
dangerous  thing  to  have.  He  had  many  an  exciting  experience,  and  in  all 
of  the  incidents  in  which  he  had  a  part  displayed  the  tact  and  courage  for 
which  he  came  to  be  noted.  The  last  years  of  his  telegraph  service  were  under 
Superintendent  Ohlhausen  in  Jersey  City. 

When  he  came  to  Schuylkill  county  Mr.  Molony  took  up  the  work  of 
receiving  the  Associated  Press  reports  for  the  Miners'  Journal,  holding  the 
place  for  two  years.  After  that  time  he  became  a  local  correspondent,  writing 
up  the  suburban  news  for  the  newspapers  of  Pottsville.  Next  he  was  offered 
the  position  of  "general  utility"  man  on  the  Chronicle,  and  later  he  filled  the 
same  position  on  the  Republican.  After  a  lime  he  was  made  court  reporter, 
gathering  the  news  from  the  courthouse  with  a  fidelity  to  detail  and  broadness 
of  comprehension  that  was  gratifying  alike  to  his  employers  and  to  the  officials. 
This  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Molony  was  a  favorite  with  all  who  came  in  contact  with  him,  and  his 
genial  smile  was  never  dimmed  by  personal  feelings  or  the  illness  from  which 
he  suffered  at  the  last.  His  wit  was  proverbial  and  never  carried  with  it  the 
sting  of  malice.  Even  among  his  rivals  in  newspaper  work  he  was  remarkably 
popular,  and  few  there  were  who  did  not  miss  his  ready  reply  and  kindly 
influence.  He  was  always  ready  to  unite  in  progressive  movements  for  the 
benefit  of  his  fellow  men,  and  he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  old  Schuylkill 
County  Pen  and  Pencil  Club.  With  the  successive  members  of  the  borough 
council  he  was  always  popular,  having  reported  the  proceedings  of  that  body 
for  many  years. 

Mr.  Molony  was  a  brother-in-law  of  the  late  William  A.  Duffy,  the  lamented 
rector  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  parish,  and  his  wife,  Catherine  C.  (Duffy) 
Molony,  was  left  to  mourn  his  early  death  with  several  children,  William, 
Walter,  Edward,  Leroy  and  Vivian. 

HENRY  LANDEMANN,  formerly  a  mine  foreman,  now  living  retired  at 
Minersville.  is  a  citizen  of  German  extraction  whose  industrious\  and  uprieht 
Vol.  n— 12 


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786  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

life  is  a  credit  to  his  nationality  and  also  to  the  community  of  his  adoption. 
Mr.  Landemann  was  bom  in  Bavaria  Nov.  15,  1841,  son  of  Philip  and  Louisa 
(Meyers)  Landemann.  The  mother  died  in  Germany  and  the  father  came  to 
America  alone,  settling  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  died.  He 
followed  railroad  work  and  was  employed  at  the  mines  a  short  time,  living 
retired  for  three  years  before  his  death. 

Henry  Landemann  was  twelve  years  old  when  he  came  to  America,  and  he 
has  since  had  his  home  at  Minersville.  He  began  work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the 
breaker  for  Kear  &  Company,  in  whose  employ  he  continued  from  1858  to 
1870,  for  a  number  of  years  acting  as  boss  for  this  concern.  For  forty  years 
afterwards  he  was  with  the  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  first  as  foreman 
at  the  Mine  Hill  Gap  colliery  and  later  at  the  Beechwood  and  Richardson 
collieries,  at  the  Oakdale  washery,  at  Phoenix  PaVk,  and  at  the  Thompson 
colliery,  where  he  continued  until  his  retirement  in  November,  191 1.  He  has 
since  been  living  retired  at  Minersville.  Mr.  Landemann's  long  and  faithful 
service  with  the  Reading  Company  gained  him  a  wide  acquaintance  in  his  field 
of  work  and  he  made  many  friends  among  his  associates,  his  high  character 
and  conscientious  attention  to  duty  winning  him  the  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact.  During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Landemann  served  nine  months 
as  a  member  of  Company  A,  129th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  he  is  a  prominent  member  of  George  J.  Lawrence  Post,  No.  17,  G.  A.  R., 
which  he  is  at  present  serving  as  commander.  In  religion  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  Church. 

Mr.  Landemann  married  Caroline  Gable,  of  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  and 
they  have  had  a  large  family,  viz. :  Hannah,  now  the  wife  of  George  Diereff ; 
Charles,  deceased;  Matilda,  wife  of  W.  Jenkins;  William  A.,  living  at  home; 
Bertie,  who  married  Harry  Prescot;  George;  Caroline,  wife  of  William  Wil- 
liams ;  and  three  children  who  died  young. 

STEPHEN  REESE  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Schuylkill  county, 
having  been  bom  at  Pottsville  Oct.  13,  1839,  ^"^  resided  there  until  his 
removal  to  Ashland.  He  is  of  Welsh  extraction,  his  parents,  Stephen  and 
Johanna  (Lloyd)  Reese,  having  been  natives  of  Wales,  where  they  were 
reared  and  remained  until  after  their  marriage.  On  coming  to  this  country, 
in  the  early  fifties,  they  settled  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  where  Mr. 
Reese  soon  established  himself  as  an  enterprising  business  man.  He  carried 
on  a  flour  and  feed  store,  and  for  several  years  operated  a  breaker  at  the 
mines,  and  also  owned  and  carried  on  a  general  store  at  Pottsville.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  at  that  place  until  just  before  his  death,  passing  away  in  1859 
at  New  Berlin,  where  he  had  gone  to  live.  His  wife  had  died  in  1845.  They 
were  the  parents  of  sixteen  children,  of  whom  but  three  survive:  Stephen, 
John  and  Isaiah,  the  two  last  named  living  at  Harrisburg. 

Stephen  Reese  received  a  good  common  school  education,  and  when  a 
boy  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  which  he  followed  throughout  his 
active  years,  in  early  manhood  coming  to  Ashland,  where  he  has  ever  since 
made  his  home.  For  some  time  past  he  has  been  living  in  retirement,  enjoying 
the  ease  which  he  deserves  after  an  industrious  life.  He  built  the  home  on 
Centre  street  he  now  occupies. 

As  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  Mr.  Reese  naturally  took  great  interest 
in  the  organization  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  he  himself  assist- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  787 

ing  in  the  organization  of  Joseph  Hooker  post,  of  which  he  was  a  charter 
member,  and  one  of  the  earliest  commanders.  He  served  in  the  Civil  war 
under  three  enlistments.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  living  at  Ashland, 
and  he  was  the  first  man  to  enlist  from  that  place,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  I,  5th  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  on  April  12,  1861.  At  that  time  he  entered 
the  service  for  a  period  of  three  months,  subsequently  enlisting  for  nine 
months  in  Company  G,  129th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Cap- 
tain Leib,  and  the  third  time  joined  the  emergency  service  for  the  defense 
of  the  State.  He  took  part  in  many  engagements,  and  at  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lors ville  was  wounded  in  the  ear.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Harrisburg.  Mr. 
Reese  has  always  been  a  Republican  in  his  political  views,  and  has  been  quite 
an  active  worker  for  the  success  of  his  party  in  the  borough.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Methodist  Church. 

On  June  15,  1863,  Mr.  Reese  married  Regina  Ebert,  a  native  of  Schuyl- 
kill county,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Ebert,  who  were  early  set- 
tlers at  Ashland.    They  died  there,  and  are  buried  at  Fountain  Springs. 

Mrs.  Reese  passed  away  April  30,  1910,  the  mother  of  eight  children: 
David,  who  is  a  resident  of  Ashland;  Ella,  deceased;  William,  deceased; 
Martha,  deceased;  Harry,  deceased;  Maude,  wife  of  Joseph  Merther,  of 
Chester,  Pa.;  Edward,  who  lives  at  Ashland;  and  Lillie,  wife  of  Edward 
Blank,  of  Ashland. 

REV.  HOWARD  H.  KRAUSS,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  was  bom  near  East  Green- 
ville, Pa.,  March  7,  1876.  When  he  was  quite  young  his  parents,  Henry 
Schultz  and  Amanda  (Hoffman)  Krauss,  moved  to  Kraussdale,  Lehigh  Co., 
Pa.,  and  he  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  school  of  the  village. 
His  teachers  during  his  public  school  days  were  Beneville  X.  Schell,  Michael 
N.  Weidner,  Rev.  C.  D.  Zweier.  Rev.  E.  E.  Schantz,  Prof.  C.  E.  Dietz  (A.  B. 
Princeton),  Prof.  Preston  B.  Rothenberger  (A.  B.  of  Muhlenberg  College). 
In  the  years  1894-95  he  attended  Perkiomen  Seminary,  at  Pennsburg,  Pa., 
and  prepared  for  the  profession  of  teaching.  From  1896  to  1899  he  taught 
the  public  school  at  Coming,  in  Lower  Milford  township,  Lehigh  county, 
the  same  school  at  one  time  taught  by  Rev.  C.  S.  Kriebek,  D.  D.,  now  prin- 
cipal of  Perkiomen  Seminary  at  Pennsburg,  Pa.  From  1899  to  1902  he 
taught  the  public  school  at  Kraussdale,  his  home  school,  formerly  taught  by 
Rev.  Dr.  E.  F.  Krauss,  now  president  of  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary 
at  Chicago.  During  his  last  year  of  public  school  teaching  he  also  finished 
his  preparatory  studies  at  Perkiomen  Seminary  and  entered  Muhlenberg  Col- 
lege, at  Allentown,  Pa.  During  his  freshman  year  he  was  president  of  his 
class  and  became  a  member  of  various  literary  organizations.  During  his 
sophomore  year  he  was  elected  librarian  of  the  Euterpean  Literary  Society 
and  had  charge  of  the  library,  and  was  also  appointed  assistant  librarian  of 
Muhlenberg  College.  He  was  tutor  in  Mathematics  during  his  junior  and 
senior  years.  Mr.  Krauss  was  elected  Proctor  of  the  college  during  his 
senior  year,  and  graduated  in  1906  with  the  A.  B.  degree  in  the  first  honor 
group,  delivering  the  German  oration  on  commencement  day.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  he  entered  Mount  Airy  Seminary  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  at 
Philadelphia,  Pa.  In  addition  to  pursuing  his  course  in  theology  he  taught 
at  Perkiomen  Seminary,  Pennsburg,  during  the  spring  and  summer  terms  of 
1907  and  1908,  having  charge  of  the  teachers'  classes,  and  over  one  hun- 
dred of  the  public  school  teachers  of  Pennsylvania  were  instructed  by  him. 


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788  SCHUYLKILL  COUNT,Y,  PENNSYLVANIA 

During  the  summer  term  of  1908  he  taught  Ancient  and  Roman  History  and 
Psychology  and  Pedagogy.  His  graduation  thesis  at  Mount  Airy  Theological 
Seminary  was  **The  Doctrine  of  Predestination."  He  graduated  in  1909,  and 
at  the  commencement  exercises  of  Muhlenberg  College  in  the  same  year  he 
received  the  A.  M.  degree,  having  submitted  in  addition  to  the  regular 
required  studies  a  thesis  on  *The  Strength  and  Weakness  of  Pietism."  On 
June  7,  1909,  he  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  the  holy  ministry  in  Holy  Com- 
munion Church,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  at  the  1626  annual  convention  of  the 
Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  the  General  Coun- 
cil. He  accepted  his  first  parish,  on  being  unanimously  elected,  at  St.  John's 
Lutheran  Church,  Berrysburg,  Pa.,  where  he  rendered  excellent  service  in 
reorganizing  the  work  of  the  congregation  and  bringing  the  constitution  into 
harmony  with  Synod,  graded  the  Sunday  school,  organized  the  Luther  League, 
and  largely  raised  the  benevolent  contributions;  all  this  besides  improving 
the  church  property,  adding  many  to  the  church,  and  establishing  a  healthy 
religious  atmosphere.  In  the  summer  of  1912,  having  twice  declined  calls, 
he  accepted  the  urgent  call  to  the  newly  formed  Auburn  parish  in  Schuylkill 
county,  and  entered  upon  his  duties  Oct.  i6th.  This  parish  consists  of  St. 
John,  Auburn,  organized  1845;  Zion,  West  Brunswick,  organized  1755;  St. 
Paul,  South  Manheim,  organized  1784,  and  St.  John,  Friedensburg,  organ- 
ized 1791.  In  the  three  years  he  has  served  in  this  field  he  has  baptized  104, 
buried  sixty,  married  twenty-seven  couples,  confirmed  142,  received  twenty- 
five  by  letter  or  otherwise,  and  raised  for  benevolent  purposes  over  five 
thousand  dollars. 

Mr..  Krauss  has  served  on  various  committees  of  Synod  and  Conference, 
serving  at  the  present  time  as  statistician  of  Conference;  is  visitor  to  the 
Topton  Orphans'  Home  in  Berks  County;  is  a  member  of  the  Church  Effi- 
ciency committee,  Sunday  School  committee.  Executive  committee  of  the 
Luther  League,  and  of  the  committee  "to  investigate  the  apportionment  sys- 
tem and  report  a  plan  for  adoption  to  Synod  ;*'  besides  acting  as  correspond- 
ent and  contributor  to  the  "Lutheran,"  the  official  church  paper  of  the  Synod, 
and  other  periodicals.  In  local  affairs  he  is  a  member  of  the  borough  coun- 
cil, having  at  the  last  election  been  reelected  for  the  full  term  of  four  years. 
He  takes  a  very  prominent  part  in  the  educational  affairs  of  the  community, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade. 

In  1905  Mr.  Krauss  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Susan  W.  Kriebel, 
daughter  of  Henry  S.  Kriebel  and  his  wife,  nee  Catharine  Wiegner,  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Wackemagel,  D.  D.,  professor  of  German  in  Muhlenberg  College,  per- 
forming the  ceremony.  The  following  children' have  been  bom  to  this  union: 
Frances,  Winifred,  Frederick  and  Alberta  (twins),  and  Ida  May. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Krausses,  Hoffmans,  Schultzes,  Kriebels  and  Wieg- 
ners  came  from  the  Palatinate,  Germany,  and  located  in  the  upper  end  of 
Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  and  in  what  is  now  lower  Lehigh  and  lower  Berks 
counties.  The  Krausses  are  descendants  of  Balthasar  Krauss,  who  with  his 
mother,  Anna  Krauss,  a  widow,  in  September,  1733,  came  with  some  of  the 
first  Schwenkfelders  to  this  country.  He  married  Jan.  16,  1736,  Susanna 
Hoffman  (who  followed  him  from  the  old  country  in  September,  1734),  and 
settled  in  the  most  southern  part  of  the  present  township  of  Lower  Milford, 
Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.  (Kraussdale),  in  the  year  1749.  He  purchased  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres,  which  was  surveyed  Sept.  29,  1734,  to  a  George  Schu- 
macher.    Krauss  obtained  a  patent  on  this  land  Dec.  16,  1749,  for  thirty-one 


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AST  OR,   LENOX 


C  - 


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ZION'S  (OLD  RED)  CHURCH 

Original  church  built  1766,  burned  by  the   Indians   1766;   next  church  completed   1770:   rebuilt  of  stone, 
completed  1808;  stone  church  razed  and  replaced  with  present  building^  1888 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  789 

pounds.  He  sold  the  same  to  his  son,  Balthasar  Krauss,  Jr.,  for  seven  hun- 
dred pounds,  and  died  two  years  later,  Feb.  25,  1774,  aged  over  sixty-eight 
years,  leaving  one  son,  Balthasar,  and  four  daughters:  Rosina,  married  to 
George  Heydrick;  Susanna,  married  to  Baltzer  Yeakel;  Barbara,  married  to 
George  Urffer;  and  Maria,  married  to  Mathias  Gerhard. 

Balthasar  Krauss,  Jr.,  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters :  John,  Andrew, 
George,  Helena,  Susanna,  Regina  and  Lydia.  John  Krauss  was  a  well  eclu- 
cated  man,  having  attended  the  well  conducted  schools  of  the  Schwenk- 
felders.  He  became  a  prominent  surveyor,  and  also  a  machinist.  Andrew,  , 
with  his  brother,  John,  became  an  organ  builder,  and  when  he  was  nineteen 
years  old  made  the  first  pipe  organ  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1790.  They 
made  a  number  of  pipe  organs  for  the  churches  in  the  community.  Later 
George  and  Joel,  sons  of  Andrew,  made  a  bass  viol.  In  1828  George  and 
Samuel  made  a  melodeon,  which  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  one  ever 
made.  Later  still  George  and  Samuel  made  an  ingenious  globe,  turned  by 
a  clock  which  they  also  made;  the  painting  and  printing  were  put  on  by 
George,  his  copy  being  a  map  of  the  world  which  was  printed  in  London. 
This  globe  turned  by  the  clock  works  once  in  twenty-four  hours.  The  clock 
is  still  in  existence. 


Zion's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  (Red  Church),  of  West  Bruns- 
wick Township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  About  the  year  1750  a  few  German 
Lutherans  left  their  homes  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  to  prospect  the  country 
beyond  the  Blue  Mountains,  at  the  same  time  having  in  view  the  planting 
of  a  new  settlement,  if  their  expectations  would  be  realized.  Being  pleased 
with  the  general  appearance  of  the  country,  and  the  apparent  fertility  of  the 
soil — for  it  is  related  that  they  witnessed  in  the  valleys  through  which  flow 
small  streams  of  pure  water  an  indescribably  luxuriant  growth  of  grass — 
they  concluded  to  make  the  newly  explored  region  their  future  home.  How 
they  acquired  the  large  tract  of  land  comprising  nearly  half  of  the  district 
known  at  present  as  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  cannot  be 
accurately  ascertained.  Froin  the  language  used  in  the  old  indentures,  it  is 
probable  that  it  was  granted  to  them  by  the  proprietors  of  Pennsylvania,  or 
their  deputies,  for  a  mere  consideration,  namely,  that  it  be  occupied  and 
improved.  The  principal  movers  in  this  new  enterprise  were  Peter  Weyman 
and  Peter  Schmelgert,  who  subsequently  became  very  prominent  in  the  history 
of  Zion's  church.  The  way  having  been  made  clear,  others  soon  followed. 
Some  of  these  settled  on  the  tract  held  by  Weyman;  others  penetrated  still 
further  into  the  interior  and  received  new  tracts  not  as  yet  taken  up.  Thus 
by  the  year  1754  a  considerable  number  of  German  families  had  settled  in 
this  new  territory,  designated  at  that  time  as  the  land  beyond  the  Blue  Moun- 
tain. 

These  Germans,  like  many  others  of  our  forefathers,  were  a  brave,  noble- 
minded  and  enterprising  people,  and  withal  a  people  imbued  with  right  relig- 
ious principles.  Their  object,  therefore,  was  not  simply  to  take  possession  of 
so  much  new  territory,  and  clear  and  cultivate  it  to  advance  their  temporal 
interests,  but  likewise  to  establish  a  community  with  whom  should  be  asso- 
ciated certain  lofty  and  precious  principles.  Hence  they  commenced  at  an 
early  period  of  their  settlement  to  agitate  the  subject  of  organizing^  a  church 
on  the  basis  of  the  principles  they  had  learned  and  lived  in  the  Fatherland. 
In  this  undertaking  they  were  greatly  aided  and  encouraged  by  Rev.  Daniel 


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790  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Schumaker,  at  that  time  laboring  as  a  missionary  in  the  counties  of  Lehigh 
and  Berks,  who  occasionally  visited  them,  sometimes  crossing  the  mountain 
on  foot,  and  preached  to  them,  baptized  their  little  ones,  and  instructed  and 
confirmed  their  sons  and  daughters.  His  self-denying  labors  among  them  com- 
menced as  early  as  the  year  1755  and  continued  to  the  year  1781,  inclusive. 

Ten  years  after  Rev.  Mr.  Schumaker  commenced  to  visit  this  people,  i.  e., 
in  the  year  1765,  they  began  the  erection. of  a  house  of  worship,  and  completed 
it  in  1770,  at  which  time  they  reorganized  the  congregation  under  the  name 
and  title  Zion's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and  adopted  a  constitution.  But 
for  the  exceedingly  formidable  obstacle  in  the  way,  they  evidently  would  have 
begun  at  an  earlier  period  this  much  desired  object  of  their  heart,  namely, 
the  presence  of  numerous  Indians,  who  seemed  at  that  time  to  have  been  more 
bent  upon  committing  outrages  thkn  in  former  periods  in  the  history  of  the 
Province.  Being  much  exposed  to  their  depredations,  and  not  knowing  how 
soon  they  would  be  obliged  to  flee  for  safety  beyond  the  mountains  and  yield 
the  soil  to  the  savage  sons  of  the  forest,  they  did  not  feel  secure  enough  in  their 
abodes  to  attempt  such  an  enterprise.  That  they  were  actually  driven  from 
their  homes  by  the  Indians  may  be  inferred  from  the  following  allusion  to  their 
trials  in  a  memorial  found  in  the  old  Church  Record :  "Inasmuch  as  we  felt 
it  a  duty  resting  on  us  to  erect  a  church,  after  having  suffered  almost  unen- 
durable calamities  from  the  savage  and  heathenish  people,  the  so-called  Indians, 
1756,  etc.,  but  afterwards  succeeded  by  the  grace  of  God  to  re-establish  peace 
and  quiet  once  more  to  live  in  our  former  abodes,  we,  therefore  resolved  to 
build  a  new  church;  which  was  finally  completed  in  1770." 

From  the  above  it  appears  then  that  the  first  settlers  in  these  parts  were 
very  much  annoyed  and  disturbed  by  the  savages.  Indeed,  many  terrible 
stories  of  Indian  horrors  and  cruelties  are  related  by  their  descendants.  From 
the  fact  that  there  are  no  baptisms  recorded  in  Schumaker's  record  (at  present 
in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Schumaker),  between  1760  and  1765,  this  seems  to  have 
been  the  period  of  greatest  suffering.  They  were  in  consequence  forced  to  flee 
for  safety. 

As  already  stated,  the  first  church  erected  was  commenced  in  1765  and 
completed  in  1770.  It  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the  Triune 
God  on  the  First  Sunday  in  Advent  by  Rev.  Mr.  Schumaker  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  concourse  of  people,  who  had  come  from  near  and  far  to  attend  the 
services.  The  joy  felt  and  expressed  by  these  people  on  this  happy  occasion 
must  have  been  great.  And  they  had  reasons  to  be  joyful  in  the  Lord.  The 
thought  that  they  were  happily  delivered  from  the  atrocities  of  savage  men. 
and  that  after  having  endured  innumerable  hardships  they  had  now  a  church 
of  their  own,  could  well  fill  their  hearts  with  joy  and  gratitude  to  Almighty 
God.  That  the  erection  of  the  church  was  effected  through  much  self  denial  may 
be  imagined  when  we  remember  that  it  was  five  years  in  building.  The  men 
most  prominent  in  this  work,  as  evidenced  in  the  record,  were  Peter  Schmel- 
gert,  Peter  Weyman,  Jacob  Schaeffer,  Michael  Deibert,  Gottfried  Berger,  Paul 
Heim,  Phillip  Pausman,  Christopher  Schaber,  Casper  Prag,  and  George  Hun- 
singer.  The  numerical  strength  of  the  congregation  at  this  time  cannot  be 
definitely  stated,  as  the  list  of  the  membership  as  well  as  of  the  communicants 
is  wanting  in  the  record.  It  may,  however,  be  estimated  as  not  less  than  one 
hundred,  if  the  number  of  those  who  were  confirmed  in  a  single  year  may  be 
taken  as  correct  data  to  go  by.  These  were  of  course  scattered  over  a  large 
territory,  as  this  was  the  only  church  in  this  section  of  the  country,  so  that 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  791 

this  is  in  fact,  the  oldest  congregation  in  Schuylkill  county.  The  ministers 
who  served  this  congregation,  after  Schumaker,  were:  Frederick  De  Milter, 
1782-83;  Abraham  Gottlieb  Deschler,  1784-88;  Daniel  Lehman,  1789-91,  and 
John  Frederick  Obenhausen,  1 792-1803. 

The  membership  having  considerably  increased  since  the  erection  of  the 
first  church,  so  that  it  was  impossible  to  suitably  accommodate  all  who  desired 
to  worship  there,  the  members  determined,  in  the  year  1799,  to  erect  a  new 
house  of  worship,  larger  and  more  commodious  than  the  old  one.  The  comer- 
stone  of  the  new  building  was  laid  on  the  14th  day  of  October,  in  the  same 
year,  by  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Obenhausen,  who  preached  from  Isaiah  xxviii:i6.  The 
memorial  placed  in  the  cornerstone,  a  copy  of  which  was  preserved,  exhibits 
the  lofty  principles  which  governed  our  Lutheran  forefathers  in  their  actions, 
as  well  as  their  strong  conviction  of  the  correctness  of  the  doctrines  they  be- 
lieved and  maintained,  as  the  following  extracts  will  plainly  show : 

**Since  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  prosper  this  State,  so  that  it  has 
become  a  blooming  and  delightful  garden,  and  this  largely  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  the  Germans,  a  few  of  this  nation,  living  in  this  country  and  in 
this  vicinity,  cherished  the  sincere  desire  not  only  to  confess  until  death  the 
Christian  religion  which  they  had  learned  in  Germany  and  accepted  and  kept 
as  a  perfect  confession  of  the  truth  of  God's  Word  which  is  able  to  make  wise 
unto  salvation,  and  to  publicly  serve  God  in  their  adopted  country,  but  also 
to  see  to  it  that  in  years  to  come  the  same  be  confessed,  loved  and  lived  by 
their  children.  They,  therefore,  erected  in  this  place,  a  house  of  prayer,  in 
which  should  be  taught  the  pure  Word  of  God,  and  the  sacraments  admin- 
istered according  to  the  explicit  command  of  our  dear  Lord,  Jesus  Christ. 
After  many  trials  and  hardships  their  object  was  finally  attained.  The  church 
erected  to  the  God  of  their  fathers  was  solemnly  dedicated,  and  publicly  con- 
fessed and  declared  to  be  and  remain  an  exclusively  Lutheran  church  to  the 
end  of  time.  Inasmuch,  however,  as  this  church,  built  by  the  fathers  under 
many  trying  circiunstances,  has  been  occupied  for  twenty-nine  years,  and  in 
the  meantime  has  greatly  prospered  and  increased  in  numbers,  and  has  there- 
fore become  too  small  for  our  present  purpose,  the  congregation  has,  there- 
fore, resolved  by  the  blessing  of  God  to  build  a  new  and  more  commodious 
house  of  prayer  to  His  honor  and  to  the  glory  of  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ^ 
in  order  that  in  future  we  may  have  a  more  convenient  place  to  worship  God 
and  thereby  be  prepared  for  eternal  salvation."  The  following  solemn  invo- 
cation oi  blessings  is  the  conclusion  of  this  paper :  "And  Thou,  my  faithful 
God  and  Father,  have  mercy  upon  the  whole  Christian  Church,  but  especially 
on  this,  thy  congregation !  Preserve  among  them  peace  and  brotherly  love,  and 
bless  and  keep  from  danger  and  accident  those  who  labor  at  this  house !  Be 
and  remain,  O  Lord,  their  God  and  Saviour,  who  are  now  and  will  hereafter 
be  connected  with  the  church !  Bless  the  parents  and  guide  them  by  Thy  Holy 
Spirit,  that  they  may  train  their  children  to  walk  in  the  right  way,  and  teach 
them  the  true  doctrine  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  order  that  after  their  departure 
hence,  they  may  belong  to  the  true  people  of  God,  who  have  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ !  We  commit  this  house  of  prayer  into  thy  gracious  keeping,  so 
that  it  will  truly  be  the  house  of  God  and  the  gate  of  heaven."  This  second 
church,  commenced  in  1799  and  completed  in  1803,  was  dedicated  to  God's 
service  on  the  29th  and  30th  of  May.  1803,  the  dedicatory  services  being  per- 
formed by  Rev.  Daniel  Lehman,  J.  F.  Obenhausen  and  David  Schaeffer. 

Contrary  to  the  wishes  of  its  founders,  this  church  is  at  present  occupied 


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792  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

by  both  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregations  and  hence  no  longer 
exclusively  Lutheran.  The  Reformed  church,  situated  a  few  rods  from  the 
site  of  the  Lutheran,  having  been  started  in  1795,  becoming  dilapidated,  its 
members  made  application  to  the  members  of  the  Lutheran  church  to  unite 
with  them  in  the  formation  of  a  union  church.  Their  application  was  favorably 
received  by  the  Lutherans,  acted  upon,  and  finally  articles  of  agreement  made 
to  sell  half  of  their  rights  and  claims  to  the  Reformed.  This  uriiiappy  state  of 
things  was  brought  about  in  the  year  1833,  at  the  time  when  the  Lutheran 
church  here  was  passing  through  strange  experiences  and  losing  members  on  all 
sides.  Some  left  and  connected  themselves  with  other  Lutheran  congregations 
then  beginning  to  spring  up  in  the  surrounding  neighborhood;  others  left  and 
joined  the  sects  who  were  at  that  time  manifesting  considerable  power  in 
deceiving  and  drawing  away  the  unwary. 

In  the  year  1803  this  congregation,  which  had  been  until  then  supplied, 
united  with  four  others  to  build  a  charge.  This  charge  called  as  its  pastor 
Rev.  John  Knoske,  who  served  it  from  1803  to  181 1,  eight  years.  In  the  year 
181 1,  Rev.  George  Mennig  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  this  pastorate,  and 
labored  in  it  until  1833,  when  he  was  followed  by  Rev.  William  G.  Mennig, 
whose  labor  here  extended  to  the  year  184^.  The  following  are  the  ministers 
who  served  this  congregation  after  William  Mennig:  Nathan  Yeager, 
1845-51;  G.  W.  Scheide,  1852;  Julius  Ehrhardt,  1853-64;  J.  Leonberger, 
1865-69;  G.  F.  Woemer,  1870;  D.  K.  Kepner,  1871-72;  I.  N.  S.  Erb,  1873- 
1888;  H.  A.  Weller,  1889-1911 ;  H.  H.  Krauss,  1912. 

Early  in  the  year  1883  plans  were  undertaken  for  the  building  of  a  new 
church,  and  the  present  church  building  resulted.  On  Aug.  19th  of  this  year 
the  cornerstone  of  the  new  building  was  laid,  sermons  being  preached  by  the 
Revs.  R.  S.  Appel,  Reformed,  and  D.  K.  Kepner,  Lutheran.  On  Jan.  6,  1884, 
the  first  sermon  in  the  new  church  building  was  preached  in  the  basement  by 
the  Lutheran  pastor.  Rev.  I.  N.  S.  Erb;  text,  Luke  ii,  36-37.  The  Reformed 
pastor,  Henry  Leisse,  preached  his  first  sermon  also  in  the  basement,  on  the 
following  Sunday,  Jan.  13th.  The  new  church  building  was  formally  dedi- 
cated on  the  27th  and  28th  days  of  September,  1884. 

lEarly  in  the  year  1905  a  movement  was  set  on  foot  to  observe  the  150th 
anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  congregation  of  the  Lutheran  church  in 
West  Brunswick.  William  B.  Ketner,  Joseph  A.  Walbom,  Henry  J.  Wagner, 
Francis  L.  Matz,  Jonathan  H.  Walborn  and  Mandon  S.  Fegley  were  duly 
appointed  a  committee  of  arrangements.  Oct.  7  and  8  were  the  days  appointed 
for  the  celebration,  and  printed  invitations  were  issued  to  all  known  descend- 
ants of  the  congregation.  The  Historical  Society  of  Schuylkill  County  was 
invited  to  participate  in  a  body  and  have  charge  of  one  of  the  sessions.  When 
the  appointed  days  had  come  the  results  of  the  devotion  of  the  committee 
became  visible  in  the  great  concourse  of  several  thousand  people  from  near 
and  from  far.  Descendants  of  the  fathers,  now  scattered  over  the  wide  land, 
came  to  spend  the  days  and' participate  in  the  notable  services  which  were  pre- 
pared. On  this  occasion  sermons  were  delivered  by  Rev.  F.  J.  F.  Schantz, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  R.  S.  Apple,  Rev.  W.  D.  Stoyer,  and  addresses  by  Rev.  H.  A. 
Weller,  pastor,  Mr.  John  N.  Heim,  Hon.  D.  C^  Henning,  Rev.  J.  H.  Umbenhen, 
Ph.  D.,  Rev.  J.  H.  Eastman,  D.  D.,  Rev.  S.  L.  Whitmore,  D.  D.,  Rev.  W.  F. 
Rentz,  Rev.  Carl  G.  Karsch,  Rev.  Henry  Leisse. 

The  pipe-organ  originally  dedicated  Oct.  16,  1808,  and  which  has  served 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  793 

the  congregation  all  these  years,  is  still  in  active  service  each  Lord's  Day,  and 
has  as  sweet  and  melodious  a  tone  as  any  of  modem  make. 

The  Sunday  school  rooms  are  at  the  present  time  being  improved  and  gas- 
lights are  being  installed.  There  are  active  Ladies'  Aid  and  Missionary  Socie- 
ties connected  with  the  congregation.  The  congregation  has  just  approved 
and  adopted  the  **duplex  envelope,"  has  a  graded  Sunday  school,  and  is  in  a 
prosperous  condition.    The  congregation  is  old  in  years  but  young  in  activity. 

GEORGE  W.  WALTER,  of  Tamaqua,  is  a  business  man  of  good  stand- 
ing and  also  respected  for  his  personal  character,  in  which  he  shows  the  traits 
which  have  been  typical  of  his  family  in  all  the  time  it  has  been  identified  with 
the  borough.  Its  members  have  always  ranked  with  the  substantial  element, 
doing  their  duty  as  citizens  and  proving  themselves  reliable  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life. 

John  C.  Walter,  grandfather  of  George  W.  Walter,  was  bom  in  Stiitt- 
gart,  Germany,  and  spent  his  early  life  there.  Coming  to  America  when  a 
young  man  he  settled  at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  butcher  business,  carrying  it  on  successfully  until  his  untimely  death, 
in  1856,  when  he  was  but  forty-two  years  old.  He  was  killed  by  a  cannon 
used  at  the  celebration  in  honor  of  President  Buchanan's  election,  and  is 
buried  at  Tamaqua.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Fredericka  Gephart, 
was  also  bom  in  Germany,  and  came  to  America  when  a  child.  Their  fam- 
ily consisted  of  the  following  children :  John  C. ;  Rosie,  who  married  John  E. 
Tiley;  Emma,  who  married  Levi  Stagerwalt;  Mary,  who  married  Michael 
Bonshoff ;  and  Gottlieb,  who  died  when  six  years  old. 

John  C.  Walter,  son  of  John  C.  and  Fredericka  (Gephart)  Walter,  was 
bom  Dec.  18,  1849,  ^^  Port  Carbon,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  one  year 
old  when  brought  to  Tamaqua,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  his  youth  he 
clerked  for  a  time  in  a  store  for  Mr.  Lutz,  and  was  afterwards  a  freight 
conductor  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  road,  remaining  in  the  employ  of 
the  railway  company  for  five  years.  In  1874  he  embarked  in  the  freight  and 
express  business  on  his  own  account  in  Tamaqua,  and  he  has  continued  the 
same  successfully  since,  having  a  profitable  patronage  in  and  around  the 
borough.  In  1890  he  purchased  the  livery  business  of  Shiverstine  &  Glass- 
moyer,  which  he  has  carried  on  up  to  the  present  in  connection  with  his  orig- 
inal line.  His  place  of  business  is  at  the  rear  of  the  "United  States  Hotel." 
Mr.  Walter  has  mingled  in  local  politics  and  government  to  a  considerable 
extent,  being  well  known  as  an  effective  worker  in  the  Republican  party.  He 
has  been  elected  to  several  offices,  having  served  as  a  member  of  the  Tamaqua 
school  board  and  as  high  constable  of  Tamaqua,  having  filled  the  latter  office 
for  the  last  seventeen  years.  In  191 2  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  lower  house 
of  the  State  Legislature,  but  was  defeated,  losing  by  only  ninety-six  votes. 
In  the  social  orders  he  is  well  known,  belonging  to  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  Independent  Americans  and  Citizens'  Fire  Company,  of  which 
latter  he  was  a  charter  member.  The  family  are  Methodists  in  religious 
connection. 

Mr.  Walter  married  Lavina  Wagner,  daughter  of  Michael  Wagner,  who 
was  the  first  to  engage  in  the  express  and  freight  business  at  Tamaqua;  he 
died  when  eighty-two  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walter  have  had  a  large  fam- 
ily: William,  who  lives  at  Tamaqua;  John,  deceased;  George  W. ;  Sarah, 
who  married  Olive  Folweiller,  of  Tamaqua;   Harry,  of   Philadelphia,   Pa.; 


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794  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mary,  who  married  Harold  Yost  and  is  living  in  Reading,  Pa.;  Harold, 
deceased;  Clara  B.,  wife  of  Irvin  Rex,  living  at  Mauch  Chunk,  Pa.;  twins 
who  died  when  six  months  old ;  Samuel,  of  Tamaqua ;  and  Curtis,  of  Tamaqua. 

George  W.  Walter,  son  of  John  C.  and  Lavina  (Wagner)  Walter,  was 
bom  at  Tamaqua  in  1877  and  has  spent  all  his  life  there.  His  education  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools,  and  he  began  business  life  a^  a  clerk,  being  so 
engaged  for  ten  years.  He  has  since  been  with  his  father  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  has  become  thoroughly  experienced,  and  much  of  the  pres- 
ent prosperity  of  the  enterprise  may  be  attributed  to  his  energetic  methods 
and  prompt  attention  to  patrons,  who  appreciate  the  obliging  and  efficient 
service  which  the  Walters  have  always  endeavored  to  render  to  their  cus- 
tomers. Like  his  father  Mr.  Walter  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  has  taken 
some  active  part  in  local  politics.  He  served  three  years  as  borough  auditor. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Encampment, 
and  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 

Mr.  Walter  married  Annie  Brodbeck,  of  Tamaqua,  daughter  of  George 
Brodbeck.    They  have  two  children,  Donald  and  Ethyl. 

JARED  HAFER  owns  the  large  farm  in  East  Brunswick  township  on 
which  he  resides,  but  he  is  not  now  actively  engaged  in  its  operation,  having 
practically  retired.  Most  of  his  mature  life  has  been  spent  in  this  portion  of 
Schuylkill  county,  but  he  is  a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  bom  March  11, 
1842,  in  Upper  Bern  township.  The  name  Hafer  is  an  old  one  in  that  county. 
One  Matthias  Hafer  settled  there,  a  mile  east  of  Reading,  in  Alsace  town- 
ship, upon  his  emigration  to  this  country  from  the  Province  of  Alsace,  on 
the  borders  of  the  Rhine.  He  carried  on  farming  until  his  decease.  His 
wife  was  Julia  Schmid,  and' they  had  eight  children,  seven  sons  and  one 
daughter,  namely:  John,  Matthias,  George,  Benjamin,  Isaac,  Daniel,  Henry 
and  Maria  (Mrs.  Jacob  Hill).  We  do  not  know  whether  the  son  Daniel 
was  the  grandfather  of  Jared  Hafer  or  not. 

Daniel  Hafer,  grandfather  of  Jared,  was  born  in  Oley  township,  Berks 
county,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  all  his  life,  and  died  when  over  seventy- 
seven  years  old.  His  children  were:  Nathan  married  Rebecca  Blatt;  Daniel 
married  Polly  Spatz;  Samuel  married  a  Miss  Reeser;  Jacob  is  mentioned 
below;  Julia  married  Jacob ^oak;  Polly  married  Samuel  Dunkelberger.  The 
parents  are  buried  at  Bellman's  Church  in  Berks  county.  Daniel  Hafer  was 
a  member  of  Spiess's  German  Reformed  Church  in  that  county,  and  highly 
respected  as  a  good  Christian  man.  Politically  he  supported  the  Democratic 
party. 

Jacob  Hafer,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  Oley  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa- 
in April,  1806,  and  died  in  Febmary,  1879.  He  worked  for  his  father  until 
he  was  twenty- four  years  of  age,  and  learned  the  weaver's  trade,  but  though 
he  followed  it  for  many  years  he  also  continued  farm  work.  He  owned  a 
tract  of  twenty  acres  in  Center  township,  Berks  county,  which  he  operated 
while  working  at  his  trade,  and  on  selling  this  tract  removed  to  Bern  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  where  he  tenanted  different  farms  until  his  death.  He 
also  taught  German  in  the  schools  of  that  township.  He  served  his  fellow 
citizens  in  the  township  offices  of  supervisor  and  assessor,  and  also  as  elec- 
tion inspector,  taking  a  close  interest  in  politics  as  an  ardent  member  of 
the  Democratic  party.  His  religious  connection  was  with  Bellman's  German  Re- 
formed Church,  where  he  and  his  wife,  Catherine  (Koch),  are  buried.    She 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  795 


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was  a  native  of  Center  township,  Berks  county,  daughter  of  Jacob  Koch. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hafer  were  the  parents  of  these  children:  Levi  married  Kate 
Ludwig,  and  both  are  deceased;  Jacob  married  Mary  Matz,  and  both  are 
deceased;  Daniel  married  Anna  Weinholt,  and  both  are  deceased;  Abraham 
died  young;  Levina  married  Eli  Daubert,  and  both  are  deceased;  Jared  is 
mentioned  below;  Catherine,  deceased,  married  Charles  Baltser. 

Jared  Hafer  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Berks  county  and 
was  reared  to  agricultural  life,  working  out  among  farmers  until  he  was  fif- 
teen years  old.  He  also  assisted  his  father,  to  whom  he  gave  aU  his  earnings 
until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age.  When  he  married  he  located  at  New 
Ringgold,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  engaged  at  the  washery  near  by  for 
about  six  months.  Then  he  removed  to  West  Perni  township,  this  county,  and 
bought  a  tract  of  fifty-four  acres  and  the  mill  now  owned  by  John  F.  Staudt. 
He  developed  this  property,  remodeled  the  mill,  built  a  sawmill,  and  operated 
that  place  for  about  eleven  years,  until  he  removed  to  his  present  tract  in 
East  Brunswick  township,  having  bought  the  same,  260  acres,  from  Lewis 
Audenried.  Of  this  100  acres  are  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Hafer  has  made 
numerous  improvements  on  the  place,  remodeled  the  dwelling  house,  and 
erected  many  outbuildings,  all  the  surroundings  bearing  witness  to  his  suc- 
cess and  thrift.  He  carried  on  general  farming,  and  though  now  practically 
retired  still  markets  his  products  once  a  week  to  Tamaqua.  His  progressive 
disposition  and  public  spirit  have  been  manifested  chiefly  in  his  interest  in 
school  affairs,  for  which  he  worked  zealously  during  his  term  of  three  years 
as  school  director.  In  politics  he  adheres  to  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  Hafer 
was  formerly  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of 
New  Ringgold,  and  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  in  West  Penn  township.  He 
belongs  to  Zion's  Reformed  Church  in  West  Penn  township,  at  one  time  held 
the  office  of  deacon,  and  was  committeeman  of  Weaver's  Sunday  school  in 
East  Brunswick  township. 

Mr.  Hafer  married  Catherine  Osenbach,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Kate 
(Dreisbach)  Osenbach,  and  we  have  the  following  record  of  their  large  fam- 
ily: (i)  Daniel  Jacob,  bom  Oct.  16,  1866,  married  Annie  Trexel,  and  they 
reside  at  Reading,  Pa.  Their  children  are  Edith,  Ruth,  Mary,  Erma  and 
Grace.  (2)  Kate  Isabella,  bom  Feb.  4,  1868,. had  one  child  (now  deceased), 
by  her  first  husband,  Charles  D.  Rapp.  After  his  death  she  married  (second) 
Elmer  Diener,  and  they  live  in  East  Brunswick  township.  (3)  Jared  Milton, 
bom  Nov.  18,  1869,  lives  in  Rush  township,  Schuylkill  county.'  He  married 
Rosie  Hoppes,  and  they,  have  had  children  as  follows :  One  that  died  in 
infancy,  Elma  (deceased).  Bertha,  Cora,  Raymond,  Nathan,  Calvin,  Oliver, 
Mary,  Eva,  Abner  and  Mildred.  (4)  Anna  Rebecca,  born  July  13,  1871, 
married  Lewis  Gerber,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  one  that  died  young 
and  Mary.  They  reside  in  West  Penn  township.  (5)  A  son  born  Jan.  14, 
1873,  is  deceased.  (6)  Sarah  Alice,  bom  Dec.  24,  1873,  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Hoppes,  of  West  Penn  township.  Their  children  are  Alvin,  Jennie,  one 
deceased,  Leon  and  Raymond.  (7)  Freddie  Edwin,  bom  Feb.  21,  1875,  niar- 
ried  Mary  Zellner,  and  has  one  child,  Elsie  May.  Their  home  is  in  East 
Brunswick  township.  (8)  Moses  William,  bom  May  13,  1876.  is  deceased. 
(9)  Calvin,  bom  Sept.  28,  1877,  is  unmarried.  (10)  Caroline,  bom  May  16, 
1879,  married  Heniy  Weaver,  of  East  Bmnswick  township,  (ii)  A  son 
bom  Dec.  6,  1881,  is  deceased.  (12)  Samuel  Aaron,  bom  May  19,  1883,  is 
unmarried.     (13)  Frank  Howard,  bom  Aug.  28,  1884,  married  Katie  Baer, 


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796  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  their  children  are  Florence,  Leroy,  Stella  and  Dorothy.  They  live  in 
Reading,  Pa.  (14)  Clara  Agnes,  bom  July  5,  1886,  is  deceased.  (15)  Mary 
Levina,  born  Sept.  15,  1888,  is  unmarried.  (16)  Jennie  May,  bom  March  22, 
1890,  is  deceased.     (17)  Eva  Minerva,  bom  July  2T,  1893,  is  unmarried. 

Mrs.  Catherine  (Osenbach)  Hafer  was  bom  Feb.  17,  1850,  in  East 
Bmnswick  township,  was  educated  there,  and  lived  at  home  until  her  mar- 
riage. She  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Osenbach  and  granddaughter  of  Christian 
Osenbach,  of  East  Bmnswick  township.  He  followed  farming  and  charcoal 
buming  all  his  life,  dying  when  about  sixty  years  old.  -  His  wife,  Catherine 
(Gottshall),  died  in  May,  1874,  aged  ninety-seven  years,  and  they  are  buried 
at  the  Frieden's  Church  in  Kew  Ringgold.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
congregation  there,  and  served  faithfully  as  deacon.  On  political  questions 
he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Osenbach  had  a  large  family,  but  the 
names  of  several  of  their  children  are  not  obtainable.  We  have  record  of 
the  following:  Daniel  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hafer;  Christian  married 
Sarah  Gottshall,  and  both  are  deceased ;  William  married  Brigetta  Kemmerer, 
who  is  deceased;  John  married  a  Miss  Halderman,  and  both  are  deceased; 
Joseph  married  Mary  Beableheimer,  who  is  deceased;  Kate  married  Daniel 
Bankes,  and  after  his  death  a  Mr.  Snyder,  and  they  are  now  deceased;  Mary 
married  John  Baer,  and  both  are  deceased;  Sarah  married  John  Kemmerer, 
who  is  deceased;  Susanna  married  Charles  Beableheimer. 

Daniel  Osenbach,  father  of  Mrs.  Jared  Hafer,  was  bom  Feb.  5,  1819,  in 
East  Bmnswick  township,  and  died  in  that  township  in  November,  1882. 
He  was  reared  and  educated  in  East  Brunswick  township,  leamed  the  wheel- 
wright's trade,  and  farmed  for  many  years.  He  and  his  son-in-law,  Jared 
Hafer,  owned  *  farms  together  in  West  Penn  township,  and  came  to  East 
Bmnswick  township  together.  Mr.  Osenbach  owned  forty-three  acres  of 
the  original  260  acres  in  the  Hafer  farm,  which  he  later  traded  for  another 
piece  of  land;  this  tract  of  forty-three  acres  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Elmer 
Diener.  Mr.  Osenbach  had  a  shop  on  his  farm  and  followed  his  trade  along 
with  farming.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  kept  in  touch  with  local  politics 
and  public  matters,  was  elected  to  the  offices  of  school  director  and  super- 
visor,^ and  served  his  fellow  citizens  capably  in  both.  Church  work  was 
always  one  of  his  chief  interests,  and  he  was  very  active  as  a  member  of 
the  Frieden's  Lutheran  Church  at  New  Ringgold,  which  he  served  as  deacon. 
Mr.  Osenbach  married  Catherine  Dreisbach,  who  was  born  Oct.  31,  1817, 
and  died  when  over  seventy  years  of  age.  She  is  buried  with  her  husband 
in  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county.  Children  as  follows  were  bom 
to  them:  Carolina  married  Aaron  Schrack  (deceased)  and  (second)  John  F. 
Staudt;  Rebecca  died  when  nine  years  old;  Catherine  is  Mrs.  Jared  Hafer; 
two  childred  died  unnamed. 

FREDERICK  W.  BRACHMAN,  of  Tuscarora,  has  spent  all  his  life 
in  that  section  of  Schuylkill  county  and  is  deservedly  held  in  esteem  as  one 
of  its  most  creditable  citizens.  By  diligence  and  the  most  honorable  methods 
he  has  made  his  way  up  until  he  is  now  one  of  the  notably  successful  busi- 
ness men  of  his  locality.  The  large  wholesale  and  retail  meat  trade  which 
he  commands  has  been  developed  through  his  judgment  and  foresight,  which 
have  never  been  at  fault  in  estimating  the  opportunities  of  the  re^on  in  which 
his  operations  have  been  carried  on.     His  faith  in  local  possibilities  has  not 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  797 

only  given  him  the  courage  to  branch  out  in  his  own  enterprise,  but  has  been 
a  factor  in  encouraging  other  activities. 

Mr.  Brachman  is  a  native  of  Brockton,  Schuylkill  county,  born  April  6, 
1866,  son  of  the  late  Frederick  W.  and  Margaret  (Gross)  Brachman.  The 
father  was  bom  in  Germany  July  13,  1823,  and  spent  his  early  years  in  that 
country,  coming  to  the  United  States  when  a  young  man  of  nineteen.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Patterson  (now  Broclrton  post  office),  in  Schuyl- 
kill township,  Schuylkill,  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  at  first 
doing  mine  work  there,  until  1864.  Then  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business, 
which  he  continued  until  his  death,  Sept.  18,  18&.  He  is  buried  in  the 
Lutheran  cemetery  at  Middleport.  A  man  of  intelligence  and  progressive 
ideas,  he  took  a  genuine  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  community  and  the 
proper  administration  of  local  government,  and  himself  served  as  tax  col- 
lector and  school  director,  holding  the  latter  office  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
Lutheran  in  religious  doctrine.  Mrs.  Brachman  died  March  20,  1910,  and  is 
buried  at  Brockton.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Caro- 
line died  in  infancy;  Kate  married  Richard  McBreen;  John  is  a  nesident  of 
Middleport,  this  county;  Mary  is  married  to  Frank  Wadlinger;  Sophia  mar- 
ried Fred  Krantz;  Peter  is  a  resident  of  Tamaqua,  this  county;  Lena  (de- 
ceased) was  the  wife  of  the  late  Peter  L.  Hoffman;  Frederick  W.  is  next  in 
the  family;  Margaret  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  Lewis  Lawrence,  district 
superintendent  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  at 
Shenandoah,  Pa.;  Matilda  married  Michael  J.  Hoffman;  Emma  married 
Michael  Bonenberger;  Harry  J.  is  a  business  man  of  Brockton. 

Frederick  W.  Brachman  received  a  public  school  education  at  Brockton. 
Until  he  was  twenty  years  old  he  was  employed  about  the  collieries,  beginning 
as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Boston  Run  breaker.  Then  he  went  to  work  for 
Charles  Miller,  a  butcher  at  Tuscarora,  with  whom  he  had  been  engaged 
but  one  year  when  he  and  his  brother  Peter  bought  out  Mr.  Miller,  conduct- 
ing the  business  under  the  name  of  Brachman  Brothers.  They  carried  it  on 
in  partnership  until  1907,  when  Frederick  W.  Brachman  purchased  his  broth- 
er's interest,  and  he  has  continued  it  since  as  sole  proprietor.  Under  his 
management  it  has  been  increasing  steadily,  his  trade  now  extending  all  over 
the  territory  adjacent  to  Brockton.  Mr.  Brachman  has  forged  ahead  by  strict 
application  to  the  building  up  of  h;s  business,  but  he  has  found  time  also  to 
serve  his  fellow  citizens  in  public  trusts,  having  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  school  directors  in  Schuylkill  township  for  nine  years;  he  was  president 
of  that  body,  and  also  treasurer  for  four  years.  On  political  questions  he 
has  stood  with  the  Republican  party.  At  one  time  Mr.  Brachman  was  a 
member  of  the  Elks  lodge  at  Tamaqua. 

Mr.  Brachman  married  Sarah  Schroner,  daughter  of  Daniel  Schroner,  of 
Lewistown,  Schuylkill  county,  and  children  as  follows  have  been  bom  to 
them:  Ida,  now  the  wife  of  William  DeLay;  Margaret;  Fredericka,  who 
died  when  three  and  a  half  years  old;  Harry;  Herbert';  Lloyd;  Norman; 
Beatrice,  and  Ruth.  Mr.  Brachman  and  his  family  have  their  religious  con- 
nection with  the  Reformed  denomination. 

BENJAMIN  J.  YOST,  who  is  now  holding  the  honorable  position  of 
chief  burgess  in  Tamaqua  borough,  is  an  official  of  proved  fidelity  and  trust- 
worthiness, favorably  known  in  the  several  sectibns  of  Schuylkill  county 
where  he  has  resided.     He  is  himself  a  native  of  Potts ville,  this  county,  a 


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798  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

son  of  Benjamin  K.  Yost,  and  belongs  to  a  family  whose  members  have  long 
been  respected  for  their  adherence  to  high  principles  and  upright  lives. 

The  Yost  family  is  of  old  standing  in  Pennsylvania.  Daniel  Yost,  great- 
grandfather of  Benjamin  J.  Yost,  was  bom  in  Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  in 
1759,  and  removed  at  an  early  day  to  what  is  now  McKeansburg,  Schuylkill 
county,  where  he  died  in  1839.  He  was  an  activ,e,  enterprising  man  in  his 
day.  A  Whig  in  political  faith,  he  always  interested  himself  in  public  affairs, 
believing  it  the  duty  of  every  good  citizen  to  protect  and  foster  the  common 
good,  and  he  stood  deservedly  high  in  the  community,  not  only  because  of 
his  honorable  character  but  also  for  his  intelligence  and  good  judgment.  He 
was  called  to  various  positions  of  trust,  being  justice  of  the  peace  for  a 
number  of  years  in  his  township,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  with 
such  marked  ability  and  signal  impartiality  to  all  c6ncemed  that  he  was  called 
up  higher,  being  elected  associate  judge  of  the  county.  Judge  Yost  married 
Barbara  Hillogus,  and  they  had  a  family  of  ten  children. 

Jonathan  Yost,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  in 
1797,  and  died  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  in  1866.  He 
came  to  this  county  with  his  father,  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  fol- 
lowed it  a  number  of  years,  but  gave  it  up  to  go  farming,  which  was  his 
work  during  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life.  He  was  an  active  and  ardent 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church  at  McKeansburg,  serving  in  nearly 
all  the  official  positions  in  the  church  organization.  He  married  Mary  Kleck- 
ner,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Kleckner,  one  of  the  earlier  emigrants  from  Ger- 
many into  East  Brunswick  township,  this  county,  where  he  followed  farming 
and  where  he  died.  To  this  union  were  bom  twelve  children,  six  sons  and  six 
daughters. 

Benjamin  K.  Yost,  son  of  Jonathan,  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  county.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  and  later  operated  the  "Rising  Sun  Hotel" 
at  Pottsville.  For  a  time  he  was  located  near  New  Philadelphia,  this  county, 
lived  for  three  years  at  McKeansburg,  and  in  1861  went  to  Mahanoy  City, 
removing  thence  to  Lofty,  where  he  resided  for  three  years.  He  then  spent 
six  months  at  Reading  before  he  settled  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  carried  on  the  hotel  business,  and  later  the  shoe  business,  until  his 
death.  He  is  buried  at  McKeansburg,  this  county.  Mr.  Yost  was  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fratemity.  Five  children  were  born  to  his  marriage  with 
Mary  Wagner,  namely:  Jonathan:  S.  W.,  who  died  in  June,  1914  (he  was 
cashier  of  the  Shenandoah  National  Bank)  ;  Oscar,  who  died  in  191 5;  Mary, 
who  is  living  with  her  mother  in  Pennsylvania;  and  Benjamin  J. 

Benjamin  J.  Yost  was  bom  Aug.  20,  1853.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools,  principally  at  Shenandoah,  and  during  his  youth  clerked 
for  some  time  in  a  store  there,  also  leaming  the  trade  of  barber.  Soon  after 
this  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  work  of  organizing  camps  for  the  Patriotic 
Order  Sons  of  America,  in  Schuylkill,  Union,  Centre,  Snyder,  Clinton,  Clear- 
field and  Columbia  counties,  and  was  so  engaged  for  a  period  of  eighteen 
months,  meeting  with  notable  success.  Returning  to  his  trade  he  followed  it 
for  a  few  years,  until  appointed  deputy  clerk  of  the  Schuylkill  county  courts, 
in  which  position  he  served  one  term.  After  that  he  resumed  his  trade  at 
Shenandoah  for  two  years,  until  he  took  charge  of  the  "Lakeside  Hotel'*  at 
Lakeside,  Pa.,  which  he  carried  on  for  eleven  years.  For  another  year  he 
was  in  the  restaurant  business  at  Lansford,  Pa.,  in  September,  191 1,  coming 
to  Tamaqua  and  going  back  to  his  trade.     In  June,  1914,  he  was  appointed 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  799 

chief  burgess  of  the  borough,  by  the  Schuylkill  county  courts,  and  he  is 
giving  faithful  attention  to  the  duties  of  this  responsible  office,  striving  earn- 
estly to  promote  the  best  interests  of  his  town  and  fellow  townsmen.  Mr. 
Yost  made  an  excellent  record  in  his  previous  public  service,  having  acted 
as  health  officer  of  Rush  and  Ryon  townships,  this  county ;  as  deputy  coroner ; 
and  for  seven  years  as  a  member  of  the  council  in  Shenandoah. 

Mr.  Yost  has  always  kept  up  his  active  connection  with  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 
He  holds  membership  in  Washington  Camp  No.  112,  of  Shenandoah,  has 
served  as  State  marshal,  and  has  attended  twenty  State  and  National  con- 
ventions. 

Mr.  Yost  was  united  in  marriage  with  Martha  R.  Kohler,  who  died  in 
June,  1914,  and  by  whom  he  had  the  following  children:  Robert,  Gertrude, 
Martha,  Emma  and  Edgar. 

WILLIAM  R.  BUCKLEY,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  younger  physicians  in  prac- 
tice at  Schuylkill  county,  is  now  acting  as  first  assistant  surgeon  in  the  Stale 
hospital  at  Fountain  Springs,  with  which  institution  he  has  been  associated 
since  his  graduation,  in  1913.  Dr.  Buckley  was  bom  at  Girardville,  this  county, 
March  10,  1886,  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Horan)  Buckley. 

William  Buckley,  the  father,  was  bom  in  the  Mill  Creek  district,  near 
PottsviHe,  Schuylkill  county.  His  father,  Peter  Buckley,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
had  settled  there  upon  coming  to  this  country.  He  remained  there  until  his 
death,  working  as  an  engineer  at  the  mines.  William  Buckley  came  to 
Girardville  when  nineteen  years  old,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  that  place 
ever  since.  He  has  been  engaged  in  mine  work  all  his  life,  for  years  serving 
as  superintendent  and  outside  foreman  at  the  Otto  colliery,  near  Girard- 
ville, one  of  the  large  coal  workings  in  Schuylkill  county.  His  wife  was  bom 
at  Minersville,  this  county,  daughter  of  Thomas  Horan,  who  was  born  in 
Ireland  and  came  to  the  United  States  at  an  early  date,  living  for  a  time  at 
Minersville  and  later  moving  to  Girardville,  where  he  conducted  a  hotel.  He 
also  served  as  tax  collector  of  the  latter  place,  and  died  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  Buckley  have  had  a  family  of  nine  children:  Catherine,  who  is  the 
wife  of  B.  J.  Duify,  an  attorney,  of  Coaldale,  Schuylkill  county;  Thomas  V., 
a  physician  and  surgeon,  located  at  Lansford,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.;  William  R.; 
John,  deceased;  Mary,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching  school  at  Branchdale,  this 
county ;  Ella,  also  a  teacher,  at  present  engaged  at  Bridgeton,  N.  J. ;  Florence, 
Walter  and  Edwin,  at  home. 

William  R.  Buckley  obtained  his  preparatory  education  at  Girardville.  In 
1909  he  entered  the  Medico-Chimrgical  College,  at  Philadelphia,  and  com- 
pleted the  course  in  1912,  graduating  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  Shortly  after- 
wards he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  staff  of  the  State  hospital  at  Fountain 
Springs,  in  his  native  county,  and  he  has  since  been  appointed  first  assistant 
surgeon  at  that  institution,  which  position  he  now  holds.  It  affords  exceptional 
facilities  for  experience,  and  Dr.  Buckley's  training  has  been  such  as  to  enable 
him  to  take  advantage  of  this.  Though  he  is  just  at  the  outset  of  his  career 
he  has  already  gained  the  reputation  oi  being  a  thoroughly  reliable  surgeon, 
and  his  personal  qualities  as  well  as  his  professional  attainments  are  such  that 
he  has  every  promise  of  a  useful  and  successful  future.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Schuylkill  County  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical  Society  and  the 
American   Medical   Association.     Socially  he  belongs   to   Sheridan   Council, 


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800  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Knights  of  Columbus,  for  which  or^nization  he  is  medical  examiner.     In 
religious  faith  he  is  a  Catholic,  belonging  to  St.  Joseph's  Church. 

JOHN  GREGORY  (deceased),  of  Shenandoah,  son  of  Simon  and  Han- 
nah (Webb)  Gregory,  was  bom  Nov.  30,  1861,  at  Wadesville,  Schuylkill 
county.  He  attended  schools  at  Wadesville  and  Shenandoah,  but  his  oppor- 
tunities were  limited,  for  at  the  age  of  nine  years  he  began  picking  slate  at 
Shenandoah,  working  at  this  for  one  year,  when  he  left  to  take  a  position  as 
clerk  in  the  hardware  store  of  Mr.  Leuburg,  at  Shenandoah.  In  that  store 
he  remained  until  the  year  1894,  when  he  finally  decided  to  enter  business  him- 
self. Not  having  sufficient  capital  he  succeeded  in  interesting  H.  W.  Titman  to 
venture  with  him  into  the  business  world  as  a  partner,  and  on  June  4,  1894, 
they  deposited  in  the  Merchants'  National  Bank  an  equal  sum  of  money  for 
the  purpose  of  transacting  business  as  above  stated,  the  earnings  of  said  com- 
pany to  be  equally  divided,  John  Gregory  serving  as  manager  for  the  con- 
cern, which  was  known  as  "The  City  Supply  Co."  On  July  3,  1906,  H.  W. 
Titman  sold  his  interest  to  John  Gregory,  wiping  out  the  firm  of  the  City 
Supply  Co.  and  leaving  John  Gregory  the  sole  owner.  Under  his  capable 
management  he  built  up  a  large  wholesale  and  retail  hardware  business,  and 
contributed  his  share  towards  establishing  the  high  modem  standards  of  busi- 
ness now  characteristic  of  commercial  life  in  the  borough  of  Shenandoah, 
where  all  of  his  active  years  were  spent.  Though  he  started  out  without 
means,  Mr.  (Gregory  won  his  way  steadily  forward  to  a  prominent  position 
among  local  merchants,  and  by  his  sterling  personal  traits  came  to  hold  an 
equally  high  place  in  social  relations.  His  business  operations  have  left  a 
permanent  impression  of  improved  conditions  in  mercantile  interests  in  the 
community.  On  Sept.  i,  1913,  while  out  automobiling,  he  had  an  accident, 
receiving  injuries  which  resulted  in  his  death  Oct.  17,  1913. 

Mr.  Gregory  was  beloved  as  well  as  respected.,  It  has  been  said  that  he 
never  had  any  enemies.  High-minded,  just  and  sensible,  he  displayed  most 
excellent  qualities  in  all  his  associations,  was  esteemed  for  his  goodness  and 
kindness,  and  admired  for  his  notable  accomplishments  in  business.  With  his 
wife  he  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Shenandoah,  and  took 
a  genuine  interest  in  its  work,  serving  as  librarian  of  the  Sunday  schooL 
Fraternally  he  belonged  to  the  Odd  Fellows,  holding  membership  in  the  lodge 
at  Shenandoah.  He  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Merchants'  National 
Bank  of  Shenandoah  and  took  an  active  part  in  its  development. 

On  Sept.  22,  1885,  Mr.  Gregory  married  Eliza  R.  Evans,  and  of  the 
•  children  bom  to  this  marriage  four  reached  maturity ;  Dollie  E.,  who  is  actively 
engaged  in  managing  her  father's  hardware  business ;  Lillie  M.,  who  is  attend- 
ing the  Peirce  Business  College  in  Philadelphia ;  Harold  J.,  who  is  in  the  mili- 
tary school  at  Wenonah,  N.  J. ;  and  Ruth  M.,  in  school  at  home. 

Mr.  Gregory's  parents  were  natives  of  England  and  his  father  was  a  mine 
foreman  in  the  local  anthracite  fields.  He  met  his  death,  on  the  evening  of 
Sept.  I,  1880,  through  the  agency  of  an  explosion  of  a  quantity  of  an  unknown 
explosive  gas,  while  on  duty  at  the  Kehley  Run  colliery,  Shenandoah,  Pa.  He 
had  three  brothers  and  onp  sister,  all  born  in  England,  John,  Richard,  Mary 
and  Elsia. 

Mr.  Gregory's  mother,  Hannah  (Webb)  Gregory,  bom  in  September, 
1836,  was  the  daughter  of  John  Webb,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Eng- 
land.   He  worked  as  a  laborer  and  driver  at  the  colliery,  serving  also  as 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  801 

stable  boss,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  He  married  in  England 
Elizabeth  Miles,  and  they  had  five  diildren,  the  eldest,  Charles  Webb,  born 
in  1834;  Hannah  was  bom  ina836;  William,  born  in  1839,  was  killed  at  Raven 
Rim;  Geoige,  bom  in  1841,  died  at  Wadesville;  Henry  John  was  bom  in 
1854.  The  only  surviving  member  of  this  family  is  Mrs.  Hannah  (Webb) 
Gregory,  mother  of  John  Gregory.  She  has  had  six  children:  Lillie  (de- 
ceased), William,  George,  Emma,  John  (deceased)  and  Alfred  S. 

Lot  Franklin  and  Phoebe  Evans,  grandparents  of  Mrs.  John  Gregory,  were 
both  of  Quaker  stock.  They  had  children  as  follows :  Thomas,  now  a  clerk 
in  his  son's  store  in  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  county;  Baldwin,  who  clerks  in  a 
store  at  Glen  Carbon,  and  is  a  shipper  at  the  Pine  Forest  colliery;  Frank, 
now  deceased,  who  was  mine  boss  at  Pine  Forest;  Elizabeth,  who  married 
John  Bowen,  superintendent  of  one  of  the  mine  districts  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Comiwiny;  Sarah,  who  married  Austin  Darrah  (they 
are  deceased)  ;  and  Lot  Franklin.    All  had  families. 

Lot  FraiJclin  Evans,  fathjer  of  Mrs.  Gregory,  was  bom  in  Chester  county. 
Pa.,  and  was  engaged  as  a  stationary  engineer  at  colliery  No.  2,  Lost  Creek, 
near  Shenandoah.  He  married  EUzabeth  Hammer,  and  they  had  a  family  of 
ten  children,  viz.:  (i)  Clara  married  Ambrose  Titus,  a  mine  engineer,  of 
St.  Clair,  and  they  had  children,  Edward  and  Benjamin.  The  parents  are 
deceased.     (2)    Albert,   a  carpet   weaver,   of   Shenandoah,   never  married. 

(3)  Phoebe,  unmarried,  lives  at  Shenandoah  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Gregory. 

(4)  Isabella  died  unmarried.  (5)  Alonzo  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 
(6)  Lot  F.,  employed  as  an  engineer  at  the  mines  at  St.  Qair,  married 
Sarah  Pearson.  They  have  no  children.  (7)  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  David 
Phillips,  who  is  employed  kt  outside  wor^  at  the  Scranton  (Pa.)  mines,  and 
they  have  eight  children,  Roy,  Jennie,  Oaud,  Harry,  Albert,  Elizabeth,  Thelma 
and  Dolly.  (8)  Eliza  R.  is  the  widow  of  John  Gregory.  (9)  Dolly  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  (10)  Sanford,  deceased,  married  Saphronia 
Roth,  who  resides  at  Shenandoah.  They  had  children:  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Will  Davis,  of  Stamford,  Conn. ;  Myrtle,  immarried ;  Ethel,  and  Florence, 
the  three  last  named  living  with  their  aunt  Mrs.  Gregory.  All  the  members 
of  this  family  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Shenandoah. 

HENRY  SACHS,  of  Nuremberg,  Schuylkill  county,  is  one  of  the  best 
known  residents  of  North  Union  township,  his  duties  as  postmaster  and  mer- 
chant bringing  him  into  daily  contact  with  most  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He 
was  bora  July  18,  1871,  at  Eckley,  in  Luzerne  county,  Pa.,  and  is  of  German 
descent,  his  grandfather,  John  Sachs,  having  lived  and  died  in  Germany.  He 
was  a  blacksmith  at  Eba,  and  is  buried  there.  His  wife  came  to  America, 
and  is  buried  at  Nuremberg,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  They  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children :  Daniel  Martin ;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Henry  Hill,  liv- 
ing at  Hazleton,  Pa.;  Adam,  a  retired  miner  and  hotel-keeper  of  Freeland, 
Pa.,  who  married  Barbara  Wiegand;  Gertmde,  wife  of  John  Benner,  watch- 
man at  the  Hazleton  National  Bank;  and  Jacob,  a  miner,  of  Hazleton,  who 
married  Mary  Heimbach.  The  parerits  adhered  to  the  German  Reformed 
faith. 

Daniel  Martin  Sachs,  son  of  John,  was  bom  Oct.  26,  1842,  at  Eba,  Ger- 
many, and  grew  up  in  his  native  land,  receiving  ordinary  educational  advan- 
tages. When  sixteen  years  old  he  made  the  joumey  to  America  alone,  land- 
ing: at  New  York  and  proceeding  thence  to  Lofty,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  whence 

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802  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

he  walked  to  Eckley,  Luzerne  county.  There  he  found  work  in  the  coal 
mines,  first  for  Leiseriiig  &  Co.,  later  for  Wentz  &  Co.,  and  in  time  became 
foreman  for  the  company.  When  he  had  been  in  this  country  about  one  year 
he  sent  to  Germany  for  his  mother,  who  joined  him  at  Eckley.  He  removed 
from  that  place  Aug.  15,  1881,  to  Deringer,  Luzerne  county,  where  he  was 
mine  foreman  for  Coxe  Bros.  &  Co.,  and  later  was  promoted  to  general  mine 
foreman,  holding  that  position  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Deringer 
March  7,  1909.  He  and  his  wife,  Anna  Elizabeth  (Wiegand),  are  buried 
at  Nuremberg,  Pa.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  a 
Republican  in  political  sentiment,  and  at  one  time  belonged  to  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  school  director,  and 
was  one  of  the  highly  respected  members  of  the  community  in  which  he  resided. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  M.  Sachs  were  bom  the  following  children:  Eliz- 
abeth resides  at  Nuremberg,  Pa. ;  William,  of  Hazleton,  Pa.,  a  surveyor,  mar- 
ried Mary  Spiece ;  Henry  is  next  in  the  family ;  Anna  Catherine  is  the  wife  of 
iohn  Rabuck,  draughtsman  for  the  L.  &  N.  Railroad  Company,  at  Louisville, 
wy.;  Daniel  Martin,  of  Oil  City,  Pa.,  vice  president  of  the  Northern  Pipe 
Line  Company,  married  Olive  Lobach ;  Anna  Donatas  is  a  public  school  teacher 
at  Weston,  Pa.,  and  lives  at  Nuremberg. 

Mrs.  Anna  Elizabeth  (Wiegand)  Sachs  was  bom  in  1848  in  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  two  years  old,  the  family  set- 
tling at  Stockton,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.  Her  father,  Christopher  Wiegand,  was  a 
bladcsmith,  and  after  following  his  trade  for  a  time  turned  to  hotelkeeping, 
conducting  the  "Wiegand  Hotel"  at  Freeland,  Pa.,  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  buried  at  Freeland.  He  belonged  to  the 
Reformed  Church  at  that  place,  and  in  politics  was  associated  with  the 
Republican  party.  His  children  were:  Gertrude,  widow  of  William  Sipple, 
living  in  Philadelphia;  Anna  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Sachs;  and  Barbara,  who  is 
married  to  Adam  Sachs,  of  Freeland. 

Henry  Sachs  attended  public  school  at  Eckley  and  Gowen,  Pa.,  and  the 
Orangeville  Academy  in  Columbia  county,  this  State.  When  but  eleven  years 
old  he  commenced  work  at  the  Deringer  breaker,  picking  slate,  and  was 
employed  there  for  three  months.  Later  he  was  in  the  office  of  the  mine 
boss,  as  errand  boy,  in  time  was  promoted  to  clerk,  and  held  that  position 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty  years.  Then,  being  ambitious  to  better 
his  condition,  he  took  a  commercial  course  at  the  Wyoming  Seminary,  in 
Luzerne  county,  and  upon  its  completion  returned  to  Deringer  and  took  the 
position  of  warehouse  man  at  Fern  Glen  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company.  While  so  engaged  he  leamed  telegraphy,  and  he  remained  there 
for  a  year,  until  June  2,  1^3.  On  June  2,  1^4,  he  was  appointed  telegraph 
operator  at  Gum  Run  tower,  for  the  same  company,  being  stationed  there 
two  years ;  was  next  employed  at  the  Deringer  colliery  of  Coxe  Bros.  &  Co., 
for  a  few  years,  shipping  coal;  and  was  transferred  thence  to  the  company 
'store  at  Fern  Glen,  as  bookkeeper,  holding  that  position  a  few  years.  Resum- 
ing telegraphy,  he  became  operator  for  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company 
at  Park  Place  until  October,  1898,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  Lentz  & 
Co.,  in  their  company  store  at  Park  Place,  being  retained  there  until  Jan. 
I,  1905.  Mr.  Sachs  had  to  give  up  his  work  there  on  account  of  illness,  and 
when  he  went  back  to  work  it  was  as  station  agent  at  Sheppton,  Schuylkill 
county,  for  the  D.  S.  &  S.  Railroad  Company,  now  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad 
Company.     He  continued  to  discharge  his  duties  as  such  until  May,   1907, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  803 

when  he  became  extra  telegrapher  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
and  was  so  engaged  until  191 1.  On  July  17th  of  that  year  he  bought  the 
store  of  M.  Griffith  at  Nuremberg,  and  has  since  conducted  that  establish- 
ment very  successfully,  dealing  in  shoes  and  clothing.  The  stxjre  has  gained 
steadily  in  popularity  under  his  management,  and  he  has  made  a  place  for 
himself  among  the  reliable  merchants  of  the  town,  where  he  is  held  in  high 
regard  for  his  sterling  personal  qualities,  shown  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 
On  Nov.  16,  191 1,  Mr.  Sachs  received  the  appointment  of  postmaster  at  Nurem- 
berg, and  has  filled  the  office  since  to  the  thorough  satisfaction  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  His  ability  as  an  accountant  is  well  known,  and  since  May,  1906, 
he  has  been  private  auditor  for  the  Central  Pennsylvania  Quarry  Stripping  & 
Construction  Company  and  for  the  Benjamin  Iron  &  Steel  Company,  both  of 
Hazleton.  He  is  secretary  and  treasurer,  as  well  as  a  director,  of  the  Conyng- 
ham  Valley  Telephone  Company ;  is  a  past  president  and  trustee  of  Washington 
Camp  No.  96,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Nuremberg ;  has  been  director  of  the  Nurem- 
berg Comet  Band  since  191 1,  and  plays  the  comet  with  that  organization; 
is  sdfiliated  with  Camp  No.  226,  Woodmen  of  the  World,  at  Rock  Glen,  Pa. ; 
and  is  a  leading  member  of  Emanuel  Reformed  Church  at  Nuremberg,  which 
he  is  now  serving  as  deacon,  tmstee  and  secretary  of  the  Sunday  school.  On 
political  questions  Mr.  Sachs  is  a  Republican.  He  has  serVed  as  school  director 
of  North  Union  township. 

On  Feb.  22,  1896,  Mr.  Sachs  was  united  in  marriage  with  Edna  Estella 
Breisch,  who  was  bom  July  6,  1879,  at  Nuremberg,  where  she  began  her 
education  in  the  public  schools.  Later  she  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Bloomsburg,  Pa.  She  is  a  member  of  Emanuel  Lutheran  Church  at  Nurem- 
bergi  and  a  Sunday  school  teacher  there  at  present.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sachs  have 
had  a  family  of  four  children:  Larue  A.,  born  July  i,  1897,  ^^^  educated 
at  Nuremberg,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  191 5,  and  is  a  helpful 
worker  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  singing  in  the  choir  and  teaching  in  the  Sun- 
day school;  Edgar  Theodore,  bom  Jan.  22,  1899,  died  March  16,  1899;  Daniel 
Ray,  bom  May  3,  1902,  at  Park  Place,  is  attending  school  at  Nuremberg; 
Walter  Henry,  bom  Aug.  13,  1908,  is  attending  school  at  Nuremberg. 

George  Breisch,  great-great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Sachs,  moved  from  Bucks 
county.  Pa.,  to  Columbia  county,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  that 
region. 

John  Breisch,  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Sachs,  died  Oct.  29,  1873,  aged 
seventy-seven  years,  one  month,  twelve  days.  He  was  a  pioneer  in  the  Cata- 
wissa  valley,  in  Schuylkill  county,  farming  in  Union  township,  his  property 
there  belonging  at  present  to  the  heirs  of  Henry  Breisch.  His  wife,  Elizabeth 
(Shuman),  died  Aug.  22,  1869,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  two  months,  twenty- 
nine  days,  and  they  are  buried  at  the  old  White  Church  in  Union  township. 
Mr.  Breisch  held  to  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  His  children  were : 
Washington,  who  died  when  about  twenty  years  old;  Rudolph;  Jacob,  who 
married  Fayette  Zimmerman ;  Adam,  who  married  Mary  Rarig ;  Henry,  who 
married  Rebecca  Reich;  Josiah,  who  married  Susanna  Zimmerman;  and 
Susanna,  wife  of  John  Maurer. 

Rudolph  Breisch,  son  of  John,  was  born  Jan.  5,  1826,  was  reared  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  died  Sept.  10,  1906.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  ceme- 
tery of  the  Old  White  Church,  and  he  was  one  of  the  very  active  members  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation  there,  serving  as  elder,  deacon,  and  in 
other  important  positions.     In  early  life  he  was  a  Republican,  but  later  he 


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804  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

voted  independently.  He  served  as  a  school  director  while  living  in  Black 
Creek  township,  Luzerne  county.  For  a  time  Mr.  Breisch  kept  hotel  at  Mid- 
dleport,  Schuylkill  county,  later  farmed  in  Black  Creek  township,  and  was 
subsequently  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Brandonville,  Schuylkill  county, 
also  lumbering  near  that  place.  On  Jan.  26,  1847,  he  married  Missouri  Ann  Zim- 
merman, who  was  bom  July  5,  1827,  daughter  of  Roland  and  Elizabeth  (Focht) 
Zimmerman,  of  Catawissa  Valley,  and  died  Feb.  19,  191 3.  They  had  the  fol- 
lowing family:  Barbara  E.  married  Benjamin  Seltzer,  and  both  are  deceased; 
Theodore  A.  is  mentioned  below ;  John  B.,  who  lives  at  Mahanoy  City,  mar- 
ried Mary  Boyer  (deceased)  and  (second)  Sallie  Fisher;  Montgomery  R. 
died  aged  four  years,  nine  months;  Jeffrey  A.  married  Hattie  Miller  and 
lives  at  Orwigsburg,  Pa. ;  Minerva  C.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Davenport,  of  St. 
Clair,  Pa. ;  Jacob  W.,  deceased,  married  Carrie  M.  Stauffer,  who  lives  at 
Nuremberg;  Oliver  A.  is  deceased;  Oscar  C.  married  Elma  Fish,  and  they 
live  at  Kansas  City,  Kans.;  Cyrus  E.  married  Mayme  Hagenbuch,  and  their 
home  is  at  Mahanoy  City. 

Theodore  A.  Breisch  wad  bom  Aug.  31,  1850,  at  Middleport,  Schuylkill 
county,  was  reared  in  this  county,  and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of.  Union  township  and  at  Wyoming  Seminary,  in  Luzerne  county. 
He  began  life  as  a  clerk  in  the  general  store  of  Jacob  Breisch  at  Zion  Grove, 
in  North  Union  township,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.  In  1871,  in 
partnership  with  J.  M.  Stout,  he  embarked  in  the  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Nuremberg,  and  four  years  later  bought  out  his  partner,  after  that 
conducting  tiie  store  alone  until  1881.  Then  he  became  associated  with 
his  brother,  Jacob  William  Breisch,  and  they  did  business  together  until  the 
latter's  death,  April  26,  191 5.  Mr.  Breisch  is  now  carrying  on  the  store  on 
his  own  account.  He  also  owns  and  operates  a  private  water  supply,  having  a 
large  storage  tank  on  his  property,  from  which  he  supplies  water  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town.  There  is  a  water  tower  tp  produce  pressure,  and 
a  full  pumping  outfit,  and  the  service  is  very  satisfactory,  thirty-eight  fam- 
ilies patronizing  this  plant.  It  is  typical  of  Mr.  Breisch's  progressive  dis- 
position. He  has  served  North  Union  township  as  school  director  and  tax 
collector,  was  auditor  of  Black  Qreek  township,,  Luzerne  county,  and  has 
twice  been  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  but  has  never  qualified.  He  is  a 
Republican  and  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  Emanuel  Church  at  Nuremberg,  of 
which  he  has  been  treasurer  for  several  years. 

On  Sept.  I,  1872,  Mr.  Breisch  married  Mary  C.  Stauffer,  who  was  bom 
April  27,  1854,  daughter  of  David  and  Maria  Anne  (Andreas)  Stauffer,  and 
an  account  of  her  parents  and  earlier  ancestors  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  Mrs.  Breisch  is  a  native  of  Ringtown,  where  she  was  reared  and 
educated.  During  her  girlhood,  until  her  marriage,  she  sang  in  the  choir  of 
the  Old  White  Church  near  that  borough.  She  is  now  a  member  of  Emanuel 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at  Nuremberg  and  has  been  a  teacher  in  the 
Sunday  school  for  many  years,  having  beert  superintendent  of  the  primary 
department  and  now  teaching  a  young  people's  Bible  class.  Mrs.  Breisch  has 
also  been  active  in  the  choir,  having  led  the  singing  in  church  for  a  number 
of  years.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Breisch:  Erdie 
B.,  bom  June  10,  1873,  is  now  the  wife  of  Josiah  Singley,  who  is  engaged 
as  a  traveling  salesman  and  resides  at  Wilkinsburg,  Pa.;  their  children  are 
Mary  L.  and  Walter  H.  Gertmde  M.,  bom  June  5,  1875,  died  Dec.  6,  1877. 
Lottie  L.,  bom  Aug.  4,  1877,  died  March  24,  1881.    Edna  E.  is  the  wife  of 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  805 

Henry  Sachs.  Willard  E.,  born  Nov.  13,  1881,  assists  his  father  in  the  store; 
he  married  Mayme  King,  and  they  have  a  family  of  four  children,  Harold  A., 
Theodore  W.,  Elva  M.  and  Viola  May. 

OLIVER  MILLER,  of  McAdoo,  Schuylkill  county,  has  been  a  resident 
of  that  borough  from  young  manhood,  and  after  a  varied  experience  is  now 
doing  business  there  on  his  own  account,  having  recently  bought  the  interest 
of  W.  F.  Miller  in  the  only  ice  plant  in  the  vicinity.  He  had  been  in  Mr. 
Miller's  employ  for  several  years  before  he  acquired  the  ownership  of  the 
business,  which  he  is  well  qualified  to  continue  successfully. 

Daniel  Miller,  father  of  Oliver  Miller,  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  followed  farming  there  until  his  death.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Susanna  Runkel,  is  also  deceased,  and  they  are 
buried  at  the  White  Church  in  West  Penn  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel 
Miller  had  two  children,  Oliver  and  Alice,  the  latter  now  married  to  Pierce 
Bear  and  living  in  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Oliver  Miller  was  bom  July  22,  1868,  in  West  Penn  township,  this  county, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood,  obtaining  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  home  locality.  He  was  reared  to  farming,  and  after  leaving  home  was 
engaged  at  such  work  in  Rush  township  for  about  four  years,  at  the  end  of 
that  time  settling  at  McAdoo.  During  the  first  four  years  of  his  residence 
in  the  town  he  drove  team  for  Mr.  Spangler,  and  was  afterwards  employed 
in  different  positions  about  the  collieries.  Then  for  six  months  he  operated 
the  electric  light  plant  at  McAdoo,  and  for  the  next  seven  years  was  in  the 
employ  of  W.  F.  Miller,  who  conducted  the  ice  business  which  Oliver  Miller 
bought  from  him  in  the  spring  of  1915.  In  the  winter  season  Mr.  Miller 
does  considerable  hauling,  and  with  both  branches  of  his  business  is  kept 
constantly  busy.  He  is  a  man  of  recognized  ability  and  trustworthiness,  and 
has  exercised  a  good  influence  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  borough,  in  which 
he  has  taken  an  active  part  for  some  time.  In  191 3  he  was  elected  by  a 
large  majority  as  a  member  of  thle  local  school  board,  and  is  treasurer  of 
that  body.  His  political  support  has  been  given  to  the  Republican  party. 
Socially  he  affiliates  with  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  and  the  Order  of  Independent 
Americans. 

Mr.  Miller  married  Dora  Frank,  and  two  of  the  children  born  to  this 
marriage  died  young,  the  survivors  being:  Edna,  Harry,  Mabel,  Florence 
and  Helen.    The  family  are  Lutherans  in  religious  faith. 

GEORGE  B.  McCLELLAN  HORN,  late  of  East  Bmnswick  township, 
was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  substantial  citizen  of  that  township  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  in  his  prime.  His  widow,  who  now 
resides  at  McKeansburg,  is  a  member  of  the  Albright  and  Fegley  families, 
both  highly  respected  in  this  section,  where  they  have  long  been  associated 
with  good  citizenship  and  progress. 

Mr.  Horn  was  bom  in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  Oct.  8,  1862,  son  of  Jonathan 
Horn  and  grandson  of  Christian  Horn.  The  father  was  also  a  native  of 
Lehigh  county,  born  Jan.  7,  1827,  in  Heidelberg  township.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  years  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which  he 
continued  to  work  until  forty  years  old,  and  he  was  considered  one  of  the 
best  blacksmiths  in  Lehigh  county.  In  1866  he  purchased  a  firfe  farm  in 
East   Brunswick   township,   Schuylkill   county,    from   William  Albright,   for 


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806  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

$9,000.  He  was  a  good  manager,  and  soon  bought  another  farm,  from  Wil- 
liam Bolich,  for  $10,000,  which  later  became  the  property  of  his  son  George 
and  is  now  owned  by  the  latter's  widow,  Mrs.  Hattie  Horn.  The  first  farm 
is  now  owned  by  George  K.  Zimmerman.  Mr.  Horn  also  bought  a  farm 
from  Reuben  Jones,  for  $2,700,  which  property  is  now  owned  by  his  son 
Jonathan  P.  Jonathan  Horn  married  Sophia  Louisa  Bock,  who  was  bom 
Aug.  20,  1833,  in  Albany  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  George  and 
Rebecca  (Henninger)  Bock,  also  natives  of  .Albany  township.  Children  as 
follows  were  bom  to  this  marriage:  Hannah  Louise,  bom  April  3,  1850, 
died  June  3,  1850;  Lucetta  Rebecca,  bom  June  9,  1851,  married  Dr.  P.  C. 
Detwiler,  a  dentist,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa.;  Josiah  Franklin,  bom  June  4, 
1853,  married  Agnes  Koch;  Thomas  Henry,  bom  March  20,  1855,  died  July 
7,  1861,  aged  six  years,  three  months,  seventeen  days;  Elmira  Missouri,  bom 
June  16,  1857,  ^s  the  widow  of  Thomas  Bensinger,  and  lives  in  McKeans- 
burg,  Pa.;  Jonathan  Peter,  born  Aug.  26,  1859,  married  Rebecca  Rarick; 
George  B.  McClellan,  bom  Oct.  8,  1862,  married  Hattie  Albright;  Priscilla 
June,  bom  Sept.  7,  1864,  died  July  12,  1896;  Sophia  Louisa,  bom  March 
27,  1867,  died  April  9,  1886;  Sarah  Maria,  bom  April  10,  1869,  died  Jan.  21, 
1890;  Howard  Walter  married  Alvina  Gottshall;  Agnes  Victoria  married 
Oliver  Minim.  Before  the  death  of  Jonathan  Horn  his  sons  George  and 
Jonathan  P.  bought  the  two  farms  remaining.  He  died  Aug.  27,  1905,  his 
wife  on  July  15,  1910.    They  are  buried  at  McKeansburg. 

George  B.  McClellan  Horn  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  East  Brunswick 
township,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  meantime  assisting  his  father  on  the 
home  farm.  Before  the  death  of  his  father  he  bought  the  property  of  100 
acres,  all  cleared,  which  originally  had  been  the  William  Bolich  farm,  and 
carried  on  general  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  23,  1906. 
He  was  a  progressive  worker,  an  interested  member  of  McKeansburg  Grange, 
No.  1256,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  also  belonged  to  Washington  Camp  No. 
100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  New  Ringgold.  His  political  allegiance  was  given  to 
the  Democratic  party.  He  held  the  esteem  of  all  his  fellow  citizens,  and  was 
a  valued  member  of  the  Christ  Lutheran  Church  at  McKeansburg,  where  he 
is  buried. 

Mr.  Hom  married  Hattie  Albright,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Rebecca 
(Fegley)  Albright,  and  they  had  two  children:  Clarence  Albright,  bom 
June  16,  1 89 1,  attended  school  in  East  Brunswick  township,  graduated  from 
Schuylkill  Seminary,  Reading,  Pa.,  in  the  class  of  1912,  and  is  now  a  student 
in  the  Pennsylvania  State  College ;  he  taught  school  one  year  in  Lilesville,  N. 
C.  Harry  Franklin,  bom  Aug.  31,  1894,  began  his  education  in  the  East 
Brunswick  township  schools,  and  was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1915  at  Schuyl- 
kill Seminary,  Reading,  Pa.,  taking  a  preparatory  course. 

Mrs.  Hattie  (Albright)  Horn  was  bom  June  23,  1870,  in  West  Brunswick 
township,  and  received  her  education  in  the  schools  of  East  Brunswick  town- 
ship. After  the  death  of  her  husband  she  continued  to  reside  on  the  farm, 
managing  it  for  seven  years.  When  her  children  went  away  to  school  she 
rented  the  place  to  Frank  Kriner,  and  moved  to  McKeansburg,  where  she 
had  bought  a  fine  residence  from  Simon  Mengle,  and  is  still  residing  there. 
She  is  an  active  member  of  the  Church  of  God  (Steigerwalts).   , 

Peter  Albright,  Mrs.  Horn's  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  in  West  Bruns- 
wick township,  owning  a  tract  which  he  operated  for  a  number  of  years, 
wfien  he  rented  it  out.     Then  he  went  into  the  general  store  business  at 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  807 

DrehersviUe,  this  county,  which  he  conducted  until  he  sold  out  and  returned 
to  his  farm,  where  he  died  when  over  ninety  years  of  age.  His  wife,  Polly 
(Fussebnan),  lived  to  be  over  seventy.  They  had  six  children:  Isabelle 
marned  John  Kimmel,  who  is  deceased;  Catherine  married  Nathan  Saltzer, 
and  both  are  deceased ;  Elizabeth  married  Henry  Hoy,  and  both  are  deceased ; 
James,  deceased,  married  Caroline  Heisler;  Charles  is  the  father  of  Mrs.  Horn; 
Francisca  is  deceased.  The  parents  are  buried  in  the  Reformed  cemetery  at 
Orwigsburg.  Mr.  Albright  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church  at  Orwigsburg. 

Charles  Albright,  Mrs.  Horn's  father,  was  a  farmer  throughout  his  active 
years,  always  working  for  his  father  until  the  latter's  death.  He  married 
Rebecca  Fegley,  who  was  bom  Jan.  29,  1847,  Jn  Pinedale,  West  Brunswick 
township,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Phoebe  (Knittle)  Fegley,  and  their  chil- 
dren are:  James  married  Phoebe  Kimmel;  Lizzie  married  Albert  G.  Koch; 
Agnes  married  Howard  G.  Kimmel,  who  is  deceased ;  Hattie  is  the  widow  of 
George  B.  McClellan  Horn.  Mr.  Albright  is  now  living  retired  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Albert  Koch,  in  East  Brunswick  township.  Like  his  father 
he  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  he  united  with  the  Reformed  Church  at  Orwigs- 
burg. 

Abraham  Fegley,  Mrs.  Horn's  great-grandfather  in  the  maternal  line, 
was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  all  his  life. 
He  was  the  owner  of  a  large  tract.  He  married  twice,  and  had  the  follow- 
ing children  by  his  first  wife:  Nathan;  Charles,  who  married  Lavina  Hoff- 
man; and  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  William  Dreher.  Five  childcen  were  bom  to  his 
second  marriage:  Catherine,  Sallie,  Amanda  (Mrs.  Andrew  Haupt),  Reuben 
(who  married  Maria  Boyer)  and  Daniel.  Mr.  Fegley  and  both  his  wives  are 
buried  at  Orwigsburg.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church  there, 
and  a  Democrat  on  political  questions. 

Nathan  Fegley,  son  of  Abraham,  was  bom  in  Longswamp  township, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  settled  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
was  a  farmer  for  John  Matz  at  Pinedale.  Later  he  bought  a  farm  of  sixty- 
five  acres  in  West  Brunswick  which  he  operated  until  his  death.  By  his 
marriage  to  Phoebe  Knittle,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Rebecca  (Paul)  Knittle, 
he  had  children  as  follows:  Daniel  married  Mary  Zimmerman;  Sarah  is  the 
widow  of  Benjamin  Zimmerman;  Rebecca  is  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Horn; 
Joanna  married  Jack  Kramer;  William  married  Sarah  Bachman;  Kate  mar- 
ried George  Moyer;  Susanna  married  Charles^  Kramer.  Nathan  Fegley  was 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Church  of  God  at  Steigerwalt,  active  in  *all  its 
affairs,  and  zealous  in  the  promotion  of  religious  interests  generally.  He  held 
to  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 

SALEM  BENJAMIN  SCHAFFER,  of  East  Bmnswick  township,  is  a 
son  of  Benjamin  Schaflfer  and  grandson  of  the  late  Jacob  SchaflFer,  both  of 
whom  lived  and  worked  in  that  township.  All  of  the  name  have  been  respected 
citizens  and  held  a  worthy  place  in  the  community,  aiding  in  the  development 
of  her  agricultural  resources  specially  and  doing  their  share  in  furthering 
local  progress. 

Jacob  Schaifer,  the  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  and  stonemason  in  East 
Brunswick  township.  He  leamed  his  trade  early  in  life,  and  later  he  bought 
a  farm  of  forty-five  acres,  part  of  which  he  cleared.  He  operated  his  farm 
in  connection  with  work  at  his  trade,  and  when  his  children  became  old 


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808  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

enough  they  took  care  of  the  land  while  he  gave  all  his  time  to  his  trade. 
He  died  on  the  farm.  His  wife,  Priscilla  (Sassaman),  died  in  October,  1912, 
aged  ninety-one  years.  Children  as  follows  were  bom  to  them:  Jacob,  de- 
ceased, married  Emma  Yoxhammer,  who  now  lives  in  Chicago,  111.;  Henry, 
deceased,  married  Sarah  Bachert,  who  resides  in  East  Brunswick  township; 
Benjamin  is  next  in  the  order  of  birth;  Priscilla  married  Jacob  Marbach, 
and  they  reside  at  Middleport,  Pa.;  Amanda  married  Harry  McMuUin,  and 
they  reside  at  Reading,  Pa.;  Mary  married  Solomon  Bachert.  and  they  are 
residents  of  East  Brunswick  township;  Lizzie  married  a  Mr.  Reed,  and  both 
are  deceased ;  Emma  married  Frank  Halderman,  and  resides  at  New  Haven, 
Conn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schaffer  are  buried  at  the  Frieden's  Church,  New  Ring- 
gold. He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  of  that  church, 
which  he  served  as  elder,  deacon,  and  in  other  capacities.  His  political  sym- 
pathies were  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  held  the  office  of  supervisor. 

Benjamin  Schaffer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  East  Brunswick  township, 
June  3,  1 85 1,  was  reared  and  educated  in  that  township,  and  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Then  he  married  and 
bought  a  f^w  acres  in  East  Bnmswick  township,  on  which  he  settled.  He 
learned  the  trades  of  plasterer  and  stonemason,  which  he  followed  for  a  few 
years,  when  he  sold  his  Httle  place  and  bought  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  in  West 
Penn  township,  this  county,  and  cultivated  it  in  addition  to  working  at  his 
trades.  Later  he  sold  this  tract  and  came  to  East  Brunswick  township,  first 
purchasing  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  and  later  a  tract  of  153  acres,  for  his  son 
Salem.  Up  to  I9i4«he  had  about  eighty  acres.  He  then  bought  a  house  and 
small  lot  and  is  now  living  retired,  his  son  Norman  Edward  having  one  of 
his  farms,  and  his  son  Salem  another  tract,  now  having  108  acres.  Benjamin 
Schaffer  has  always  followed  plastering  and  stone-masonry  as  well  as  agricul- 
tural work.  His  wife,  Savina  (Halderman),  now  about  sixty-seven  years 
old,  is  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Priscilla  (Zimmerman)  Halderman,  and 
children  as  follows  have  been  bom  to  them:  Amanda,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Harvey  Franklin,  who  died  young;  Salem  Benjamin;  Qaude,  who  died  young; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Howard  W.  Hessinger;  Samuel,  who  married  Maude  De- 
Long;  Maude,  Uving  at  home;  and  Norman  Edward,  who  married  Annie 
Heiser.  Mr.  Schaffer  is  a  Democrat,  has  been  elected  school  director,  and  is 
a  devout  member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church  at  New  Ringgold.  At 
one  time  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school. 

Salem  B.  Schaffer  was  bom  Nov.  i,  1877,  in  East  Bmnswick  township, 
where  he  spent  his  early  years  attending  the  public  schools.  He  worked  for 
his  father  until  twenty-one  years  old,  when  he  was  married  and  moved  to 
his  present  place,  which  he  operated Jor  his  father  for  seven  years,  until  he 
bought  it.  He  has  occupied  this  farm  since  March  29,  1900,  and  has  almost 
sixty-five  acres  under  cultivation,  the  balance  in  timber.  During  the  summer 
months  Mr.  Schaffer  "hucksters"  to  Middleport  and  New  Philadelphia  twice 
a  week.  His  industrious  character  and  sterling  personal  qualities  hold  the 
esteem  of  all  who  have  dealings  with  him.  He  is  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  Reformed  congregation  at  the  Frieden's  Church,  New  Ringgold,  and 
socially  is  united  with  Protection  Council,  No.  935,  Order  of  Independent 
Americans,  at  McKeansburg.    Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  SchaflFer  is  married  to  Katie  Rebecca  Houser,  who  was  bom  May  22, 
1876,  at  Tamaqua,  this  county,  received  a  public  school  education  in  West 
Penn  township,  and  at  Nesquehoning,  Carbon  county,  and  remained  at  home 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  809 

until  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schaffer  have  had  four  children,  bom  as 
follows :  William  Edward,  May  23,  1900 ;  Ethel  May,  July  6,  1902 ;  Ida  Eliz- 
abeth, Oct.  14,  1907;  Harriet  Arline,  Dec.  28,  1910  (died  Feb.  5,  1911).  The 
latter  is  buried  at  Frieden's  Church.  The  surviving  children  attend  school  in 
the  township. 

Abraham  Houser,  Mrs.  Schaffer's  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  in  East  Bruns- 
wick township,  where  he  died.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  Zion's  Church 
in  West  Penn  township.  They  had  the  following  children,  all  now  deceased : 
Mrs.  William  Bachert ;  Frank  and  Abraham,  both  of  whom  died  in  the  West ; 
Sarah,  who  married  John  L.  Eckert  (he  is  deceased)  ;  Diana,  who  married  a 
Johnson  (he  is  deceased);  Jonathan,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Schaffer;  Eli,  who 
married  Rebecca  Houser,  who  is  deceased ;  and  Nathan. 

Jonathan  Houser  was  bom  in  Kleckner's  valley,  in  East  Brunswick  town- 
ship, Nov.  18,  1845,  and  died  Jan.  18,  1912.  He  was  educated  in  his  native 
township,  worked  at  home  on  the  farm  until  his  marriage,  and  also  handled 
timber.  Later  he  was  employed  by  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Com- 
pany, on  the  run  from  Tamaqua  to  Port  Richmond,  Philadelphia,  and  during 
his  fourteen  years*  service  on  the  railroad  resided  in  Tamaqua.  After  leav- 
ing the  railroad  he  rented  a  farm  for  two  years,  then  removing  to  Nesquehon- 
ing,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  drove  teams  for  John  T.  Miller,  lumber  dealer. 
He  continued  at  this  occupation  until  within  a  year  of  his  d^th,  being  obliged 
to  retire  because  of  illness.  He  is  buried  at  Nesquehoning.  Mrs.  Houser  is 
now  living  with  her  children.  Her  maiden  name  was  Mary  DeFrehn,  and  she 
was  bom  Dec.  3,  1848,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  (Miller)  DeFrehn, 
natives  of  Berks  county,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houser  had  children  as  follows : 
Rosie  Alice  married  William  Hile,  and  resides  at  Nesquehoning,  Pa.;  John 
Francis,  also  of  Nesquehoning,  married  Mary  Gettes,  who  is  deceased;  Jere 
Henry  was  killed  on  the  railroad  when  twenty-six  years  old;  Katie  Rebecca 
is  the  wife  of  Salem  B.  Schaffer;  Mary  EUzabeth  married  John  Lubert,  and 
after  his  death  (second)  Edward  J.  Peters,  and  they  reside  at  Allentown, 
Pa.;  Annie  Amanda  married  Adam  Bechtel,  and  lives  at  Nesquehoning; 
Samuel  Eli  married  Hattie  Davis,  and  lives  at  Nesquehoning;  Dora  Jane 
married  Charles  Staudt,  of  Nesquehoning;  Oliver  FrankHn  died  in  infancy; 
William  Harrison  is  a  resident  of  Nesquehoning ;  Stella  May  is  now  in  Allen- 
town,  Pa. ;  Amelia  Irene  died  when  fourteen  months  old.  Mr.  Houser  attended 
Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township.  He  was  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views. 

HENRY  DANNER,  of  Rush  township,  is  one  of  the  remarkably  success- 
ful agriculturists  of  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  Few  men  in  that  region 
have  worked  as  hard  for  advancement,  and  few  have  had  as  satisfactory 
results.  His  fine  property,  as  he  has  developed  it,  is  considered  an  asset  to 
the  locality,  for  it  is  a  practical  demonstration  of  the  possibilities  of  the  neigh- 
borhood and  an  encouragement  to  others  who  have  interests  there.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  truck  and  fruit  raising,  and  manufactures  and  deals  in  ice. 

Mr.  Danner  is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  bom  Sept.  7,  1856,  son  of 
Henry  Jacob  Danner,  who  was  extensively  engaged  in  farming  and  was 
also  a  merchant.  The  father  made  two  trips  to  America,  but  never  took  up 
his  residence  in  this  country,  and  he  died  in  Germany  when  seventy-one  years 
old.     His  wife,  Caroline  (Grund),  died  in  Germany  at  the  age  of  fifty-six 


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810  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

years.  They  had  children  as  follows :  Frederick,  Jacob,  Peter,  Henry,  Eliz- 
abeth and  Caroline. 

Henry  Banner  spent  his  early  life  in  Germany,  assisting  his  father.  When 
ten  years  old  he  came  to  America  with  his  father,  and  for  six  weeks  was  at 
St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  Returning  with  his  father  to  Germany,  he 
remained  there  until  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  again  came  to  this  country. 
For  a  time  he  was  at  Girardville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  employed  at  lime  burn- 
ing, living  at  that  place  about  fifteen  months.  He  then  went  West  to  Iowa,  and 
did  railroad  work  for  three  years,  and  returning  East  located  at  Cressona,  this 
county,  where  he  assisted  in  the  building  of  a  limekiln,  being  so  occupied  for 
six  months.  Again  he  was  in  Iowa  for  a  few  months,  removing  thence  to 
Nebraska,  where  he  bought  i6o  acres  of  railroad  land  in  Hamilton  county, 
upon  which,  however,  he  remained  only  a  short  time.  He  next  went  to 
Kansas,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  quarry  for  five  months,  after  which  he 
made  a  trip  to  New  York  City,  from  which  place  he  came  to  Tamaqua.  Here 
he  was  engaged  at  lime  burning  for  six  months,  and  then  married,  taking  his 
wife  out  to  his  farm  in  Nebraska,  where  they  lived  a  little  while.  Selling 
this  place  he  went  up  to  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  but  after  fifteen  months'  resi- 
dence there  went  back  to  Nebraska,  where  they  had  their  home  for  the  next 
twenty-one  months.  Coming  to  Tamaqua,  Pa.,  they  were  here  but  a  short 
time  when  they  returned  to  Minneapolis,  living  there  two  years,  since  when 
they  have  resided  in  Pennsylvania.  On  coming  from  Minneapolis  they  spent 
six  months  at  Tamaqua,  and  then  bought  a  tract" of  seventy  acres  in  Rush 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  part  of  which  is  included  in  Mr.  Banner's  pres- 
ent property  there.  He  sold  it  and  went  to  Shamokin,  Pa.,  for  a  time,  but 
having  decided  to  devote  himself  to  farming  bought  his  place  back,  and  he 
has  since  added  to  it  until  he  now  has  three  hundred  acres,  all  valuable  land. 
Of  this  large  tract  175  acres  are  under  excellent  cultivation.  It  has  all  been 
cleared  and  improved  by  hard  work,  and  Mr.  Banner  and  his  wife  have  lab- 
ored very  effectively  to  get  all  the  details  of  their  work  in  systematic  shape, 
by  which  means  they  are  able  to  accomplish  much  more  than  would  be  pos- 
sible under  average  conditions.  Besides  ordinary  crops  Mr.  Banner  raises 
large  quantities  of  truck  and  fruit,  having  over  fifteen  hundred  fruit  trees, 
apples,  peaches  and  pears.  He  has  made  his  way  by  diligent,  intelligent 
application  to  his  work,  and  deserves  to  be  called  a  self-made  man,  for  all 
his  progress  and  prosperity  is  due  to  his  own  exertions.  From  time  to  time 
he  has  turned  his  hand  to  other  work,  as  opportunity  has  offered.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  was  engaged  in  dairying,  having  thirty  cows,  but  he  gave  up 
this  branch  of  farming  in  1908.  He  is  also  interested  in  the  ice  business, 
having  built  three  dams  on  his  land  to  facilitate  the  production  of  ice,  which 
he  disposes  of  in  Tamaqua,  Lansford  and  Coaldale. 

On  May  4,  1881,  Mr.  Banner  married  Mary  Louisa  Schwalm,  a  native 
of  Tamaqua,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (May)  Schwalm.  Fourteen 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Banner,  but  nine  died  young,  the 
survivors  being :  Rebecca  married  Henry  Hugle ;  Jacob  married  *  Annie 
Waters;  Frederick  married  Elizabeth  Aikens;  Ruth  married  Charles  Eberts; 
Edgar  married  Lucy  Erode. 

Mr.  Banner  is  an  Odd  Fellow  in  good  standing,  belonging  to  Lodge  No. 
86,  of  Tamaqua.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Evangelical  denomina- 
tion. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  811 

JOHN  J.  HEDE  (deceased)  was  established  in  the  general  merchandise 
business  at  Ashland  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century,  having  a  well-stocked 
store  on  Walnut  street.  Mr.  Hede  was  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  bom  near 
Ashland  in  July,  i860,  son  of  Michael  Hede  and  grandson  of  John  and  Mary 
(Kilcline)  Hede.  The  grandparents  came  to  America  in  1852,  following 
the  emigration  of  their  son  Michael,  and  settled  at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  in  1856,  building  the  home  there  occupied  by  their  grandson,  the  late 
John  J.  Hede.  They  continued  to  reside  in  the  borough  the  remainder  of 
their  lives,  Mr.  Hede  dying  in  1871,  Mrs.  Hede  in  1870.  Both  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty ;  they  are  buried  at  Ashland.  John  Hede  was  employed 
in  the  mines  in  the  vicinity  from  the  time  of  his  settlement  here.  His  family 
consisted  of  four  children,  Catherine,  Michael,  John  and  Winnie. 

Michael  Hede,  the  father  of  John  J.  Hede,  was  bom  in  County  Roscom- 
mon, Ireland,  where  he  was  reared  to  mining.  He  came  to  tliis  country  alone 
in  1842,  and  at  once  located  in  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  later  moving  to 
the  vicinity  of  Pottsville.  In  1876  he  returned  to  Ashland,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  in  March,  1892.  He  always  followed  mining 
after  coming  to  the  county.  At  Port  Carbon,  this  county,  Mr.  Hede  mar- 
ried Bridget  Kennedy,  who  was  born  in  County  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  daughter 
of  Michael  and  Mary  (Caton)  Kennedy,  who  came  to  the  United  States  with 
their  family  in  the  year  1850,  and  made  their  home  near  Pottsville,  contin- 
uing to  reside  there  the  rest  of  their  lives.  Mrs.  Kennedy  died  in  1870.  They 
had  a  family  of  four  children,  namely:  Olivia,  Fannie,  Bridget  and  Julia. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  Hede  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  viz.: 
Anna,  who  is  deceased ;  John  J. ;  Dennis,  deceased ;  Mary,  deceased ;  Michael, 
a  resident  of  Ashland^  Kate,  deceased;  William,  who  lives  at  Ashland,  mar- 
ried to  Jane  Ross  of  that  place;  and  Joseph,  deceased.  Of  the  daughters, 
Mary  married  Michael  Hennessy,  who  is  also  deceased,  and  to  them  were  bom 
three  children,  Anna,  Agatha  and  Catherine ;  of  these,  Anna  married  Thomas 
Flannagan,  of  Port  Carbon,  this  county.  The  other  two  made  their  home 
with  their  uncle,  John  J.  Hede,  assisting  him  in  the  conduct  of  the  general 
store. 

John  J.  Hede  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Blythe  township,  this  county. 
When  only  nine  years  old  he  commenced  to  work  in  the  mines,  continuing  to 
follow  this  occupation  until  1890.  That  year  he  established  the  business  at 
Ashland,  where  he  conducted  a  general  store  the  rest  of  his  life,  having  a 
thriving  trade.  He  established  himself  among  the  prosperous  business  men  of 
the  borough  as  a  progressive  and  reliable  merchant  and  his  reputation  and 
obliging  service  to  all  his  customers  attracted  a  large  share  of  the  local 
patronage.  Mr.  Hede  was  a  member  of  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church  at 
Ashland.    He  died  in  1914. 

GEORGE  K.  ZIMMERMAN  owns  and  operates  a  valuable  farm  in  East 
Bmnswick  township,  acquired  by  persevering  industry  and  thrifty  manage- 
ment. He  settled  there  about  fifteen  years  ago  and  began  modestly,  renting 
the  property  for  five  years  before  he  purchased  it,  and  he  has  made  his  ^yay 
by  honest  labor  which  has  won  him  respect  as  well  as  prosperity.  Mr.  Zim- 
merman is  up-to-date  in  his  agricultural  operations,  is  an  all-around  mechanic 
of  practical  ability,  and  is  typically  German  in  his  thoroughness  and  regard 

for  details.  .         ^  t^        .     /-  u 

John  D.  Zimmerman,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  Prussia,  Germany,  born 


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812  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

July  22,  1823,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  when  a  young  man.  Here  he 
learned  the  wheelwright's  trade.  Making  a  return  visit  to  Germany,  the  ship 
he  sailed  in  was  wrecked  and  he  lost  everything  he  had  with  the  exception 
of  the  clothes  he  wore.  He  married  in  the  old  country  and  came  back  to 
America,  settling  at  Leesport,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  his  trade. 
When  his  son  George  was  about  eight  years  old  he  left  Leesport  for  South 
Manheim  township  (Jefferson),  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there  worked  at  his 
trade  for  John  M.  Kauffman,  iron  master,  for  many  years.  He  also  owned 
a  farm  of  thirty-seven  and  a  half  acres  which  he  operated  in  connection  with 
work  at  his  trade,  until  his  children  were  able  to  look  after  it.  He  cleared 
quite  a  portion  of  that  tract.  When  he  became  too  old  to  work  he  sold  his 
farm  and  bought  the  house  and  small  patch  of  ground  where  he  spent  his  few 
remaining  years  in  retirement.  Mr.  Zimmerman  nwrried  Anna  Julianna 
Knieream,  who  died  in  1870,  aged  forty-seven  years,  the  mother  of  the  fol- 
lowing children :  William  K.  married  Devilla  Dry ;  George  K.  is  next  in  the 
family;  Christianna  married  James  Zulick  and  after  his  death  (second)  How- 
ard Klahr;  John  married  Mary  Shotts;  Levi  died  when  fourteen  years  old; 
Clara  married  Harry  Peifer;  sev^eral  died  in  infancy.  The  father  survived 
the  mother  many  years,  passing  away  Dec.  4,  1904.  He  is  buried  at  Auburn, 
she  at  Summer  Hill.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  served  his  town- 
ship as  supervisor.  His  religious  connection  was  with  St.  Paul's  Reformed 
Church  at  Summer  Hill,  in  Sbuth  Manheim  township,  which  he  served  as 
deacon. 

George  K.  Zimmerman  was  born  June  19,  1856,  at  Leesport,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.  He  attended  school  in  South  Manheim  township  and  worked  for  his 
father  until  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  learned  shoemaking  with  John  S.  Heim, 
in  that  township,  working  for  him  seven  years.  Going  to  Miami  county, 
Ind.,  he  did  farm  work  for  Joseph  Fisher  and  a  Mr.  Dewalt,  and  also  fol- 
lowed his  trade  at  Peru,  same  county,  during  the  year  he  remained  there.  In 
the  fall  of  1879  he  came  back  to  South  Manheim  township,  and  followed 
his  trade  until  his  marriage  in  the  spring  of  1880.  Thereafter  he  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Browerstown,  South  Manheim  township,  for  sixteen  years,  having 
a  house  and  one  and  a  quarter  acres  of  land,  his  shop  in  the  basement  of  the 
dwelling.  For  one  year  he  then  worked  as  a  farm  laborer  for  Mrs.  Sarah 
Heim,  until  he  moved  to  Drehersville,  in  East  Brunswick  township,  and  rented 
the  Nathan  Kindt  farm  for  four  years.  Then  he  removed  to  his  present  place, 
and  tenanted  it  for  five  years,  for  Jonathan  Horn,  before  he  bought  the  farm, 
which  he  is  still  operating.  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  almost  two  hundred  acres, 
of  which  150  acres  are  cleared,  and  he.  has  made  many  improvements  on  the 
place  during  his  ownership.  Most  of  the  land  is  devoted  to  general  faitoing, 
with  about  four  acres  in  garden  truck  for  which  Mr.  Zimmerman  finds  a 
profitable  sale,  marketing  to  Palo  Alto  and  Port  Carbon  once  a  week  in 
winter  and  twice  a  week  in  the  summer  season.  He  built  a  story  to  his  spring- 
house,  where  he  still  carries  on  shoemaking  at  odd  times,  and  as  he  is  pro-» 
ficient  at  other  trades  also  he  is  busily  occupied.  He  has  a  working  knowledge 
of  several  useful  callings.  He.  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  Percival 
Henne,  serving  a  three  years'  apprenticeship,  and  still  follows  it  occasionally. 
He  learned  the  painting  trade  with  his  brother  John,  and  has  found  all  these 
serviceable  in  the  various  channels  into  which  his  energy  has  gone.  He  has 
a  threshing  outfit  and  goes  out  among  the  farmers  to  thresh;  has  a  fodder 
cutter  which  he  uses  the  same  way ;  owns  and  operates  a  circular  saw,  cutting 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  813 

firewood  for  the  farmers;  and  for  twenty-five  years  butchered  among  the 
neighboring  farmers,  until  three  years  ago.  The  work  of  improving  his  own 
place  has  gone  forward  steadily,  and  he  has  erected  a  number  of  convenient 
out-buildings.  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  also  exerted  himself  in  local  public 
improvements.  He  held  the  office  of  supervisor  six  years  and  was  school 
director  two  terms,  during  one  term  serving  as  secretary  of  the  board.  Though 
now  independent  in  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  in  his  earlier  years  and  quite 
active  in  the  party,  acting  as  delegate  for  South  Manheim  township  to  county 
conventions  held  at  Pottsville  and  Minersville. 

At  one  time  Mr.  Zimmerman  was  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  45, 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  Auburn,  is  a  past  president,  and  has  been  representative  to 
the  State  Camp;  he  belonged  to  Protection  Council,  No.  935,  Order  of  Inde- 
pendent Americans,  McKeansburg,  and  was  councilor  three  terms ;  is  a  member 
and  past  councilor  of  Pilgrim  Council,  No.  18,  Daughters  of  America,  at 
McKeansburg,  and  secretary  of  that  lodge  at  present;  a  member  of  McKeans- 
burg Grange,  No.  1256,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  was  at  one  time  chaplain; 
and  for  two  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Pittsburgh  Pension  Life  Associa- 
tion. He  started  the  Sunday  school  at  Browerstown,  in  South  Manheim  town- 
ship, acted  as  superintendent,  and  assisted  in  the  purchase  of  the  organ.  His 
church  connection  is  with  Christ  Reformed  congregation  at  McKeansburg, 
which  he  served  as  deacon  for  two  years.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  Christ 
Lutheran  Church,  McKeansburg. 

At  Schuylkill  Haven  Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Katie  Ann  Fichthom,  who 
was  bom  in  Upper  Bern  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  July  28,  1861,  and  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools.  Children  as  follows  have  been  bom  to  them : 
Mary  Eva  married  Edward  Seaman;  Lucy  Ann  married  Harvey  Kimmel; 
Katie  Ann  married  Fred  Seaman ;  John  Adam  married  Rosie  Kunkle ;  George 
Franklin  is  unmarried;  William  Henry  is  unmarried;  Lillie  May  married 
John  G.  Reber ;  Albert  Nathaniel  is  next  in  the  family ;  three  died  m  infancy 
unnamed;  Edward  Levi,  Ida  May,  Wesley,  Sarah  Matilda,  Bertha  and  Walter 
Roosevelt  complete  the  family. 

Jacob  Fichthom,  father  of  Mrs.  Zimmerman,  was  bom  in  Upper  Bem 
township,  Berks  county,  and  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  having  a  tract  of  sixty- 
four  acres.  He  married  Eva  HoUenbach,  a  native  of  Berks  county,  and  they 
had  children:  Franklin;  Matilda,  Mrs.  Charles  Berger;  Sarah;  Nathaniel, 
who  married  Kate  Baltzer;  Katie  Ann;  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  The 
father  died  when  eighty-six  years  old,  the  mother  at  the  age  of  sixty-five,  and 
they  are  buried  at  St.  Michael's  Church  in  Tilden  township,  Berks  county.  He 
was  a  member  of  that  church,  and  a  Democrat  in  politics.      , 

PETER  L.  HOFFMAN,  late  of  Brockton,  was  for  many  years  one  of 
the  most  popular  residents  of  his  part  of  Schuylkill  county.  Though  esteemed 
for  his  honorable  and  successful  business  career,  it  was  not  that  alone  which 
made  him  so  valued  a  citizen,  but  the  qualities  of  heart  and  intellect  which 
endeared  him  to  an  unusually  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  With 
intelligence  and  progressive  ideas  beyond  the  average,  he  used  his  powers  and 
influence  in  behalf  of  the  general  good  so  freely  that  his  unselfish  public  spirit 
came  to  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  strongest  assets  of  the  enterprising  element 
in  the  community,  and  his  recent  death  was  mourned  as  a  personal  loss  by  a 
large  number  of  his  fellow  townsmen. 

Mr.  Hoflfman  was  bom  at  Brockton,  Nov.  9,  i860,  and  was  of  German 


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814  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

extraction,  his  father,  Nicholas  Hoffman,  having  been  a  native  of  Germany, 
whence  he  came  to  America  in  young  manhood.  Settling  at  what  was  then 
known  as  Patterson  (now  Brockton),  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  when  the  town  was 
in  its  infancy,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cigars  and  also  conducted  a 
hotel,  following  both  branches  of  business  throughout  his  active  years.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years.  Mr.  Hoffman  was  the  father  of  a  large 
family:  William,  John,  Jacob  and  Frank  are  all  deceased;  Michael  lives  at 
Newkirk,  Schuylkill  county;  Peter  L.  is  deceased;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Fritz ;  Elizabeth  married  Peter  Post ;  Gertrude  is  the  widow  of  Harry  Focht 
who  was  superintendent  of  the  Pencoyd  Iron  Works  at  Manayunk,  near 
Philadelphia;  Catherine  married  Joseph  Bosler;  Lena  married  Jacob  Hartz; 
Matilda  married  Willis  Pamell,  an  attorney,  who  is  a  member  of  the  Schuylkill 
county  bar  and  resides  at  Brockton. 

Peter  L.  Hoffman  grew  up  at  Brockton,  attending  the  local  public  schools 
in  his  boyhood.  He  had  very  good  educational  advantages,  going  to  school 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  and  his  studies  included  a  course  at  the 
Eastman  Business  College,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  Then  he  became  interested 
with  his  father  in  the  manufacture  of  cigars  at  Brockton,  and  after  his  father's 
death  he  and  his  brother  William  continued  the  business  for  a  time,  Peter  L. 
Hoffman  subsequently  carrying  it  on  alone.  He  also  operated  the  hotel  which 
his  father  had  established,  and  which  is  still  owned  in^the  family,  and  under 
his  management  it  gained  added  prestige,  his  conformity  to  modem  ideas  and 
faculty  for  pleasing  his  guests  drawing  many  new  patrons  and  giving  increased 
satisfaction  to  the  old  ones.  Mr.  Hoffman  was  always  a  student,  and  his 
library  included  a  number  of  rare  books  as  well  as  standard  works  of  recog- 
nized worth.  He  had  a  reflective  turn  of  mind  and  a  gift  for  writing,  and 
contributed  a  number  of  articles  to  the  local  press,  which  were  always  accept- 
able and  sure  of  interested  readers.  His  interest  in  education  led  him  to 
take  an  active  part  in  securing  the  best  possible  advantages  for  his  community, 
and  for  sixteen  years  he  was  on  the  school  board  of  Schuylkill  township, 
filling  all  the  offices  of  that  body  with  characteristic  ability.  He  built  the  first 
schoolhouse  at  Maryd.  For  several  years  Mr.  Hoffman  also  ser\^ed  as  town- 
ship tax  collector,  in  fact,  he  was  never  defeated  as  a  candidate  for  local  office. 
But  in  his  later  years  he  refused  all  such  honors,  though  he  never  relinquished 
his  support  and  encouragement  to  all  good  movements.  Politically  he  was  a 
Democrat  in  opinion.  His  place  in  the  community  can  never  be  filled,  and 
his  death,  which  occurred  June  3,  191 5,  was  considered  a  public  bereavement. 
He  is  buried  at  Brockton. 

*  Mr.  Hoffman  was  married  to  Lena  Brachman,  daughter  of  Frederick  W. 
Brachman,  late  of  Brockton,  and  she  passed  away  March  5,  1896.  They  are 
survived  by  two  daughters:  Maud  E.  and  Ruth  M.  They  reside  at  the  old 
homestead  and  continue  to  conduct  the  hotel,  for  which  Miss  Maud  E.  Hoff- 
man now  holds  the  license.  There  are  thirty  acres  of  land  in  connection  with 
the  hotel  property. 

HARRY  M.  MICHAEL,  of  Quakake,  Schuylkill  county,  is  a  prosperous 
merchant,  commanding  a  good  share  of  the  patronage  in  his  town  and  adjacent 
territory.  His  business  has  been  built  up  by  conscientious  attention  to  the 
wants  of  his  customers,  and  has  grown  steadily  from  the  beginning,  his  store 
being  now  one  of  the  most  popular  trading  places  in  that  section. 

Mr.   Michael  was  bom   Sept.  23,   1875,  at  Beaver  Valley,  in  Columbia 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  815 

county,  Pa.,  and  belongs  to  an  old  family  of  that  section,  where  it  is  traced 
back  for  several  generations.  Ulrich  Michael  was  bom  in  Columbia  county, 
where  he  spent  his  honorable  life  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  there 
he  died. 

Adam  Michael,  son  of  Ulrich  Michael,  was  bom  at  Beaver  Valley,  Columbia 
Co.,  Pa.  In  addition  to  operating  a  farm  of  350  acres  in  Beaver  township 
he  conducted  a  hotel  at  Siunmerhill,  same  county,  for  a  number  of  years,  until 
his  death.  He  nnarried  a  Miss  Hotz,  and  their  children  were:  Manasseh; 
Charles,  who  married  twice,  both  his  wives  being  members  of  the  Hosier 
family;  George  Washington,  who  married  a  Miss  Beaver;  Andrew,  who 
married  Rebecca  Gensel ;  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years ;  Stephen, 
who  married  Sarah  Gensel;  Mrs.  Peter  Houck;  Mrs.  Benjamin  Houck  (one 
of  these  two  daughters  was  named  Sallie)  ;  Elizabeth,  now  deceased,  who 
married  Elias  Miller;  and  Caroline,  who  married  Michael  Hunts.  Adam 
Michael  was  a  Democrat  and  held  a  number  of  the  township  offices.  He  was 
a  consistent  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  He  died  in  1841,  when 
about  fifty-seven  years  old,  and  with  his  wife,  who  passed  away  several  years 
later,  is  buried  in  a  private  graveyard  on  the  edge  of  the  farm  he  owned  in 
Beaver  valley. 

Manasseh  Michael,  son  of  Adam  Michael,  was  born  in  Beaver  township, 
Columbia  county,  and  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  reached  manhood.  Then 
he  moved  to  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  he  married.  He  was  a  boatman  on 
the  Schuylkill  canal,  having  his  own  boat,  and  was  engaged  in  carrying  coal 
from  the  vicinity  of  Pottsville  to  Philadelphia  until  he  met  with  an  accident, 
a  piece  of  timber  falling  on  him.  He  lingered  for  nine  years,  dying  in  Decem- 
ber, 1838,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-seven,  in  Berks  county,  and  he  is  buried 
there,  at  Strausstown,  in  the  Michael  Church  cemetery  in  Bem  township. 
H^  married  Susanna  Hossler  (or  Hosier),  member  of  a  well  known  family 
of  Berks  county  who  had  extensive  farming  interests,  and  they  had  children 
as  follows:  Levi;  William,  a  miller,  who  died  near  Allentown,  Pa.  (he  was 
in  the  Civil  war  for  three  years)  ;  Manassah,  who  was  in  the  hotel  business 
and  died  at  Pottsville,  Pa.;  Ebezine,  widow  of  Josiah  Johnscwi,  residing  on 
Penn  street  in  Reading,  Pa.;  Lucy  Ann,  whoi  married  Thomas  Shuman,  a 
merchant  at  Beaver  Valley;  and  Angeline,  Mrs.  Franklin  L.  Shuman,  of 
Catawissa,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.  About  1850  the  widowed  mother  removed  with 
her  family  to  Columbia  county,  settling  in  Beaver  township,  where  she  died 
Feb.  16,  1884.  She  is  buried  in  St.  Peter's  Church  yard  (Harger  cemetery), 
in  that  section. 

Levi  Michael,  son  of  Manasseh,  was  bom  in  Berks  county,  where  he  spent 
his  early  years,  but  most  of  his  life  was  passed  in  Columbia  county.  He  Avas 
a  merchant  in  Beaver  township  and  well  known  in  that  vicinity,  where  he  died 
in  1914,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  He  is  buried  in  Beaver  township. 
He  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  served  three  years,  having 
enlisted  from  Pottsville  in  Company  H,  17th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  He 
married  Annie  Jane  Gearhart,  who  died  when  sixty-one  years  old.  The 
following  children  were  bom  to  them:  Harry  M.,  Alfred  L.,  Gertmde, 
George,  Lottie,  Norman,  Robert,  Jennie  and  Russell. 

Harry  M.  Michael  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  was 
only  a  boy  when  he  mastered  telegraphy,  taking  the  night  turn  at  the  Quakake 
station  when  he  was  but  fourteen  years  old.  He  held  it  for  four  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  was  transferred  to  the   Beaver  Valley  station, 


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816  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

remaining  there  three  years.  He  was  next  at  Hazleton  Junction,  for  two 
and  a  half  years,  until  appointed  station  agent  at  Brandonville,  where  he  was 
located  for  two  years.  Thence  he  changed  to  Ashland,  where  he  was  ticket 
agent  for  three  years,  until  his  removal  to  Quakake,  in  1903.  Here  he  opened 
the  general  store  which  he  has  since  carried  on,  and  which  is  well  stocked 
with  the  lines  in  demand,  Mr.  Michael  taking  great  pains  to  fill  the  wants  of 
all  his  customers.  Honorable  and  reliable  in  all  his  transactions,  and  possessing 
good  executive  ability,  he  has  handled  the  business  well  and  deserves  the 
prosperity  which  has  rewarded  him.  He  stands  high  in  the  regard  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  who  have  chosen  him  to  the  office  of  road  treasurer,  which  he 
filled  for  five  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood  and  the  Improved 
Order  of  Heptasophs,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  latter 
organization. 

Mr.  Michael  married  Effi«  Eveland,  daughter  of  Edw.  Eveland,  a  black- 
smith, of  Quakake,  and  five  children  have  been  bom  to  them :  Helen ;  Gladys ; 
Charles;  Dorothy,  who  died  when  four  years  old;  and  a  son  that  died  in 
infancy.    The  family  attend  the  Evangelical  Church. 

CHARLES  W.  EISINGER  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  SchuylkiU 
county,  having  been  bom  near  Pottsville  Sept.  19,  1S53,  and  most  of  his  life 
has  been  spent  at  Ashland.  He  commenced  his  present  line  of  business  in 
1880,  and  after  ten  years'  experience  at  Port  Carbon  established  himself  at 
Ashland. 

Mr.  Eisinger  is  of  German  extraction.  His  grand-parents  lived  and  died 
in  Germany,  and  his  father.  Christian  Eisinger,  was  bom  in  the  Kingdom  of 
Wurtemberg,  where  he  passed  his  early  years.  When  a  youth  of  sixteen  he 
emigrated  to  America,  and  first  located  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
later  removing  to  Pottsville,  where  he  was  married.  From  there  he  came  to 
Ashland,  where  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  up  to  1898,  that  year 
taking  up  his  residence  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  ot  his 
life.  His  death  occurred  there  in  1906.  Mr.  Eisinger  married  Christiana 
Miller,  a  native  of  Hessen-Darmstadt,  Germany,  whose  parents  died  in  that 
country.  She  came  to  the  United  States  when  a  young  girl  and  Uved  first  at 
Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  later  removing  to  Pottsville.  She  died  in 
Philadelphia  in  1904.  Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christian 
Eisinger,  of  whom  Charles  W.  is  the  eldest;  Gussie  is  deceased;  Henrietta  is 
the  wife  of  Edmund  Silber,  of  Philadelphia;  Edward  resides  in  that  city; 
Anna  is  the  wife  of  Otto  Parodat,  of  Philadelphia;  Emma  M.  is  the  wife  of 
Aaron  Motter,  of  Philadelphia;  Louise  died  young;  another  child  died  in 
infancy. 

Charles  W.  Eisinger  was  an  infant  when  his  parents  settled  at  Ashland, 
in  1864.  His  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools  there,  and  as  he 
had  to  commence  work  rather  early  he  attended  night  school  for  some  time. 
Starting  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  was  employed  at  the  collieries  near 
Ashland  until  18&),  in  which  year  he  entered  his  present  line,  which  he  started 
in  the  employ  of  Hebner  &  Paul,  of  Port  Carbon.  He  first  handled  sewing 
machines.  After  ten  years  with  the  firm  mentioned  he  commenced  business 
on  his  own  account  at  Ashland,  and  when  he  considered  there  was  sufficient 
inducement  sold  pianos,  as  well  as  sewing  machines.  He  first  dealt  in  old 
square  pianos,  selling  uprights  after  the  others  became  unpopular,  and  also 
put  in  a  stock  of  smaller  musical  instruments,  handling  graphophones,  phono- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  817 

graphs,  etc.  Since  dealing  in  musical  instruments  he  has  also  sold  a  number 
of  organs.  Mr.  Eisinger's  first  location  at  Ashland  was  across  the  street  from 
his  present  place,  which  property  he  bought  in  1901.  It  is  at  No.  1609  Centre 
street.  Mr.  Eisinger  has  found  a  profitable  field  of  employment  in  and  around 
Ashland,  and  has  a  large  number  of  well  satisfied  patrons  in  his  territory. 
He  has  not  only  been  devoted  to  business,  but  has  also  interested  himself  in 
the  social  and  other  activities  of  the  borough,  being  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and  he  has  served  as  a  trustee  of  the  local 
camp  of  the  latter  organization.  With  his  wife  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Evangelical  Church  at  Ashland. 

On  Nov.  25,  1886,  Mr.  Eisinger  married  Marie  Christian  Bachman,  daugh- 
ter of  Christian  and  Dorothy  (Friedenberger)  Bachman,  natives  of  Germany. 
Mr.  Bachman  came  to  this  country  at  an  early  day,  settling  in  Tamaqua,  this 
county,  and  died  in  May,  1914.  His  wife  died  in  April,  1903.  Mrs.  Eisinger 
was  born  at  Tamaqua,  the  second  of  a  family  of  five  children,  namely :  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  John  Wittig,  of  Ashland;  Marie  C,  Mrs.  Eisinger;  John, 
of  Pottstown ;  William,  of  Tamaqua ;  and  Louis,  of  Tamaqua. , 

Three  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eisinger:  Amy,  the  eldest, 
is  deceased ;  Charles  William  is  a  clerk  in  the  Citizens'  National  Bank  of  Ash- 
land ;  Leah  is  at  home. 

LEWIS  JOHN  GRUBE,  of  East  Brunswick  township,  has  led  an  indus- 
trious life  always,  and  is  deservedly  respected  by  his  neighbors  for  the  thrifty 
management  which  has  made  him  one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  the  locality. 
His  various  interests  keep  him  well  occupied.  Mr.  Grube  is  a  typical  repre- 
sentative of  a  family  whose  members  nave  maintained  a  high  reputation 
through  several  generations. 

Christian  Grube,  his  grandfather,  lived  in  the  Province  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  and  was  a  silver  miner  by  occupation.  He  died  at  the  comparatively 
early  age  of  thirty-six,  leaving  a  wife  and  five  children,  namely:  Charles, 
who  died  in  Baltimore  about  1909,  aged  seventy-seven  years;  Charlotte; 
Louisa,  Mrs.  Charles  Heberling;  Dorothy,  Mrs.  John  Weist;  and  William, 
who  was  one  year  old  when  his  father  died.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Hannah  Shear,  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Sthuylkill  county,  at  the 
home  of  her  son-in-law,  Charles  Heberling.  She  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church,  and  is  buried  in  the  Frieden's  Church  cemetery.  Mrs.  Grube 
came  to  America  with  her  children  eighteen  years  after  her  husband's  death, 
the  family  settling  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  for  two  years,  and  removing  thence  to 
Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania. 

William  Grube,  son  of  Christian,  was  bom  July  8,  1834,  in  Klausthal, 
Hanover,  Germany,  was  educated  in  his  native  country,  and  came  to  America 
with  his  mother.  They  first  settled  at  Baltimore,  and  later  at  Lewistown,  in 
Walker  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  he  was  engaged  at  wood  chopping 
for  some  time.  Thence  he  removed  to  East  Brunswick  township,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  of  thirty  acres,  cleared  most  of  it,  and  subsequently  bought 
several'tracts  aggregating  seventy-five  acres.  These  he  cultivated  to  tl|e  end  of 
his  days,  carrying  on  general  farming.  He  died  Oct.  31,  1906,  and  is  buried 
in  the  cemetery  at  Frieden's  Church,  New  Ringgold,  of  which  church  he  was 
a  Lutheran  member.  In  political  sentiment  he  was  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  Grube 
still   resides  in  East  Brunswick  township.     Her  maiden  name  was   Sophia 

Vol.  n— 14 


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818  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Reidler,  and  she  was  bom  in  Germany  Nov.  3,  1841,  daughter  of  Conrad  and 
Maria  (Knoblauch)  Reidler.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Caroline  married 
George  Schaffer;  Charlotte  married  Charles  Eckroth;  William  married  Cather- 
ine Shellhammer;  Minnie  married  Adam  Schofield,  who  is  deceased;  Lewis 
John  married  Cordelia  Bachert;  Louisa  is  next  in  the  family;  Charles  W. 
married  Emma  L.  Shellhammer;  Katie  married  Harvey  Houser;  Henry  is 
next ;  Walter  married  Elsie  Frantz. 

Lewis  John  Grube  was  bom  Nov.  13,  1869,  ^^  East  Bmnswick  township, 
and  was  educated  there  in  the  local  schools.  He  continued  to  work  on  his 
father's  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  left  home  and  entered 
the  employ  of  Wertman  &  Fletcher,  as  a  wood  chopper,  in  Rush  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  for  three  years.  His  next  position  was  with  the  Lehigh 
Valley  Railroad  Company,  as  brakeman  between  Delano  and  Packerton,  and 
he  was  so  engaged  for  three  months,  Hving  in  Quakake  during  that  time.  He 
was  obliged  to  give  up  this  work  on  account  of  illness,  returning  to  his  parents' 
home  in  East  Brunswick  township,  and  was  ill  for  six  months.  His  brother 
William  bought  from  Stephen  Greenawalt  a  tract  of  ninety-eight  acres,  lying 
in  East  Brunswick  township,  and  he  sold  his  brother  Lewis  forty-eight  acres 
and  103  perches  of  this  purchase.  Thirty  acres  of  this  are  under  cultivation, 
Mr.  Grube  following  general  farming  very  profitably.  Part  of  his  time  is 
given  to  the  sawmill  he  owns,  and  which  he  has  been  operating  for  nineteen 
years.  Though  he  leamed  the  business  himself,  acquiring  all  his  experience 
practically,  he  is  very  proficient,  and  saws  considerable  timber  for  the  farmers 
in  -the  surrounding  territory.  He  also  hauls  produce  to  the  town  of  New 
Philadelphia  twice  a  week  in  the  summertime,  and  once  a  week  in  the  winter 
season. 

Mr.  Gmbe  married  Cordelia  Bachert,  who  was  bom  Jan.  10,  1871,  daugh- 
ter of  Elias  and  Hannah  (Merkle)  Bachert,  and  their  first  child  died  in 
infancy;  Hannah  Sophia  was  bom  Sept.  19,  1904;  John  Elias,  Dec.  16,  1906; 
George,  June  16,  1909;  Peter,  Nov.  6,  1910.  The  children  of  school  age  are 
attending  the  Reigel  school  in  East  Bmnswick  township.  Mr.  Gmbe  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Frieden's  Lutheran  Church  at  New  Rii^gold.  He 
votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 

Mrs.  Cordelia  (Bachert)  Gmbe  was  educated  in  what  was  at  that  period 
the  Middle  District  school  of  East  Bmnswick  township,  and  remained  at  home 
until  her  marriage.  She  is  a  great-granddaughter  of  George  Bachert,  an  early 
farmer  and  wheelwright  of  East  Bmnswick  township,  who  lived  to  be  about 
eighty  years  old.  His  children  were :  Jacob,  John,  Henry,  Simon,  Magdalena 
and  Mrs.  John  Faust. 

John  Bachert,  Mrs.  Gmbe's  grandfather,  was  also  a  farmer  in  East 
Bmnswick  township.  He  married  Elizabeth  Zettlemoyer,  and  they  had 
children  as  follows :  Jacob,  Emmanuel,  James,  Daniel,  Elias,  Elizabeth,  Laura, 
Mollie  and  Katie. 

Elias  Bachert,  father  of  Mrs.  Gmbe,  was  bom  Aug.  14,  1843,  ^^  East 
Bmnswick  township,  where  he  is  now  a  prosperous  miller  and  farmer,  one  of 
the  substantial  business  men  in  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  Ten  children 
have  been  bom  to  his  marriage  with  Hannah  Merkle :  Albert  Robert,  William 
I.,  Elizabeth,  Cordelia,  John  E.,  Richard  E.,  Howard  J.,  Luther  P.,  Thomas 
W.,  and  Oscar  P.  A  fuller  account  of  the  family  may  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  work. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  819 

ALFRED  A.  YEAGER,  of  East  Brunswick  township,  is  now  giving  all 
his  attention  to  farming,  and  has  excellent  prospects  in  that  line.  The  ability 
and  confidence  which  won  him  success  in  his  earlier  ventures  are  just  as 
valuable  in  his  present  business,  and  combined  with  his  practical  early  training 
on  the  farm  should  prove  sufficient  to  insure  prosperity.  So  far  he  has  met 
with  gratifying  results,  and  he  is  sparing  no  pains  to  introduce  the  best 
methods  and  most  approved  systems  into  his  work.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
Yeager  and  grandson  of  George  Yeager,  and  belongs  to  an  old  family  of 
Schuylkill  county. 

George  Yeager,  the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  and 
for  many  years  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop  at  Orwigsburg.  He  married  a 
'Miss  Weiss,  and  they  had  the  following  children:  Thomas,  who  married 
Maria  Yeager,  resides  in  Orwigsburg;  George,  deceased,  married  Emma 
Edwards,  who  resides  at  Orwigsburg;  William  is  the  father  of  Alfred  A. 
Yeager.  The  parents  of  this  family  are  buried  in  the  Lutheran  cemetery  at 
Orwigsburg.  The  father  was  a  Democrat,  and  his  religious  connection  was 
with  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Orwigsburg,  of  which  he  was  an 
active  member. 

William  Yeager,  father  of  Alfred  A.  Yeager,  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  Orwigsburg,  and  served  a  thorough  apprenticeship,  at  the  blacksmith's  trade 
in  his  father's  shop.  After  conducting  a  shop  of  his  own  in  Orwigsburg  for 
about  ten  years  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
Company,  in  the  blacksmith  department  of  the  Pottsville  shop,  where  he 
remained  for  the  long  period  of  twenty-nine  years.  He  is  now  leading  a 
retired  life  in  Pottsville,  Pa.  He  is  a  very  skillful  mechanic,  and  in  his  work- 
ing days  was  much  thought  of  by  his  superiors.  Mr.  Yeager  married  Elizabeth 
Deibert,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Deibert,  whose  wife's  maiden  name  was  Sheep. 
They  have  had  the  following  children :  Alfred  A.  is  mentioned  below ;  William, 
who  is  a  blacksmith  in  the  Pennsylvania  &  Reading  shops,  at  Pottsville, 
married  Laura  Fenstermacher ;  Mamie  married  Henry  Long,  of  Pottsville; 
Ann  married  a  Mr.  Hughes,  of  Pottsville;  Frederick  married  May  Smith,  of 
Pottsville ;  Roy  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  his  parents ;  Maggie  is  next  in  the 
family;  Katie  married  Jacob  Boss,  of  Pottsville;  Joseph  is  deceased.  Mr. 
Yeager  is  now  (191 5)  about  sixty-seven  years  of  age,  his  wife  about  sixty-six. 
They  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of  Pottsville.  Mr. 
Yeager  supports  the  Democratic  party. 

Alfred  A.  Yeager  was  bom  April  24,  1868,  in  Orwigsburg,  where  he 
began  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  When  nine  years  old  he  left  home 
and  went  to  his  uncle,  Daniel  Deibert,  with  whom  he  lived  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  lived  with  Joseph  Deibert,  at  Orwigsburg,  for  two  years.  Then 
he  entered  the  employ  of  William  Shoener,  to  work  on  his  farm,  remaining 
with  him  five  years,  at  the  end  of  which  period  he  made  a  change,  working 
on  the  farm  of  Lewis  Shoener  for  two  years.  His  next  place  was  with  James 
Shoener,  as  farm  laborer,  continuing  with  him  in  that  capacity  for  about  one 
year,  when  they  formed  a  partnership  in  the  timber  business.  They  would 
buy  the  timber  by  the  acre,  and  sell  it  to  the  Reading  collieries,  the  Dodson 
Coal  Company  and  individual  collieries,  in  fact  they  dealt  with  all  the  col- 
lieries between  St.  Clair  and  Tuscarora,  the  timber  being  for  use  in  the 
mines.  After  an  association  of  four  years  Mr.  Shoener  died,  and  Mr. 
Yeager  took  over  his  share  in  the  business,  and  conducted  it  alone  during  the 
rest  of  his  connection  with  that  line,  which  extended  to  twenty-seven  yepis. 


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820  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

After  that  he  bought  his  present  farm  of  sixty  acres  in  East  Brunswick  town- 
ship, about  half  of  which  is  under  cultivation.  He  has  made  numerous 
improvements  on  the  property,  now  having  a  very  fine  home  there.  Since  set- 
thng  at  this  place  he  has  bought  two  other  tracts  adjoining  the  original  pur- 
chase, one  containing  sixty,  acres,  of  which  forty  acres  are  cleared,  the  other 
comprising  113  acres,  of  which  seventy-five  are  cleared.  Mr.  Yeager  culti- 
vates these  three  tracts  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  agricultural  work, 
being  considered  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  section.  He  is  interested 
in  everything  affecting  the  welfare  and  social  conditions  of  his  locality,  has 
joined  a  number  of  his  neighbors  as  a  member  of  Protection  Council,  No.  935, 
Independent  Order  of  Americans,  at  McKeansburg,  and  belongs  to  Wash- 
ington Camp  No.  100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  New  Ringgold.  He  attends  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at  Orwigsburg  and  contributes  regularly  to  its 
support.    On  political  questions  he  is  a  Republican. 

By  his  marriage  to  Laura  E.  Wertman  Mr.  Yeager  has  had  six  children: 
Edward  William,  bom  Sept.  7,  1902,  died  when  ten  months  old;  Samuel 
Lewis,  bom  May  25,  1904,  died  when  four  days  less  than  fifteen  months  old; 
Bertell  Marie  was  bom  Dec.  11,  1905;  Evelyn  Emma,  Dec.  10,  1907;  LuVeme 
Estella,  July  24,  191 1 ;  Madeline  Laura,  Jan.  29,  1914. 

Mrs.  Laura  E.  (Wertman)  Yeager  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  Aug.  26,  1871,  daughter  of  Samuel  D.  Wertman,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Samuel  Wertman.  The  grandfather  was  a  successful  fanner 
in  West  Penn  township,  where  he  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  and  con- 
ducted a  farming  business  the  greater  portion  of  his  life.  He  married  Eliz- 
abeth Daubenspeck,  and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Samuel  D.  is  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Yeager;  David  married  Catherine  Fritz;  Jonas  married  Mary 
Roth;  Elias  married  Kate  Boyer,  and  both  are  deceased;  Elizabeth,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Henry  Mimm;  Sarah  married  Joseph  Wertman,  of  Walnut- 
port;  Mary,  deceased,  married  George  Alspach;  Polly  married  Hiram  Gobel. 
The  parents  were  associated  with  the  Methodist  Church.  The  father  is  buried 
near  Allentown,  Pa.,  the  mother  in  Zion*s  cemetery,  in  West  Penn  township. 

Samuel  D.  Wertman,  father  of  Mrs.  Yeager,  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  West  Penn  township,  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  twenty- 
five  years  of  age,  after  which  he  hired  ou^  as  a  farm  laborer  for  a  few  years. 
Then  he  bought  a  tract  of  seventy-five  acres  near  West  Penn  station,  and  in 
connection  with  farming  he  formerly  had  charcoal  ovens  on  his  property, 
cutting  the  timber  from  his  trees  and  burning  charcoal,  which  he  hauled 
from  West  Penn  station  to  the  powder  mills,  the  Muir  mills  at  St.  Clair 
and  the  Weldy  powder  mills  at  Mintzers.  He  also  bought  charcoal  from 
his  neighbors  and  hauled  it  to  the  mills,  carrying  on  that  business  for 
about  ten  years.  Besides,  he  cut  timber  on  his  land  and  shipped  the  same 
to  the  collieries  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company,  and  hauled  railroad 
ties  for  the  Slatington  &  Lehigh  Railroad  Company.  He  now  owns  about 
four  hundred  acres  of  land,  a  great  portion  of  which  is  in  timber.  Mr.  Wert- 
man is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  having  joined  the  48th  Pennsylvania  Regi- 
ment for  nine  months*  service;  he  received  an  honorable  discharge  at  Har- 
risburg.  Mr.  Wertman  has  been  a  leading  member  of  Zion's  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church,  of  West  Penn  township,  and  has  held  the  offices  of  elder 
and  deacon.  Politically  he  works  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  served 
as  judge  of  election. 

Mrs.  Wertman  was  Maria  Bebleheimer,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  821 

(Yeager)  Bebleheimer,  natives  of  Orwigsburg.  Mrs.  Wertman  died  when 
sixty-two  years  old,  and  is  buried  in  Zion*s  churchyard.  Children  as  follows 
were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wertman:  Ellen  died  aged  three  years;  Dr.  Sam- 
uel E.  married  Lizzie  Fox,  and  they  reside  in  Mahanoy  City;  Clinton  died 
aged  three  years;  Laura  E.  is  Mrs.  Yeager;  Mary  married  Oliver  K.  Mantz, 
who  is  proprietor  of  the  West  Penn  Hotel;  Emma  is  a  school  teacher  in  West 
Penn  township;  Dr.  Mahlon  married  Lizzie  FoUweiler,  and  they  reside  at 
Palmerton,  Pa. ;  Sarah  and  George  are  at  home ;  Stella  is  a  school  teacher  in 
West  Bnmswick  township;  Qarence  and  Christie  Belle  are  at  home;  Minnie 
C.  is  the  widow  of  Irwin  Lotz,  and  is  living  at  home. 

GEORGE  YOUNG,  a  retired  merchant  of  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
was  bom  in  Germany  April  2*],  183 1,  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  Young.  The 
parents  died  in  Germany. 

Mr.  Young  was  educated  in  the  German  schools  and  came  to  America  in 
1852,  landing  at  New  York  on  June  27th.  That  year  he  was  married  to  Mary 
Ripplinger,  who  came  from  the  same  part  of  Germany,  and  they  started  for 
America  immediately  after  the  wedding.  Going  to  Patterson,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  Mr.  Young  remained  there  until  1855,  when  he  removed  to  St.  Clair,  and 
thence  to  Ashland.  At  the  latter  place  he  entered  the  mines,  and  remained  at 
that  work  for  forty  years.  About  1886  he  engaged  in  business  on  his  own 
account  at  Ashland. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  have  had  children  as  follows :  Lena,  the  widow  of 
George  Steinfeldt,  residing  in  Ashland;  John,  also  residing  in  Ashland; 
Charles  and  Elizabeth,  twins  (he  resides  at  Oakland,  and  she  is  deceased)  ; 
Peter,  who  resides  in  Ashland;  Mary,  deceased;  and  Joseph,  a  resident  of 
Ashland,  where  he  is  engaged  in  business.  Mr.  Young  and  his  family  are 
members  of  St.  Mauritius'  Roman  Catholic  Church,  of  Ashland. 

EARL  D.  BAUM,  of  Middleport,  has  the  only  manufacturing  business  con- 
ducted in  that  borough,  and  as  it  gives  employment  to  a  considerable  number 
of  hands  its  success  will  augment  the  resources  of  the  town  appreciably.  The 
proprietor  is  one  of  the  youngest  business  men  there,  and  he  has  the  good 
wishes  of  the  community  in  his  enterprise,  which  promises  well. 

Mr.  Batrni  is  a  son  of  William  Baum  and  a  grandson  of  Benneville  Baum, 
who  lived  in  the  Mahanoy  valley  in  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed 
fanning.  Later  he  removed  to  Valley  View,  this  county,  at  which  place  he 
died. 

William  Baum,  father  of  Earl  D.  Baum,  was  engaged  in  farming  during 
his  early  life,  but  for  many  years  he  has  been  a  mine  worker,  having  followed 
that  occupation  at  Brookside  and  Goodspring,  this  county.  His  home  is  at 
H^ns.  He  married  Agnes  Shirey,  daughter  of  the  late  Daniel  C.  Shirey, 
who  represented  Schuylkill  county  in  the  State  House  of  Representatives, 
was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  and  died  in  Deep  Creek  valley,  this  county. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Baum  have  been  bom  five  children :  Vemie,  Earl 
D.,  Agnes,  Charles  and  Bertram. 

Eari  D.  Baum  was  born  Oct.  i,  1895,  at  Hegins,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  From  boyhood  he  has  been 
employed  in  the  shirt  manufacturing  business,  gaining  his  first  experience  in 
that  line  in  the  shirt  factory  at  Hegins,  where  he  remained  for  three  years. 
Tben  he  went  to  Pillow,  Pa.,  there  establishing  a  shirt  factory  for  Dochey  & 


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822  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Reipe,  with  whom  he  continued  for  a  few  years,  changing  to  the  employ  of 
Fox  &  Moore,  at  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  for  a  short  period,  until 
ready  to  start  on  his  own  account.  He  chose  Middleport  as  a  desirable  loca- 
tion, and  obtaining  quarters  in  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  building  opened  his  factory 
Sept.  26,  191 5.  The  equipment  is  entirely  modem  and  the  space  laid  out 
according  to  the  most  advanced  ideas  on  convenience  in  making  and  handling 
the  product,  which  consists  of  men's  shirts.  Mr.  Baum  has  found  a  market 
for  the  output,  having  given  close  attention  to  the  commercial  as  well  as  the 
manufacturing  necessities  of  the  business.  He  employs  between  seventy-five 
and  one  hundred  hands.  The  factory  has  been  welcomed  in  the  borough  and 
under  judicious  management  should  be  one  of  its  valuable  industrial  assets. 
Mr.  Baum  makes  his  home  at  Middleport. 

P.  PHILIP  KRELL  had  until  recently  a  well  patronized  blacksmith  and 
wagon  shop  at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  did  business  on  his  own 
account  for  over  twenty  years.  The  Krell  family  is  of  German  descent  and 
one  of  the  most  respected  in  the  borough,  where  George  Krell,  father  of  P. 
Philip  Krell,  lived  from  the  time  of  his  settlement  in  America. 

Peter  Philip  Krell,  the  grandfather,  lived  and  died  in  Germany.  His  son, 
George  Krell,  was  bom  in  that  country  and  lived  there  until  seventeen  years 
old,  at  which  time  he  came  to  the  United  States,  making  his  home  at  Tamaqua, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  thereafter.  Throughout  his  active  years  he  was  engaged 
in  mining.  Then,  when  §ixty-eight  years  old,  he  obtained  a  position  with 
the  Tamaqua  Manufacturing  Company,  whose  foundry  and  machine  works 
are  one  of  the  largest  industrial  plants  in  this  section  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  second  day  of  his  employment  there  met  his  death  in  a  machinery  acci- 
dent. Mr.  Krell  was  not  only  an  industrious  man,  diligent  in  attending  to 
the  responsibilities  of  his  work,  but  also  took  an  intelligent  and  public-spirited 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  community,  was  active  in  local  politics,  and  was 
elected  tax  collector,  in  which  office  he  served  faithfully.  He  married  Sophia 
Zilgenbein,  like  himself  a  native  of  Germany,  who  died  at  the  comparatively 
early  age  of  thirty-four  years.  A  family  of  eight  children  was  bom  to  this 
union:     P.   Philip,  Annie,   Susan,   George,  Catherine,  Elizabeth,   Mary  and 

P.  Philip  Krell  was  bom  at  Tamaqua  in  1863  and  obtained  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  borough.  When  old  enough  to  work  he  began  an 
apprenticeship  to  the  trade  of  machinist,  which  he  followed  as  a  joumeyman 
for  six  years  before  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself.  In  1893  he  bought 
the  old  established  shop  of  William  Haber,  at  Tamaqua,  and  operated  it  suc- 
cessfully until  1914,  when  he  sold  out.  Mr.  Krell  is  a  reliable  worknian,  and 
by  competent  execution  of  orders  and  close  attention  to  the  wants  of  all  his 
customers  retained  the  old  patronage  of  the  shop  and  increased  it.  He  is  a 
well  and  favorably  known  citizen  of  the  borough,  a  past  officer  of  the  Amer- 
ican Hose  Company,  and  a  valued  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  whose 
activities  he  has  been  very  helpful,  both  with  his  means  and  personal  assistance. 

Mr.  Krell  married  Catherine  Kniese,  of  Tamaqua,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren :    Verna  L.  and  Clair  F.  L. 

WILLIAM  J  DALEY,  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  for  the  last  twenty 
years  a  resident  of  Ashland,  has  been  representing  the  Prudential  Insurance 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  823 

Company  at  that  point  since  1896,  and  is  now  assistant  superintendent  of  the 
Mahanoy  City  district,  which  includes  ten  towns  and  boroughs. 

Dominick.  Daley,  grandfather  of  William  J.  Daley,  brought  his  family 
to  America  and  settled  in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  whence  the  family 
later  removed  to  Centralia,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Daley  died  there  in  1898. 
He  followed  work  during  his  active  years.  . 

Owen  Daley,  son  of  Dominick  Daley,  was  born  in  County  Kilkenny,  Ire- 
land, and  like  his  father  followed  mining  in  this  country,  continuing  to 
engage  in  such  work  all  his  life.  He  died  at  Centralia  in  1899.  He  is  sur- 
vived by  his  wife,  Sarah  (Long),  who  was  bom  in  Cape  Breton,  Canada, 
daughter  of  William  Long,  who  came  from  that  country  to  Schuylkill  county, 
and  settled  at  Silver  Creek,  following  mining  for  many  years.  He  died  at 
Port  Carbon,  this  county,  where  he  is  buried.  Mrs.  Daley  now  makes  her 
home  with  one  of  her  sons  at  Ashland.  She  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  Ellen,  the  eldest,  is  deceased ;  Dominick  is  deceased ;  Alice  is  deceased ; 
William  J.  is  mentioned  below ;  James  G.  is  engaged  in  the  wholesale  tea  and 
coffee  business  with  offices  at  Ashland;  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Anthony  Gaughan, 
of  Centralia,  Pa.;  Alice  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Meehan,  of  Centralia,  Pa.; 
Joseph  lives  at  Ashland. 

William  J.  Daley  was  bom  July  16,  1867,  at  Port  Carbon,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  was  only  a  boy  when  the  family  moved  to  Centralia,  where  he  attended 
school.  As  he  began  work  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  he  continued  his  studies 
whenever  opportunity  offered  thereafter.  During  the  seventeen  years  that 
he  was  employed  at  the  mines  he  lived  at  Centralia,  removing  to  Ashland 
in  March,  1894.  On  June  15,  1896,  he  became  agent  for  the  Pmdential  Life 
Insurance  Company,  with  which  he  has  since  been  connected,  at  present  hold- 
ing the  responsible  position  of  assistant  superintendent  in  the  Mahanoy  City 
district.  By  conscientious  attention  to  his  duties  he  has  succeeded  in  strength- 
ening the  position  of  his  company  in  this  territory  very  materially,  and  at  the 
same  time  has  made  an  enviable  reputation  for  himself  as  an  insurance  sales- 
man. He  has  many  substantial  qualities,  and  commands  the  respect  of  all 
with  whom  he  is  associated. 

On  Sept.  9,  1891,  Mr.  Daley  married  Anastatia  Hendricks,  a  native  of 
Centralia,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Mary  (Quinn)  Hendricks,  who  were 
bom  in  Ireland.  On  coming  to  America  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hendricks  first  set- 
tled in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  later  moving  to  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  subsequently  to  Centralia,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daley  are  the  parents  of  three  children :  Sarah  E.,  who 
is  now  engaged  in  teaching  music;  Mary  A.,  at  present  a  student  in  the  State 
normal  school  at  West  Chester,  Pa. ;  and  Alice  A.,  at  home.  The  family  have  . 
a  comfortable  residence  on  Centre  street,  which  property  Mr.  Daley  pur- 
chased from  the  late  Congressman  Patterson,  and  he  has  his  office  at  that 
location  also.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church  at  Ashland, 
and  of  Sarto  Council,  Knights  of  Columbus. 

PHILIP  WAGNER,  farmer  of  Blythe  township,  is  one  of  the  oldest 
residents  of  the  Tumbling  Run  valley,  where  he  is  well  known  and  respected, 
his  industrious  life  commanding  the  unqualified  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and 
all  others  who  have  had  dealings  with  him.  Bom  Sept.  6,  1839,  in  Pmssia, 
Germany,  he  is  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Caroline  (Baker)  Wagner,  who  brought 
their  family  to  America  in  1845. 


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824  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

,  Nicholas  Wagner  was  also  a  native  of  Prussia,  where  he  was  employed  in 
limestone  quarries.  Some  time  after  his  marriage  he  decided  to  leave  his 
old  home  for  America,  where  he  arrived  with  his  wife  and  children  in  July, 
1845,  landing  at  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  thirty-nine  days,  made  in  a  sail- 
ing vessel.  They  proceeded  at  once  to  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
they  lived  for  a  year,  thence  removing  to  Kaskawilliam,  in  Blythe  township, 
where  Mr.  Wagner  worked  as  a  day  laborer  about  the  mines.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  at  his  home  on  the  Second  mountain  in  Blythe 
township,  and  is  buried  at  Middleport;  his  wife,  Caroline  (Baker),  who  lived 
to  the  age  of  seventy-seven,  is  buried  in  the  Tumbling  Run  cemetery.  They 
'  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  William,  who  died  in  Germany ; 
Simon,  who  died  in  Germany;  Jacob,  who  died  in  Wisconsin;  Dorothy,  wife 
of  Peter  Mader;  Louisa,  who  married  Valentine  Mader;  Caroline,  who  died 
unmarried;  Sophia,  who  married  Christian  Schlemmer;  and  Philip.  All  of 
this  family  adhered  to  the  Lutheran  Church,  the  faith  of  their  parents. 

Philip  Wagner  was  five  years  old  when  brought  to  America.  His  educa- 
tion was  acquired  at  Kaskawilliam,  but  his  advantages  were  limited  by  the 
necessities  of  the  times,  and  he  was  still  a  young  boy  when  he  b^[an  picking 
slate  at  the  Kaskawilliam  colliery,  where  he  rose  through  the  vanous  grades 
of  employment  until  he  became  a  regular  miner.  For  twenty-two  years  he 
made  his  home  on  the  Second  mountain,  on  a  farm  of  forty-three  acres  which 
he  bought,  and  which  was  all  brush  land  when  it  came  into  his  possession. 
He  cleared  thirty-five  acres  of  this  tract,  devoting  his  time  to  its  cultivation 
during  the  summer  season  and  during  the  winter  cutting  coal.  When  he  sold 
that  property  he  removed  to  Kaskawilliam,  where  he  resided  for  eighteen 
months,  and  then  bought  his  present  home  place,  twenty  acres,  of  Eli  Miller 
(known  as  the  **Cabbage"  Miller),  which  lies  in  Blythe  township,  over  the 
mountain  near  the  Walker  township  line.  Since  settling  there  he  has  given 
his  attention  entirely  to  farming,  and  though  long  past  threescore  and  ten  is 
still  active,  the  arduous  work  on  the  place,  however, ,  being  looked  after  by 
his  son  Daniel,  who  lives  there  with  his  parents.  They  attend  the  markets  at 
Middleport  and  New  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Wagner  deserves  the  prosperity  he  is 
now  enjoying,  for  he  worked  indefatigably  to  establish  a  good  home  for  his 
family  and  provide  for  his  later  years.  Besides  attending  to  his  farm  labors 
he  had  employment  at  different  collieries  in  the  county,  from  four  to  six  miles 
distant  from  his  home,  and  was  obliged  to  walk  back  and  forth.  He  has  often 
worked  two  shifts  at  the  mines  and  then  walked  home,  a  distance  of  sixteen 
miles. 

On  Dec.  10,  1863,  Mr.  Wagner  married  Mary  Guers,  and  in  1913  they 
had  the  pleasure  of  celebrating  the  golden  anniversary  of  their  wedding  at 
their  home  in  Blythe  township,  where  gjl  the  member*  of  the  family  assembled 
to  do  them  honor.  Five  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner: 
Caroline  married  Maberry  Trout,  and  they  live  at  East  Mauch  Chunk,  Pa.; 
Peter  is  living  in  the  borough  of  Middleport;  Charles  is  at  Pottsville,  this 
county ;  Daniel  lives  at  home ;  Christian  is  located  in  the  Tumbling  Run  valley. 
Daniel  married  Katherine,  E.  Keller,  daughter,  of  James  Keller,  and  they 
have  a  daughter,  Arlene  Mary.  The  family  are  Lutherans  in  religious  con- 
nection, and  Mr.  .Wagner  has  been  active  in  the  church,  which  he  served  for 
many  years  as  deacon  and  elder.  During  his  earlier  days  he  also  took  con- 
siderable interest  in  local  affairs,  and  he  held  the  office  of  school  director  in 
Blythe  township  for  twenty-four  years. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  825 

Mrs.  Wagner  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Bartle)  Guers.  Her 
father  was  a  pfoneer  settler  in  the  Tumbling  Run  valley,  and  was  employed 
on  the  construction  of  the  old  wooden  railroad  in  this  section. 

CHARLES  RUBRIGHT  fills  the  position  of  outside  foreman  at  the 
Eagle  Hill  colliery,  in  Blythe  township,  one  of  the  important  mines  in  that 
section  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  in  the  able  discharge  of  his  responsibilities 
has  fully  maintained  the  reputation  which  gained  him  promotion  and  the 
confidence  of  his  superiors.  In  various  capacities  he  has  worked  at  the  mines 
all  his  life. 

Mr.  Rubright  is  a  native  of  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  bom  in  1868 
near  Mount  Carmel,  but  he  belongs  to  an  old  family  of  Berks  county,  this 
State.  His  grandfather,  George  Rubright,  was  bom  in  that  county,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hamburg,  lived  for  some  time  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  in  §chuylkill 
county,  where  he  followed  boating  on  the  canal  as  well  as  farming,  and  even- 
tually removed  to  Reading,  Pa.,  where  he  died. 

Aaron  Rubright,  father  of  Charles  Rubright,  was  bom  at  Schuylkill 
Haven,  and  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  wheelwright,  and  followed  that  calling  for  a  time  in  the  Hegins  section  of 
Schuylkill  county,  later  becoming  a  carpenter  in  the  employ  of  the  Reading 
Company,  at  the  Marion  colliery.  There  he  died  when  sixty-eight  years  old, 
and  his  wife,  Sarah  (Oyster),  of  Deep  Creek  valley,  Schuylkill  county,  also 
passed  away  at  Marion.  They  had  the  following  family:  Jeremiah;  Josiah, 
deceased,  who  was  inside  foreman  at  the  Wadesville  colliery,  in  this  county; 
Nora ;  Adley ;  Mahalia ;  Charles ;  William ;  Sarah,  and  Ellsworth.  The  father 
of  this  family  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  served  for  three 
years,  being  a  member  of  the  17th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  under  Capt.  Heber 
Thompson.  He  was  twice  wounded.  He  was  a  Grand  Army  man,  belonging 
to  Joe  Hooker  Post  at  Ashland,  this  county. 

Charles  Rubright  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  started 
work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Marion  breaker,  changing  from  there  to  the 
Reliance  colliery,  at  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.,  for  a  time,  and  on  returning  to  the 
Marion  colliery  was  employed  as  inside  driver.  He  then  took  up  carpenter 
work,  and  locating  at  Shamokin,  Northumberland  county,  followed  his  trade 
at  the  Buck  Ridge  colliery  for  two  years,  after  which  he  was  similarly  engaged 
at  the  Wadesville  colliery,  in  Schuylkill  county.  In  1908  he  came  to  the 
Eagle  Hill  colliery  in  Blythe  township,  where  he  has  since  held  the  position 
of  outside  foreman.  Some  idea  of  his  duties  may  be  gained  from  the  fact 
that  about  ei|;ht  hundred  men  are  employed  at  these  workings. 

Mr.  Rubright  was  married  to  Emma  Mench,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Mary 
Mench,  and  their  children  are :  Alfred,  Sarah,  Raymond,  George,  Mary  and 
Ida.  The  family  are  Lutherans  in  religious  connection.  Mr.  Rubright  is  a 
Mason,  belonging  to  Anthracite  Lodge,  No.  285,  of  St.  Clair,  this  county,  and 
he  also  holds  membership  in  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp  at  Lavelle,  this  county. 

ADAM  H^SS,  of  Tamaqua,  has  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in 
that  borough,  where  he  was  bom  in  the  year  1875,  son  of  George  Hess.  His 
father,  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  America  in  young  manhood,  and  settled 
at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  employed  at  the  mines  until  his 
untimely  death,  in  1879. 

Adam  Hess  received  a  good  public  school  education,  attending  first, at 


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826  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Tamaqua  and  later  in  Philadelphia,  to  which  city  he  was  taken  when  eight 
years  old.  While  there  he  was  employed  at  a  brass  works.  Returning  to 
Tamaqua  he  became  engaged  in  general  merchandising,  which  he  followed  for 
a  period  of  ten  years,  in  1910  turning  to  his  present  business,  the  manufacture 
of  sour  kraut  and  various  condiments,  pepper  sauce,  mustard,  catsup,  pickled 
herring,  etc.  The  high  quality  of  all  his  products  has  made  them  very  favor- 
ably received,  and  Mr.  Hess  finds  a  ready  market  for  them  in  Tamaqua  and 
the  vicinity.  His  factory  and  office  are  at  No.  217  Schuylkill  avenue.  The 
business  is  both  wholesale  and  retail.  Personally  Mr.  Hess  has  high  standing, 
for  he  has  won  his  success  honorably,  retaining  the  good  will  of  all  his  asso- 
ciates, in  any  of  the  relations  of  life. 

Mr.  Hess  was  married  to  Annie  Kirigi,  of  Hazleton,  Pa.,  and  two  chil- 
dren have  been  bom  to  them,  namely :  Adam  A.  and  Rowine  Elizabeth.  The 
family  belong  to  St.  John's  Reformed  Church. 

PETER  FETTEROLF,  a  venerable  citizen  of  Schuylkill  county,  but  still 
active  and  attending  daily  to  his  duties  as  gatekeeper  of  the  State  hospital  at 
Fountain  Springs,  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  Sept.  15,  1833,  son  of  John 
and  Kate  (Maurer)  Fetterolf.  Peter  Fetterolf,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native 
of  Bucks  county,  this  State,  and  came  to  Schuylkill  county  in  the  early  days, 
settling  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  where  he  remained  until  his  death.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer. 

John  Fetterolf  was  born  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  this  county,  and  fol- 
lowed farming.  In  1852  he  located  at  the  town  of  Taylorsville,  this  county, 
where  he  owned  a  farm  which  he  cultivated,  living  there  to  the  end  of  his 
days.  He  served  at  one  time  as  supervisor  of  the  township.  Mr.  Fetterolf 
married  Catherine  (Kate)  Maurer,  who  was  bom  in  the  Mahantongo  valley, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Maurer,  who  farmed  and  operated  a  gristmill  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  was  a  prominent  man  in  his  day.  He  remained  at  his  old 
home  there  until  his  death.  Six  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Fetterolf,  namely:  Elizabeth,  the  eldest,  is  deceased;  Peter  is  mentioned 
below;  Daniel  is  deceased;  Jessie  is  deceased;  Catherine  is  deceased;  Sarah 
is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Long,  of  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.  Frank,  a  half-brother 
of  the  foregoing  children,  lives  at  Mount  Carmel ;  John  is  deceased. 

Peter  Fetterolf  was  engaged  at  mine  work  from  early  boyhood  until 
appointed  to  his  present  position  some  sixteen  years  ago.  In  1862  he  enlisted 
for  the  support  of  the  Union  cause,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  H,  17th 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  he  was  in  the  army  for  three  years,  during  which 
time  he  saw  considerable  active  service  and  took  part  in  many  battles.  He 
was  wounded,  and  at  the  time  of  his  muster  out  was  in  Lincoln  hospital,  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  This  was  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Having  received  his 
discharge  at  Washington  in  1865,  he  returned  home,  resuming  work  at  the 
colliery  where  he  had  been  employed  before  he  went  to  the  war,  at  Big  Mine 
Run.  He  continued  at  such  work  for  over  thirty  years  thereafter,  until  he 
received  his  appointment  as  gatekeeper  at  the  State  hospital  at  Fountain 
Springs.  Though  advanced  in  years  he  enjoys  excellent  health.  By  virtue 
of  his  services  in  the  Union  army  he  has  become  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
post  at  Ashland.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Lutheran  Church.  By 
a  life  of  industrious  and  exemplary  habits  Mr.  Fetterolf  has  won  and  retained 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens,  who  appreciate  the  substantial  qualities 
which  make  him  a  desirable  citizen  of  the  community. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  827 

Mr.  Fetterolf  was  married  to  TilHe  Snyder,  of  this  county,  who  also 
survives,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely:  Tillie  is 
the  widow  of  Henry  Walters,  of  Philadelphia;  Daniel,  M.  D.,  is  a  physician 
and  surgeon  residing  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  is  in  the  government  service; 
John  lives  in  Philadelphia ;  Henry  is  a  machinist  in  Philadelphia ;  Herbert  also 
makes  his  home  in  that  city;  Clarence  is  engaged  as  a  wholesale  druggist  in 
Philadelphia;  Calvin  lives  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.  Mrs.  Fetterolf  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  Snyder,  who  were  farming  people  in  the  Mahantongo 
valley,  settling  on  land  near  Taylorsville,  where  Mr.  Snyder  resided  until  his 
death. 

WILLIAM  T.  TAYLOR  is  a  respected  resident  of  Blythe  township, 
where  he  has  been  engaged  for  several  years  in  the  responsible  position  of 
outside  foreman  at  the  Silver  Creek  colliery.  As  a  miner  of  long  and  varied 
experience  he  is  well  fitted  for  his  duties,  in  which  he  has  acquitted  himself 
creditably,  and  the  high  personal  reputation  he  bears  is  based  on  the  many  evi- 
dences he  has  given  of  reliable  character  and  dependable  habits.  His  father, 
the  late  Samuel  Taylor,  was  also  a  trusted  employee  of  the  Reading  Company. 
Bom  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Samuel  Taylor  spent  most  of  his  mature  life  in 
Schuylkill  county  in  work  at  the  mines.  His  service  with  the  Reading  Com- 
pany covered  a  period  of  twenty-seven  years,  during  which  time  he  was  out- 
side foreman  at  the  Phoenix  Park  colliery  and  later  had  charge  of  the  lum- 
beryard at  East  Mines.    His  death  occurred  at  St.  Clair,  this  county. 

William  T.  Taylor  was  bom  Jan.  27,  1880,  at  Phoenix  Park,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  received  a  good  education  in  the  public  schools  at  Minersville  and 
Forestville.  When  a  boy  he  picked  slate  at  the  Phoenix  Park  colliery,  was 
subsequently  employed  in  the  Heckscherville  valley,  and  thence  went  to  Wades- 
ville,  this  county,  where  he  clerked  for  a  period  of  six  months.  Then  he 
took  the  position  of  breaker  boss  at  that  point,  and  in  October,  191 1,  he  came 
to  the  Silver  Creek  colliery  to  assume  his  present  work.  These  workings  are 
the  property  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company  and  are  very 
extensive,  about  one  thousand  men  finding  employment  at  this  colliery.  The 
foremen  are  necessarily  men  of  proved  worth  and  fidelity. 

Mr.  Taylor  resides  at  the  settlement  known  as  Tucker  Hill,  in  Blythe 
township.  He  married  Annie  Omie,  a  daughter  of  Piolat  Omie,  of  St.  Qair, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  they  have  one  child,  Margaret.  Mr.  Taylor  is  an 
Episcopalian  in  religion,  a  member  of  the  church  of  that  denomination  at 
St.  Clair. 

WILLIAM  BILLIG  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  farming  in  Rush 
township,  where  he  is  now  living  in  retirement.  As  a  local  official  he  became 
very  well  known  in  that  section  and  made  an  excellent  reputation  for  ability 
and  trustworthiness,  his  fidelity  to  the  responsibilities  of  public  service  gaining 
him  the  good  will  of  all  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  a  native  of  Lehigh  county, 
Pa.,  bom  in  1842,  son  of  David  Billig.  The  father  was  also  born  in  Lehigh 
county,  where  he  spent  all  his  life,  following  farming.  He  married  Kate 
Rausch,  who  also  died  in  that  county,  and  their  children  were  Daniel,  Mary 
and   William. 

William  Billig  grew  up  near  Jacksonville,  Lehigh  county,  spending  his 
early  life  on  the  home  farm.  Coming  to  Schuylkill  county  he  lived  at  Lewis- 
town  for  a  time,  was  subsequently  at  Patterson,  and  then  settled  in  Rush 


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828  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

township,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  sixty-three  acres  which  he  cultivated 
for  thirty-five  years.  He  then  sold  out,  and  has  since  been  living  retired.  Mr. 
Billig  was  associated  with  public  affairs  in  the  township  for  a  number  of 
years,  having  served  nine  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  for  the 
same  length  of  time  as  supervisor.  He  did  effective  work  in  both  offices.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Ljitheran  Church,  and  belongs  to  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons 
of  America. 

Mr.  Billig  was  married  to  Susan  Breinert,  daughter  of  Peter  Breinert,  of 
West  Penn  township,  and  the  following  children  were  bom  to  this  union: 
Frank  is  deceased ;  Mary  Jane  married  Frank  Neif ert ;  Caroline  married  Wil- 
liam Kemerling;  Elizabeth  married  Joseph  Stewart,  of  Tamaqua;  William, 
Jr.,  lives  at  Summer  Hill,  Pa.;  Harry  is  living  in  Rush  township;  Katie  mar- 
ried Harry  Boughner;  Louis  W.  is  a  resident  of  Hazleton,  Pa.  The  mother 
of  this  family  died  May  9,  1905,  and  is  buried  at  the  White  Church  in  Rush 
township. 

ANTHONY  BEHLER  was  bom  in  Tulpehocken,  Berks  Co,,  Pa.,  and 
settled  in  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  owned  three  hun- 
dred acres  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  died  there.  To  his  mar- 
riage with  Rebecca  Bankus,  were  born  three  children:  Gideon,  George  and 
John. 

John  Behler,  son  of  Anthony  and  Rebecca  Behler,  was  bom  in  West  Penn 
tpwnship,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  spent  his  life  on  the  old  homestead, 
which  came  into  his  possession.  Besides  farming  he  followed  contracting, 
building  dwellings,  bams  and  several  schoolhouses.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Moyer,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Isaac,  now  a 
resident  of  Mahanoy  City,  this  county;  Carrie,  wife  of  William  Fisselman, 
of  Kansas;  William,  of  Rush  township,  who  married  Sarah  Haas;  Gideon, 
who  went  out  to  Kansas,  where  he  died;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Jacob  Moyer; 
Savina,  who  died  unmarried;  and  Sarah,  widow  of  Charles  Nester.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nester  had  one  son,  Howard,  who  now  owns  his  great-grandfather's 
farm  in  West  Penn  township  and  is  giving  all  his  attention  to  the  cultivation 
of  that  property.  He  graduated  from  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  at 
Kutztown,  Pa.,  and  taught  school  in  Schuylkill  county  for  six  years  before  he 
tumed  to  farming.  He  married  Jennie  Mentz,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Marion. 

ROBERT  E.  KLINE  was  at  the  time  of  his  death  serving  as  night  fore- 
man at  the  Park  Place  colliery,  and  in  that  capacity  as  well  as  in  private  life 
was  well  and  favorably  known  in  Rush  township,  where  he  had  resided  for  a 
number  of  years. 

Mr.  Kline  was  bom  in  1852  in  Germany,  of  which  country  his  father. 
Philip  Jacob  Kline,  was  also  a  native.  The  latter  brought  his  family  to  Amer- 
ica and  settled  at  Hazleton,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  his  trade,  that  of  baker, 
and  was  also  engaged  in  distilling.  He  died  in  Wyoming.  His  children  were: 
Philip  J.,  Christopher,  Wilhelmina,  Christian,  Gusta  and  Robert  E. 

Robert  E.  Kline  leamed  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  but  never  followed  it  to 
any  extent.  For  some  time  he  was  foreman  for  J.  C.  Hayden,  a  coal  operator, 
with  the  Spring  Mountain  Coal  Company,  and  later  tumed  to  railroad  work, 
being  a  conductor  on  the  Lehigh  Valley  road  for  fifteen  years.  Then  he 
resumed  mine  work,  holding  the  position  of  night  foreman  at  the  Park  Place 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  829 

colliery,  where  he  was  found  dead  at  eleven  o'clock  on  the  night  of  March 
2,  191 5.  He  is  buried  at  the  White  Church  in  Rush  township.  Mr.  Kline 
proved  himself  a  man  of  reliable  character  and  trustworthy  in  every  position, 
and  he  was  respected  wherever  known.  For  many  years  he  served  as  con- 
stable of  Rush  township.  His  religious  connection  was  with  the  Reformed 
Church. 

Mr.  Kline  was  united  in  marriage  with  Caroline  D.  Schaffer,  daughter  of 
Henry  Schaffer,  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  Hessen,  who  came  to  America 
and  settled  in  Carbon  county,  Pa.  The  following  children  were  bom  to  this 
union:  Edythe  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Schaeffer;  Emma  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Keystone  State  Normal  School,  of  Kutztown,  Pa.,  and  is  now  teaching  in 
Hazleton,  Pa. ;  Mary  W.  is  married  to  Earl  Rickstine,  and  they  are  living  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Florence,  also  a  graduate  of  the  Keystone  State  Normal 
School,  is  now  teaching  at  Delano,  Schuylkill  county;  Caroline  is  attending 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown;  Philip  is  also  in  school;  Harry  died 
when  twenty-one  years  old;  Annie  died  when  thirteen  months  old.  Mrs. 
Kline  makes  her  home  at  Tamanend. 

AUGUST  CORBE  has  been  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  county  since  1869. 
He  is  a  German  by  birth,  bom  in  Bavaria  in  1859,  and  his  father,  Joseph 
Corbe,  lived  and  died  in  Germany,  his  death  occurring  in  1862.  By  occupation 
he  was  a  farmer.  He  married  Catherine  Grosse  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  of  whom  the  eldest,  Elizabeth,  is  deceased;  Marie  1  is  the 
wife  of  Louis  Fritz,  of  Port  Carbon,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.;  Katie  resides  in 
Germany;  Charles  is  deceased;  Joseph  lives  at  Fountain  Springs;  August  is 
mentioned  below ;  Peter  js  deceased. 

The  family  remained  in  Germany  for  several  years  after  the  father's 
death,  coming  to  this  country  in  1869.  Landing  at  New  York,  they  proceeded 
at  once  to  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and  August  Corbe  was  but  twelve  years  old 
when  he  began  work  at  the  mines  here.  He  continued  to  follow  mine  work 
until  fifty-two  years  of  age,  and  when  he  gave  it  up,  a  few  years  ago,  started 
the  business  on  Center  street,  Ashland,  to  which  he  has  since  given  his  atten- 
tion. He  carries  a  stock  of  groceries,  cigars,  tobacco,  etc.,  and  though  he 
has  had  his  store  but  a  few  years  has  established  a  profitable  trade,  which  shows 
a  steady  increase.  He  is  a  man  of  reliable  character,  industrious  and  accom- 
modating to  his  patrons,  and  deserves  the  success  which  has  come  to  him.  He 
is  a  substantial  and  respected  citizen  of  the  borough  and  a  devout  member  of 
the  St.  Mauritius'  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Ashland,  also  belonging  to  the 
various  church  societies.  .         i.    *  1.1     j 

In  1888  Mr.  Corbe  was  married  to  Mary  Young,  a  native  of  Ashland, 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Young,  who  are  still  living  in  that  borough ; 
they  were  bom  in  Bavaria,  Germany.  Two  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  August  Corbe,  the  daughter,  Mary,  living  at  home.  The  son,  Peter, 
is  now  located  at  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

MICHAEL  TOOMEY,  hoisting  engineer  at  the  Silver  Creek  colliery,  in 
Blythe  township,  is  a  native  of  that  township  and  has  spent  most  of  his  work- 
ing days  at  his  present  place  of  employment,  where  faithful  service  has  gained 
him  confidence  and  respect.  . ,     ^r  r-      r,  a 

John  Toomey,  his  father,  was  bom  near  Danville,  Montour  Co.,  Fa.,  and 
for  a  number  ot  years  has  resided  at  Tucker  Hill,  in  Blythe  township,  where 


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830  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

he  located  about  the  time  the  Silver  Creek  colliery  was  opened.  Throughout 
his  active  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  teaming.  He  is  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  7th  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry  Regiment,  remaining  in  the  service  three  years  and  taking  part  in 
many  battles.  He  is  now  (191 5)  in  his  seventy-fourth  year,  but  active  and 
interested  in  local  events,  and  he  fills  the  office  of  supervisor,  discharging  his 
duties  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  Mr.  Toomey  married  Margaret 
O'Neill,  who  was  bom  in  Blythe  township,  daughter  of  Michael  O'Neill,  and 
they  have  had  the  following  children:  Annie  (wife  of  Frank  Reiger),  John, 
Michael,  Martin  and  Vincent. 

Michael  Toomey  was  born  Aug.  16,  1886,  at  New  Philadelphia,  and 
obtained  his  education  in  the  Blythe  township  public  schools.  When  a  boy 
he  began  picking  slate  at  the  Silver  Creek  breaker,  and  as  he  grew  older 
found  other  employment  about  the  mines.  For  eight  months  he  was  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  where  he  held  a  position  in  the  Baldwin  Locomotive 
Works.  Returning  to  Schuylkill  county  he  worked  at  diamond  drilling  for 
eight  months,  and  then  resumed  employment  at  the  Silver  Creek  colliery, 
where  he  was  variously  occupied  untij  appointed  to  his  present  duties,  in 
1914.  As  hoisting  engineer  he  is  intrusted  with  work  which  requires  close 
attention  and  vigilance,  and  he  has  never  failed  in  its  performance. 

Mr.  Toomey  resides  with  his  parents  at  Tucker  Hill.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  Church  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  which  fraternity 
he  joined  in  Philadelphia. 

CHARLES  T.  SCHAEFER  has  recently  established  himself  in  business 
at  his  birthplace  and  old  home,  the  borough  of  Tamaqua,  and  as  proprietor  of 
the  Keystone  Garage  has  a  profitable  automobile  agency  and  repair  trade. 
Born  at  Tamaqua  May  23,  1888,  he  is  a  son  of  Henry  J.  Schaefer  and  grand- 
son of  Hustus  Schaefer,  the  latter  a  native  of  Berlin,  Germany.  Coming  to 
America,  he  made  his  home  at  Tamaqua,  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  followed 
farming  and  also  mining,  and  died  at  Tamaqua.  His  children  were :  William, 
Frederick,  Emma,  Julia,  Henry  J.  and  Christene. 

Henry  J.  Schaefer,  son  of  Hustus  Schaefer,  was  bom  at  Tamaqua,  and 
there  received  his  education.  For  some  time  he  followed  railroad  work  in 
the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  and  for  seven 
years  was  a  policeman  in  the  service  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  & 
Iron  Company.  Now  he  has  charge  of  the  Lansford  shops,  No.  6,  of  the 
•  Lehigh  Coal  &  Navigation  Company,  and  makes  his  home  at  Lansford.  He 
married  Mary  B.  Thomas,  who  was  born  in  Tamaqua,  and  whose  father  and 
mother  were  natives  of  Wales  and  England,  respectively.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Henry  J. .  Schaefer  had  two  children,  Qiarles  T.  and  Harry,  the  latter  a 
machinist  employed  at  Lansford. 

Charles  T.  Schaefer  was  reared  and  educated  at  Tamaqua,  attending  the 
public  schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  machinist  at  Lansford,  in  the  shops 
of  the  Lehigh  Coal  &  Navigation  Company,  in  whose  employ  he  remained  for 
a  period  of  ten  years,  and  then  for  several  years  was  in  the  United  States 
government  employ,  as  a  machinist.  In  this  connection  he  was  stationed  in 
Panama,  Central  America,  Cuba,  and  various  places  all  over  the  South. 
Returning  home,  he  began  the  construction  of  the  Keystone  Garage  at  Tamaqua 
in  November,  1914,  had  it  completed  three  months  later,  and  now  conducts  a 
storage  and  repair  plant  for  automobiles,  having  storage  room  for  fourteen 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  831 

cars.  He  handles  the  well  known  Chandler  car  as  local  agent,  and  has  every 
prospect  of  a  prosperous  future  in  the  various  branches  of  his  business.  His 
garage  is  at  No.  9i8  Centre  street.  Being  a  skilled  mechanic,  he  is  prepared 
to  give  proper  attention  to  all  the  work  intrusted  to  him,  and  has  been  kept 
busy  from  the  first.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Machinists'  Union,  and  of  the 
P.  O.  S.  of  A. 

Mr.  Schaefer  married  Mary  A.  Miller,  daughter  of  Richard  E.  Miller, 
of  Tamaqua. 

WILLIAM  T.  PATTEN,  now  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Barry  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  was  at  one  time  one  of  the  principal  lumbermen  in  this 
county,  during  the  period  when  that  occupation  was  one  of  the  leading  indus- 
tries followed  by  residents  of  this  section.  He  was  bom  in  Cass  township,  this 
county,  in  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  Patten,  Jr.,  and  grandson  of  Thomas 
Patten,  Sr.    The  ancestry  of  the  family  is  English  and  Irish. 

Thomas  Patten,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  England.  Coming  to  America  he  set- 
tled in  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  later  moving  to  another  location  in 
Cass  township,  he  and  his  family  residing  in  what  became  known  as  Patten's 
valley.  The  chief  industry  in  those  primitive  days  was  lumbering,  and  Mr. 
Patten  engaged  in  it,  following  that  line  of  work  until  his  death,  and  thus  lay- 
ing the  foundations  of  the  business  which  his  son  and  grandson  later  devel- 
oped.   His  wife's  name  was  Elsie. 

Thomas  Patten,  Jr.,  father  of  William  T.  Patten,  was  born  in  England, 
and  came  16  America  with  his  parents.  He  followed  the  occupation  of  his 
father,  lumbering,  and  hauled  timber  for  the  Schuylkill  Haven  railroad,  from 
Schuylkill  Haven  to  Minersville.  Later  he  went  to  Barry  township  and  pur- 
chased large  tracts  of  land  for  the  sake  of  the  timber  upon  it,  lumbering  these 
tracts  and  operating  a  sawmill,  his  operations  being  extensive  and  profitable. 
He  bought  the  place  where  his  son  William  lives  and  devoted  the  balance  of 
his  life  to  farming.  He  died  in  1896.  Mr.  Patten  married  Sarah  Bradley, 
a  native  of  Ireland,  where  her  parents  died.  She  was  brought  to  America  by 
her  brother,  who  settled  in  Minersville,  and  there  she  was  married  to  Thomas 
Patten.  She  died  in  1910,  at  Minersville,  where  she  had  resided  after  the 
death  of  her  husband.  They  had  four  children:  William  T. ;  Emma,  wife 
of  B.  Boker,  of  Philadelphia;  J.  Frank,  of  Barry  township;  and  Elsie,  wife 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Darby,  of  Cincinnati. 

William  T.  Patten  attended  school  in  Cass  township  and  also  at  Pottsville. 
After  his  schooldays  were  over  he  went  to  the  woods  to  work  at  lumbering 
with  his  father,  and  after  his  marriage  was  made  foreman  by  his  father  and 
operated  several  sawmills  in  this  section  of  the  county.  He  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm  and  has  since  engaged  in  general  farming  exclusively.  Mr.  Patten 
was  married  in  1876  to  Delia  Betz,  daughter  of  Isaac  Betz,  of  Barry  township, 
who  was  a  merchant  at  Mabel.  He  was  a  school  teacher  in  that  township 
in  the  early  days,  later  removing  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  died.  The  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Bolich,  died  in  Barry  township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Patten  were  bom  two  children:  Maude  I.,  wife  of  Allen  Bolich,  resides  in 
Ohio;  Harry  is  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm.  Mrs.  Patten  died  in  1903. 
Mr.  Patten  is  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Barry  township,  having  held 
the  office  since  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church. 


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832  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

LEWIS  F.  REMALY,  of  Tamaqua,  president  and  manager  of  the  Remaly 
Manufacturing  Company,  Incorporated,  has  been  associated  with  the  fortunes 
of  that  concern  for  over  forty  years,  in  fact  throughout  the  period  of  his  resi- 
dence in  the  borough.  Always  a  live  unit  in  the  industrial  resources  of  the 
place,  it  has  increased  in  importance  yearly,  providing  profitable  employment 
to  a  number  of  skilled  mechanics,  and  represents  one  of  the  best  local  invest- 
ments. Mr.  Remaly  having  been  connected  with  the  business  as  owner  since 
1883,  most  of  the  credit  of  its  development  along  modern  lines  and  steady 
expansion  belongs  to  him,  and  bears  substantial  testimony  to  his  ambition  and 
ability,  for  he  has  guided  it  to  its  present  standing  among  the  principal  enter- 
prises of  Tamaqua. 

Mr.  Remaly  came  to  Tamaqua  in  the  year  1873.  He  was  born  Sept.  20, 
185 1,  at  Lehighton,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Henry  Remaly,  the  latter  a  native 
of  Lehigh  county.  The  father  followed  the  trade  of  wheelwright,  and  lived 
in  Lehigh  and  Carbon  counties,  dying  at  Lehighton.  Lewis  F.  Remaly  was 
reared  and  educated  at  Lehighton,  having  public  school  advantages.  For 
several  years  he  was  engaged  in  railroad  work,  but  when  he  came  to  Tamaqua 
entered  the  employ  of  G.  L.  Boyd,  who  had  established  the  wire  and  screen 
manufacturing  business  which  was  the  nucleus  of  what  is  now  the  Remaly 
Manufacturing  Company,  Incorporated.  Mr.  Remaly  began  at  the  bottom  and 
acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  screenmaking  at  the  plant,  working  for 
Mr.  Boyd  from  1873  to  1883,  and  meantime  rising  to  the  position  of  foreman. 
Then  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Frank  Swartz  and  took  over  Mr.  Boyd's 
entire  interest,  three  years  later,  in  1886,  buying  out  Mr.  Swartz  and  becoming 
sole  owner.  He  continued  the  business  as  such  until  the  year  1905,  when  it  was 
incorporated  under  the  present  style,  and  Lewis  F.  Remaly  is  now  president 
and  manager,  with  Martin  Fry  as  vice  president  and  L.  S.  Follweiler  as  secre- 
tary and  treasurer.  On  June  15,  191 3,  the  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but 
operations  were  resumed  a  month  later  and  continued  during  the  construction 
of  the  new  building,  which  is  of  brick,  iron  and  concrete,  modem  in  construc- 
tion and  equipped  with  all  ordinary  conveniences,  besides  the  special  facilities 
for  the  business.  It  is  considered  absolutely  fireproof,  having  heavy  iron 
doors  and  window  frames,  a  substantial  safety  vault,  is  steam  heated  and 
electric  lighted  throughout,  and  has  up-to-date  toilet  facilities  and  ventilating 
devices,  everything  in  fact  for  the  comfort  of  the' employees  as  well  as  for 
convenience  in  dispatching  the  work.  The  company  owns  considerable  ground 
space  around  the  plant,  available  as  the  expansion  of  the  business  demands. 
It  is  located  on  Cedar  street,  near  Centre,  one  of  the  oldest  manufacturing 
sites  in  Tamaqua,  the  industry  having  been  one  of  the  first  of  the  kind  started 
there.  The  product  of  the  company,  wire  coal  and  sand  screens,  perforated 
sheet  iron  screens,  elevator  buckets,  cellar  doors  and  coal  chutes,  is  sold  mostly 
to  the  numerous  coal  companies  operating  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  value  of 
the  annual  output  is  estimated  at  $125,000.  Twenty  skilled  mechanics  are 
employed  regularly,  and  altogether  considerable  money  is  circulated  in 
Tamaqua  through  this  industry  alone.  It  is  counted  among  the  valuable 
assets  of  the  town  and  surrounding  territory.  Though  primarily  a  business 
man,  Mr.  Remaly  has  not  neglected  his  duties  as  a  citizen,  and  he  served  three 
years  as  a  member  of  the  council,  during  that  time  acting  as  chairman  of  the 
street  committee. 

Mr.  Remaly  was  united  in  marriage  with  SalHe  Leffler,  daughter  of  Andrew 
Lefiler,  of  Lehigh  county.  Pa.    They  have  no  children.    He  is  a  very  active 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  833 

member  of  Trinity  Reformed  Church,  which  he  is  serving  as  deacon,  is  a 
member  of  the  choir,  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school.  All  good  move- 
ments in  the  borough  and  county  have  his  hearty  support. 

ABRAM  CLARENCE  MESSERSMITH,  of  Pottsville,  has  had  so  many 
important  building  contracts  in  Schuylkill  county  that  it  is  no  exaggeration  to 
say  his  operations  have  had  a  very  perceptible  influence  on  the  character  of 
construction  work  in  this^part  of  the  State.  The  reputation  he  has  maintained 
in  over  twenty  years  of  successful  business  has  been  established  upon  a  basis 
of  absolute  integrity,  and  none  of  his  patrons  has  ever  had  cause  to  regret 
placing  confidence  in  his  ability  or  his  reliability.  Mr.  Messersmith  is  a  native 
of  Montour  county.  Pa.,  bom  Aug.  19,  1868,  in  Liberty  township,  and  his 
parents,  William  James  and  Elizabeth  (Hendrickson)  Messersmith,  live  at 
Washingtonville,  that  county,  where  the  father  carries  on  a  furniture  and  un- 
dertaking business,  and  is  also  interested  in  contracting  and  building,  being 
a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  and  his  wife  were  both  bom  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
Mrs.  Messersmith's  father,  Abram  Hendrickson,  was  also  a  native  of  this 
State  and  a  member  of  an  honored  old  pioneer  family.  Until  his  death  he  was 
a  farmer  in  Montour  county,  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  his  section. 

Abram  Clarence  Messersmith  grew  to  manhood  in  the  county  of  his  birth, 
meantime  attending  the  public  schools.  He  began  work  in  his  present  line  in 
1885,  when  he  became  an  employe  of  the  Wilkes-Barre  &  West  Railroad  Com- 
pany, being  engaged  in  the  erection  of  bridges,  depots,  etc.  He  remained  with 
that  company  for  about  eighteen  months,  for  the  next  few  years  following 
his  trade  in  different  sections  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1892  locating  at  Pottsville, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1894  he  began  contracting  and  building  on  his 
own  account,  and  the  high  grade  of  work  intmsted  to  him  shows  how  thor- 
oughly he  has  mastered  the  details  of  his  business  and  how  he  has  developed 
his  responsibilities.  Pottsville  has  many  examples  of  his  workmanship,  notably 
the  new  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building,  Hummel  Brothers*  building,  the  Hippodrome 
theatre  and  the  new  Synagogue.  He  also  rebuilt  the  Mountain  City  building 
there  for  J.  Miehle  &  Son.  Outside  of  the  borough  his  important  contracts 
include  the  First  National  Bank  building  at  Minersville,  the  First  National 
Bank  building  at  Frackville,  the  First  National  Bank  building  at  Coaldale, 
and  the  Polish  Catholic  church  at  New  Philadelphia,  as  well  as  many  school- 
houses  in  various  sections  of  the  county,  including  the  Fishbach  school  and 
the  annex  of  the  Jallapa  school,  at  Pottsville.  Many  fine  residences  in  the 
borough  attest  the  wide  range  of  his  ability.  From  time  to  time  he  builds 
houses  for  sale,  and  in  his  various  activities  employs  forty  mechanics  reg- 
ularly. For  several  years  Mr.  Messersmith  has  been  in  partnership  with  his 
brother  under  the  name  of  Messersmith  &  Brother,  conducting  the  furniture 
and  carpet  store  at  Lansford,  Pa.  Wherever  known  Mr.  Messersmith  has 
gained  the  unlimited  respect  of  his  associates. 

Mr.  Messersmith  married  Margaret  Evans,  a  native  of  Wales,  who  was 
three  years  old  when  she  came  to  America  with  her  parents,  George  and 
Fanny  Evans,  the  family  settling  at  Lansford,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.  Mrs.  Messer- 
smith died  in  1900,  leaving  two  children :  Leroy,  who  died  in  1910,  and  Leah, 
who  lives  at  home.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Messersmith  married  Caroline 
Miller,  daughter  of  Levi  P.  and  Rebecca  Miller,  of  Pottsville.  There  are  no 
children  by  this  union.  The  family  reside  at  No.  526  West  Arch  street, 
Pottsville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Messersmith  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
Voi.  n— 15 


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834  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

copal  Church,  and  socially  he  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and  Lodge  No.  207,  B.  P.  O.  Elks.  On  political  ques- 
tions he  is  a  Democrat. 

CHARLES  V.  B.  DEIBERT,  now  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  Schuylkill 
Haven,  was  bom  Dec.  10,  1836,  in  North  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill 
county.    He  is  the  oldest  living  member  of  his  branch  of  the  family. 

Michael  Deiver  (as  his  generation  spelled  the  name),  his  greatgrandfather, 
was  the  founder  of  this  branch  of  the  family  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  was 
bom  in  Germany,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  America,  the  family  settling 
in  Bem  township,  Berks  county,  in  the  then  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  near 
Michael's  Church.  There  were  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters: 
Michael,  Christopher,  Wilhelm,  Mrs.  George  Huntzinger  and  Mrs.  John 
Gevert.  When  the  sons  were  grown  they  moved  to  Manheim  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  married,  Wilhelm  to  a  daughter  of  John  Renchler,  from  Bem 
township,  Berks  county,  Michael  to  Elizabeth  Waver.  In  the  year  1744  the 
brothers  Wilhelm  and  Michael  bought  in  partnership  three  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  North  Manheim  township,  at  the  road  leading  from  Schuylkill  Haven 
to  Landingville,  Wilhelm's  part  being  at  the  location  occupied  by  Edward 
P-eale  in  1884,  and  Michael's  where  John  Filbert  lived  at  that  time.  The  third 
brother,  Christopher,  it  was  claimed  went  to  Virginia  in  his  younger  years, 
but  in  the  spring  of  191 5  Mr.  C.  V.  B.  Deibert  was  visited  by  Humphrey 
C.  Dibert  (as  this  branch  of  the  family  spells  the  name),  who  is  a  great- 
grandson  of  Christopher.  He  said  his  great-grandfather  had  two  brothers, 
Wilhelm  and  Michael.  According  to  him,  Christopher  settled  down  in  Bed- 
ford county.  Pa.,  near  Bedford  Springs,  married  and  reared  a  large  family, 
and  his  oldest  living  descendant  is  Sharron  Dibert. 

In  the  beginning  Wilhelm  and  Michael  Deiver  had  the  Indians  for  their 
neighbors,  and  were  molested  considerably.  Deer  and  bears  were  plentiful 
in  the  region  at  that  day,  but  as  they  divided  the  meat  with  the  savages  when 
they  shot  any  the  Indians  became  more  friendly.  A  long  account  of  the  fam- 
ily appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Michael  Deiver  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  Henry,  Andrew,  Michael, 
Christian,  John,  Catharine  and  Elizabeth.  (The  Daniel  Deibert  pamphlet 
says  three  daughters,  but  only  two  names  are  given.)  Henry  married  Miss 
Kriner;  Andrew,  Miss  Luckenbill;  Michael,  Miss  Luckenbill  (they  had  no 
children)  ;  Christian,  Miss  Miller;  Catharine,  John  Dewald;  Elizabeth,  Daniel 
Repp.  The  father,  Michael,  died  on  his  property  in  North  Manheim  township, 
and  is  buried  at  the  Red  Church  in  this  county. 

John  Deibert,  son  of  Michael,  was  bom  in  North  Manheim  township,  and 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Schuylkill 
Haven.  He  was  twice  married,  the  maiden  nam^  of  his  first  wife  being 
Renchler,  of  his  second  Wagner.  His  children  were  as  follows:  Daniel, 
who  lived  in  Schuylkill  Haven ;  George ;  Jacob,  who  died  at  Schuylkill  Haven ; 
John,  who  died  at  Schuylkill  Haven;  Benjamin,  who  died  at  Pottsville;  Wil- 
liam, who  died  in  the  upper  Mahantongo  valley,  Schuylkill  county;  Samuel; 
Hannah,  wife  of  John  Hummel,  of  Selinsgrove,  Pa. ;  and  Christine,  who  mar- 
ried Henry  Shelly  and  lived  at  Pottsville. 

George  Deibert,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of  Michael,  was  bom^t  the  old 
homestead  of  his  parents,  and  followed  farming  until  a  few  years  before  his 
death,  when  he  retired  to  Schuylkill  Haven.     He  died  when  about  seventy 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  835 

years  old,  and  is  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  as  is  also 
his  wife.  He  had  many  interesting  experiences  in  the  early  days.  His  father 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land  where  Fishbach  is  now  located  (near  Pottsville), 
then  thickly  wooded.  When  the  timber  was  cut  it  was  floated  down  the  Schuyl- 
kill. One  day,  while  going  past  what  is  now  known  as  Mount  Carbon,  he  was 
followed  by  a  wolf,  and  hastened  to  reach  the  river  so  that  the  animal  might 
lose  his  scent  when  he  forded  the  stream.  When  somewhat  older  he  had 
another  exciting  time  while  plowing  on  the  homestead,  on  the  Second  moun- 
tain. A  deer  ran  out  and  got  into  a  pond,  and  Mr.  Deibert,  thinking  he  could 
kill  it,  went  into  the  water  after  it,  but  the  animal  almost  drowned  him.  He 
also  had  some  adventures  with  panthers.  Mr.  Deibert  was  a  Democrat,  and 
a  German  Lutheran  in  religion,  belonging  to  the  White  Church  in  North 
Manheim  township.  He  married  Susanna  Reed,  daughter  of  James  Reed, 
and  she  survived  him,  living  to  the  age  of  seventy-one.  The  following  chil- 
dren were  bom  to  them :  Charles  V.  B. ;  Sarah,  wife  of  Abraham  Sharadin ; 
Mahlon,  deceased  when  nine  years  old ;  Amanda,  who  married  Harrison  Ber- 
ger,  both  now  deceased;  James,  who  lived  on  the  old  homestead  in  North 
Manheim  township  until  his  recent  death  (he  married  Mary  Faust,  who  is 
also  deceased);  Frank,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work;  George  R.,  living 
at  Landingville,  who  married  Mary  Deibert;  Hannah,  who  married  Edw. 
Schappell;  Elwin,  living  at  Schuylkill  Haven;  and  William,  who  died  when 
sixteen  years  old. 

Charles  V.  B.  Deibert  was  reared  upon  the  farm,  remaining  there  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  Coming  to  Schuylkill  Haven  at  that 
time,  he  became  clerk  for  his  uncle,  Samuel  Deibert,  continuing  in  his  em- 
ploy about  four  years.  In  i860  he  took  the  census  of  his  district,  and  on 
Aug.  6th  of  that  year  entered  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad  shops  at 
Schuylkill  Haven,  forming  a  connection  which  continued  over  a  period  of 
forty-sev€lh  years,  until  he  was  retired,  in  1907.  He  has  since  been  enjoying 
well-earned  leisure,  having  given  up  all  business  except  his  connection  with 
the  Schuylkill  Haven  Building  &  Loan  Association,  of  which  he  has  been 
president  since  1902. 

Mr.  Deibert  married  Emma  Sterner,  daughter  of  Jacob  Sterner,  who  mar- 
ried a  Luckenbill.  They  have  become  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
children:  Annie,  now  the  wife  of  George  Witman,  living  at  Pottstowil,  Pa.; 
Milton,  living  at  Schuylkill  Haven ;  Catherine,  of  Schuylkill  Haven ;  John 
Joseph,  living  at  Schuylkill  Haven ;  and  Walter,  Robert,  Charles  and  Minnie, 
all  deceased. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Deibert  served  in  the  Union  army,  enlisting  in 
September,  1862,  in  the  Peimsylvania  militia,  and  remaining  in  the  army  a 
short  time.  He  is  a  member  of  Jere  Helms  Post,  No.  27,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Schuyl- 
kill Haven,  and  is  serving  as  quartermaster  of  that  organization.  Mr.  Deibert 
is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  JPage  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Schuylkill  Haven, 
which  he  joined  in  June,  1873,  and  has  been  tiler  of  the  lodge  since  1898.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  I.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge  No.  120,  and  of  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  Lodge  No.  327. 

RAYMOND  H.  STUTZMAN,  M.  D.,  of  Tower  City,  is  taking  his  place 
among  the  most  useful  members  of  that  progressive  community,  toth  in  his 
private  capacity  and  as  a  public  servant.  His  professional  duties  naturally 
bring  him  into  contact  with  many  phases  of  life  in  the  community,  and  he  is 


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836  SCHUYLKILL  COUNtV,  PENNSYLVANIA 

in  a  position  to  judge  well  of  its  needs,  to  which  he  has  devoted  considerable 
of  his  time. 

Dr.  Stutzman  belongs  to  an  old  Pennsylvania  family,  founded  in  this  coun- 
try by  three  brothers  who  came  from  Switzerland  and  settled  in  the  Province, 
one  at  lona,  one  in  Jefferson  county  and  the  other  in  what  is  now  Schuylkill 
county.  In  the  fall  of  1826  Christian  Stutzman,  the  Doctor's  great-great- 
grandfather, moved  with  his  son  Peter  from  Lebanon  county  to  Schuylkill 
county,  settling  in  Hegins  township.  Peter  Stutzman  married  Elizabeth 
Bonarty,  and  they  had  a  family  of  eight  children :  Christian,  David,  Michael, 
Elizabeth,  Peter,  Catherihe,  Israel  and  William  A. 

William  A.  Stutzman,  son  of  Peter,  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in  Hegins 
township,  and  received  his  education  in  the  local  subscription  schools.  In 
1850  he  built  the  "Fountain  Hotel"  at  Fountain,  in  that  township,  and  con- 
ducted it  for  twenty-five  years.  He  was  also  active  in  public  affairs,  holding 
the  offices  of  poor  director  of  Schuylkill  county,  township  treasurer,  tax  col- 
lector and  supervisor,  and  he  was  one  of  tke  leading  members  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  the  county  in  his  day.  His  religious  connection  was  with  the 
Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Stutzman  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Catherine  Zerby,  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  by  whom  he  had  six  children : 
Henry,  who  was  murdered  in  1877,  in  Iowa,  where  he  had  settled  and  taken 
up  land  (he  is  buried  in  Hegins  township,  Schuylkill  county)  ;  Frederick  E. ; 
Isaac,  deceased ;  Mary,  deceased ;  John  W. ;  and  Andrew  J.  To  his  second 
union,  with  Helen  Roebuck,  of  Northumberland  county,  were  bom  three 
children,  Celia  (deceased,  who  married  P.  M.  Artz),  Carrie,  and  Emma  L. 
(Mrs.  R.  A.  Bressler).  William  A.  Stutzman  died  July  7,  1905,  on  his  farm 
in  Hegins  township,  and  is  buried  at  the  Frieden's  Church. 

Andrew  J.  Stutzman,  the  Doctor's  father,  was  bom  in  H^ns  township. 
He  received  a  good  education,  graduating  from  the  Millersville  State  Normal 
School,  and  taught  for  some  years,  finally  settling  down  to  farm  life  at  Foim- 
tain,  in  Hegins  township,  where  he  is  still  so  engaged.  He  has  always  done  a 
good  citizen's  share  in  promoting  good  government  in  his  locality  and  adminis- 
tering township  affairs,  has  served  many  years  as  school  director,  held  the 
office  of  assessor,  and  acted  as  judge  of  election.  ^Mr.  Stutzman  married 
Alice  Schnell,  and  they  have  had  three  children :  Fred,  of  Philadelphia,  super- 
•  intendent  of  the  Fox  Gun  Works ;  Allen,  at  home ;  and  Raymond  H. 

Raymond  H.  Stutzman  was  bom  Dec.  13,  1885,  at  Fountain,  Hegins  town- 
ship, and  received  his  elementary  education  there,  later  attending  school  in 
Philadelphia.  He  then  entered  the  Medico-Chirurgical  College  in  that  city, 
first  talcing  the  course  in  pharmacy,  and  after  graduating  in  that  department 
took  the  medical  course,  graduating  in  1912.  For  the  next  six  months  he  ^^-as 
stationed  at  the  hospital  there,  and  then  started  independent  practice  at  Pillow, 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  also  remained  six  months,  on  April  29,  1913,  com- 
ing to  Tower  City,  where  he  took  up  the  practice  of  the  late  Dr.  Stutzman,  his 
cousin.  Dr.  Stutzman  has  gained  steadily  in  the  confidence  of  the  community 
during  his  comparatively  short  residence  there,  and  has  every  prospect  of  a 
busy,  helpful  career.  He  is  serving  as  president  of  the  board  of  health  of 
Tower  City,  and  attends  conscientiously  to  his  duties. 

Dr.  Stutzman  married  Sarah  Jane  Graber,  of  Hegins,  and  they  have  three 
children :  Howard  G.,  Harry  A.  and  Herman  M.  Socially  the  Doctor  holds 
membership  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  belonging  to  the  lodge  at  Tower  City. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  837 

FREDERICK  CARL,  of  Shenandoah,  now  living  retired,  is  undoubtedly 
one  of  the  best  known  mine  workers  in  this  region,  having  been  employed  in 
the  local  anthracite  fields  for  sixty  years,  from  1854  to  1914.  During  the  last 
forty-six  years  of  that  period,  from  1868  until  his  retirement,  he  was  at  the 
Shenandoah  City  colliery,  where  he  held  the  responsible  position  of  inside 
foreman.  As  miner,  engineer,  repairman  and  foreman  Mr.  Carl  proved  well 
adapted  to  his  occupation,  being  naturally  of  a  mechanical  turn,  and  he  gave 
his  undivided  attention  and  care  to  his  work.  He  was  considered  a  master 
in  his  line  and  eminently  trustworthy,  and  personally  he  is  liked  as  well  as 
esteemed. 

Mr.  Carl  is  a  native  of  Germany,  bom  March  7,  1841,  in  Dieffenbach, 
Prussia.  His  father,  Henry  Carl,  ^as  born  at  the  same  place,  and  was  a 
linen  weaver  by  calling.  He  and  his  wife  Catherine  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  bom  in  Germany.  This  entire 
family  came  to  the  United  States  in  August,  1853,  crossing  from  Antwerp 
in  the  sailing  vessel  "Columbus,"  and  they  were  on  board  forty-seven  days, 
having  been  obliged  to  lie  in  the  English  Channel  fourteen  days  waiting  for 
favorable  weather.  After  landing  at  New  York  City  they  came  on  to  Potts- 
ville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  the  father  found  his  mechanical  skill  very  use- 
ful, being  given  outside  work  at  the  mines.  We  have  the  following  record 
of  the  family:  (i)  Philopina  married  Philip  Bauer,  and  in  1855  they  moved  to 
Belleville,  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.  Mr.  Bauer  was  a  bricklayer  by  trade.  He  and 
his  wife  are  both  deceased,  her  death  having  occurred  in  191 3.  They  had  one 
son  and  six  daughters.  (2)  John,  who  became  an  inside  superintendent  at  the 
mines,  died  in  1^9.  He  married  Lizzie  Klein,  who  now  lives  in  Mount  Carmel, 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  (3) 
Frederick  is  next  in  the  family.  (4)  Annie  is  the  widow  of  Adam  Bommers- 
bach,  a  stationary  engineer.  They  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  (5) 
Conrad,  who  was  a  miner,  died  in  1914.  His  widow,  Sarah,  lives  at  Mount 
Carmel,  Pa.  They  had  three  sons  and  two  daughte;rs.  (6)  Peter,  who  lives 
at  St.  Clair,  this  county,  is  a  stationary  engineer.  He  married  Sarah  Bom- 
mersbach,  and  they  have  a  family  of  seven,  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  (7) 
Henry,  who  formerly  worked  as  a  mechanic  in  Schuylkill  county  collieries, 
resides  near  Tower  City,  this  county.  He  married  Mary  Winch,  who  died 
in  about  1906,  and  they  had  one  son  and  two  daughters. 

Frederick  Carl  received  his  education  in  Germany.  Soon  after  coming  to 
this  country  he  began  work  at  the  mines,  first  drivings  mules,  and  he  was  vari- 
ously employed  until  he  attained  the  position  of  inside  foreman.  After  work- 
ing for  a  time  at  the  Hickory  colliery  he  went  to  the  Eagle  working,  at  the 
upper  end  of  St.  Clair,  this  county,  where  he  remained  for  nine  months  or  a 
year,  employed  as  miner,  engineer  and  repairman.  Then  for  eight  years  he  was 
similarly  engaged  at  the  Pine  Forest  colliery,  St.  Clair,  then  owned  by  George 
W.  Snyder,  on  March  17,  1868,  taking  a  position  at  the  Shenandoah  City 
colliery,  where  he  remained  continuously  until  his  retirement,  in  August,  1914. 
He  became  inside  foreman  there  in  1870. 

On  May  14,  1863,  Mr.  Carl  married  Marguerite  Weber,  at  St.  Clair. .  She 
was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  daughter  of  George  Weber,  and  died  in  1872, 
aged  twenty-nine  years,  the  mother  of  children  as  follows:  George  H.,  a 
machinist  and  pipe  fitter  at  the  chemical  works  in  West  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
married  Martha  Evans  (they  have  no  children)  ;  John  W.,  deceased,  who  was 
a  carriage  painter,  married  Mary  Scanlan,  and  they  had  one  son  and  one 


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838  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

daughter,  John  and  Annie  (Mrs.  Edward  Price)  ;  Harry  G.,  a  cigar  manu- 
facturer of  Shenandoah,  who  died  Aug.  29,  1915,  married  Annie  Townley, 
and  they  had  one  son  and  two  daughters,  Clarence,  Mabel  and  Kate,  the  last 
named  deceased  in  infancy.  The  mother  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church ;  she  is  buried  at  St.  Clair.- 

In  November,  1872,  Mr.  Carl  married  (second)  Elizabeth  Bernhardt,  who 
was  bom  at.Dieffenbach,  Prussia,  Germany,  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Wil- 
helmina  (Neu)  Bernhardt,  and  died  Sept.  10,  1901.  Six  children  were  bom 
to  this  union :  Henrietta  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years ;  Minnie  is  the  wife 
of  Hesser  H.  Zulick,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ringtown  (they 
have  no  children)  ;  William,  who  did  mechanical  work  at  the  mines,  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  from  injuries  received  at  the  mines,  leaving  a 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Emily  Smith  (they  had  one  child,  Dora,  who 
is  deceased)  ;  Frederick,  who  is  engaged  as  a  mechanic  at  the  mines,  married 
Jane  Hagenbuch,  and  they  have  two  children,  Dorothy  and  Robert;  Charles 
died  when  eight  years  old;  Matilda  married  Harold  Breisch,  a  merchant  of 
Ringtown,  and  they  have  two  children,  Catherine  and  William. 

Mr.  Carl's  third  marriage  was  to  Mrs.  Henrietta  Katz,  sister  of  his  sec- 
ond wife.  She  was  the  widow  of  George  Katz,  a  native  of  Ashland,  this 
county,  son  of  George  and  Catherine  (Stipe)  Katz,  and  by  her  first  marriage 
had  five  children:  Charles  F.,  a  bricklayer,  living  in  Philadelphia,  married 
Carrie  Haynes,  and  they  have  two  children,  Emily  and  Charles;  William  L. 
is  a  student  at  Mount  Airy  Theological  Seminary;  Henrietta  is  the  wife  of 
Harry  Reisch,  and  they  reside  at  Culp,  Pa.  (they  have  no  children)  ;  George 
is  taking  a  course  in  architecture  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  en- 
gaged as  a  night  clerk  in  Philadelphia;  Frederick  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Katz, 
who  died  in  December,  1899,  was  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carl  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  he 
is  an  Odd  Fellow  in  social  connection,  belonging  to  Lodge  No.  285,  of  St. 
Clair,  which  he  joined  in  1863.  They  have  a  pleasant  home  at  No.  30  South 
Jardin  street.  Mr.  Carl  has  always  been  a  stanch  Republican.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted,  at  Pottsville,  in  Company  D,  39th  Infantry  Reserves,  in 
which  he  served  three  months,  under  Col.  Daniel  Nagle. 

NEIL  CROSBY,  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  borough  of  New  Phila- 
delphia, Schuylkill  county,  is  entitled  to  the  respect  he  commands  as  the  re- 
ward of  a  useful  life.  As  a  citizen  he  has  never  failed  in  his  duty,  his  record 
of  service  in  the  Civil  war  and  in  official  capacities  in  his  home  town  proving 
that  he  Aas  always  been  ready  to  do  his  part,  whatever  it  might  be.  In  busi- 
ness and  domestic  relations  he  has  been  equally  faithful. 

Mr.  Crosby  has  been  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  county  practically  all  the 
time  since  1851,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  this  country.  He  is  a 
dative  of  Ireland,  bom  Jan.  10,  1839,  son  of  Patrick  Crosby,  who  first 
came  to  America  when  a  young  man  and  spent  eleven  years  here,  living  in 
Chester  county,  Pa.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  Returning  to  Ireland, 
he  remained  there  for  twenty-two  years  before  he  brought  his  family  to  the 
United  States,  in  1851.  They  settled  in  the  Schuylkill  valley,  and  the  father 
found  employment  at  Huebner's  mines,  doing  outside  work.  He  died  in  March. 
1865,  at  New  Philadelphia,  and  is  buried  at  Port  Carbon,  this  county.  His 
wife,  Mary  (Cathlee),  also  died  at  New  Philadelphia,  and  is  buried  at  Port 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  839 

Carbon.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Mary,  Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Neil, 
Owen,  Sallie,  Hannah,  Bridget  and  Catherine,  the  last  named  bom  at  sea. 

Neil  Crosby  was  first  employed  at  Huebner's  mines,  and  later  did  outside 
mine  work  at  Patterson,  this  county.  Then  he  worked  inside  at  the  East  mine 
shaft,  making  the  first  timber  for  this  working.  He  was  at  Patterson  for  four 
years  in  all,  in  1856  removing  to  New  Philadelphia,  which  then  had  but  a 
scanty  population.  Here  he  worked  for  the  Sillimans  until  May,  1857,  drove 
team  for  John  J.  Tucker  for  a  short  time,  and  the  same  month  entered  the 
employ  of  the  late  Andrew  Robertson,  with  whom  he  continued  at  that  point 
until  1865,  after  which  he  lived  some  years  at  Shamokin,  Pa.  After  thirteen 
years  and  eight  months  in  Mr.  Robertson's  service  he  returned  to  New  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  held  the  position  of  stable  boss  for  a  short  time,  also  doing 
other  work  about  the  collieries.  In  1908  he  retired,  and  he  has  continued  to 
make  his  home  at  New  Philadelphia.  In  his  earlier  years  Mr.  Crosby  took 
an  active  part  in  the  administration  of  municipal  affairs,  serving  as  member 
of  the  council  and  on  the  board  of  school  directors,  and  discharged  his  respon- 
sibilities conscientiously  and  intelligently.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted 
in  Company  K,  137th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  served  ten  months  in 
the  army,  taking  part  in  the  engagements*  at  South  Mountain  and  Antietam. 
He  was  in  General  Bumside's  command.  For  three  months  the  company  was 
stationed  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.  Mr.  Crosby  is  a  member  of  John  Ennis  Post, 
No.  47,  of  St.  Qair,  Schuylkill  county,  and  has  a  wide  acquaintance  among 
the  veterans.    He  and  his  wife  have  many  friends  at  New  Philadelphia. 

On  Oct.  2,  1864,  Mr.  Crosby  married  Catherine  Duffy,  a  native  of  Mount 
Carmel,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Anthony  Duffy.  They  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  children :  Sophia  is  living  at  home ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  James 
P.  Flemingham,  an  attorney,  of  Welch,  W.  Va. ;  Ellen  is  at  home ;  John  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Rishel  &  Crosby,  wholesale  and  retail  grocers,  of  Potts- 
ville;  James  is  at  home;  Owen  is  clerking  for  his  brother  at  Pottsville;  Cath- 
erine is  the  wife  of  Thomas  P.  Butler,  of  Pottsville;  Comdl  and  Sarah  are 
deceased.    The  family  are  Catholics  in  religious  faith. 

JOHN  PEIFER  is  busily  engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering,  the  latter 
under  contract  with  different  coal  companies  in  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county. 
He  lives  in  East  Union  township,  where  the  family  has  been  located  since  his 
grandfather's  day. 

Solomon  Peiter,  the  grandfather,  was  a  wood  chopper  and  lumberman  near 
Mountain  Grove,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  before  his  removal  to  Schuylkill  county. 
He  owned  a  timber  tract  and  farm,  but  lost  this  property,  and  moved  to  Union 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  tenanted  what  is  now  known  as  No.  3 
farm,  owned  by  the  Girard  Estate.  When  he  retired  he  went  to  live  with  his 
son  Levi,  at  Brandonville,  this  county,  and  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-one 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  buried  at  the  Old 
White  Church  near  Ringtown.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  By  his  first 
wife,  whose' maiden  name  was  Remaly,  Mr.  Peifer  had  the  following  children: 
(i)  Daniel.  (2)  George  married  Mary  Long,  who  survived  him  and  is  buried 
at  Bloomsburg.  They  had  children,  Austin  B.,  Alice  (wife  of  Nathan  Chromis, 
policeman  at  Bloomsburg),  Annie  (wife  of  L.  D.  Kahler)  and  Qara  (wife  of 
Frank  Chromis).  The  son,  Austin  B.  Peifer,  was  engaged  as  freight  agent  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  for  many  years,  and  was  for  many  years 
an  elder  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Catawissa,  Pa.     (3)  Levi  married  Eliz- 


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840  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

abeth  Shaeffer,  and  their  children  were  Sarah,  George,  Rebecca,  Mary,  Albert, 
Amanda,  Elizabeth  and  Ida.  (4)  Elias  is  mentioned  below.  (5)  Hester  mar- 
ried Jacob  Hartley.  Three  others  died  young.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Peifer 
married  Maria  Moyer,  and  to  them  were  bom  two  children:  Jacob  married 
Amanda  Rupert  and  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  Charlotte,  Hannah, 
Charles,  Benjamin  and  Herbert;  Solomon,  Jr.,  married  Sarah  Applegate,  and 
had  two  children,  Samuel  (now  deceased)  and  Susan  (who  lives  in  Con- 
necticut). 

Elias  Peifer,  father  of  John  Peifer,  was  bom  April  17,  1831,  near  Moun- 
tain Grove,  Luzeme  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  Nov.  2^,  19 12,  aged  eighty-one  years, 
seven  months,  ten  days.  He  received  his  education  in  his  native  coimty,  and 
worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  and  in  the  woods,  until  he  reached  legal  age. 
He  gained  considerable  experience  as  a  sawyer.  The  first  farm  he  bought  (ttie 
place  later  owned  by  Samuel  Deebel)  consisted  of  120  acres,  sixty  of  which 
he  had  under  cultivation,  and  he  operated  it  for  seventeen  years,  eventually  trad- 
ing it  for  a  farm  owned  by  Sheep  &  Co.,  now  the  property  of  his  son  John 
Peifer.  It  was  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres,  sixty  cleared,  and  he  lived  on  it  and 
followed  general  farming  there  very  successfully,  building  the  dwelling  which 
is  still  standing  on  the  property,  occupied  by  his  son  John.  He  also  owned 
a  sixty-acre  tract  adjoining.  Elias  Peifer  continued  to  carry  on  the  lumber 
business  along  with  farming,  and  he  was  the  owner  of  a  hotel  property  at 
Ringtown  which  he  rented  out,  later  selling  it  to  Daniel  Ellis,  of  Shenandoah ; 
it  is  now  one  of  the  principal  hotels  at  Ringtown.  Mr.  Peifer  served  his  town- 
ship many  years  as  supervisor  and  tax  collector.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
political  faith,  and  during  the  Civil  war  a  Union  sympathizer,  enlisting  at 
Tamaqua  in  October,  1864,  as  a  member  of  Company  A,  173d  Pennsylvania 
Regiment,  for  nine  months,  or  during  the  war.  He  was  mustered  in  at 
Harrisburg,  and  was  engaged  principally  in  guard  duty.  In  religion  he  held 
to  the  Reformed  faith,  belonging  to  St.  John's  Church  in  East  Union  town- 
ship, at  which  church  he  and  his  wife  are  buried. 

Mr.  Peifer  married  Emaline  Charlotte  Nungesser,  who  was  bom  Sept. 
13,  1840,  in  Mifflin  township,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna 
(Reinbold)  Nungesser,  who  moved  thence  to  East  Union  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Mr.  Nungesser  followed  farming  and  lumbering  there  the  best 
part  of  his  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  forty-nine.  He  was  a  native  of  Mifflin 
township,  Columbia  county,  and  his  wife  was  bom  near  Easton,  Northamp- 
ton Co.,  Pa.  She  lived  to  be  over  eighty,  and  is  buried  at  Unityville,  Lycom- 
ing Co.,  Pa.  Their  children  were:  Benjamin,  deceased,  married  Elizabeth 
Applegate,  who  now  lives  at  Strawbridge,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa. ;  Isaac  married 
Susanna  Hoffman,  and  they  live  at  Berwick,  Columbia  county ;  Emaline  Char- 
lotte married  Elias  Peifer ;  George  died  unmarried,  after  his  retum  from  the 
army;  Hannah,  widow  of  John  Schucker,  lives  at  Taylorsville,  Schuylkill 
county.  Mr.  Nungesser  is  buried  at  the  Old  White  Church  near  Ringtown. 
He  had  no  church  connections.    He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion. 

Mrs.  Elias  Peifer  died  in  March,  1905,  several  years  before  her  husband. 
They  had  the  following  family :  John  is  the  eldest.  Isaac,  bom  July  28,  1862, 
died  aged  forty  years,  ten  nlonths,  and  his  widow,  Emma  (Fritz),  lives  in 
Tamaqua ;  they  had  children,  Robert,  Frank,  Irwin,  Maurice,  Monroe,  Ralph,' 
Clarence,  Clara,  deceased,  and  Cora.  Hiram,  bom  Jime  7,  1865,  married  Mary 
E.  Borlace,  and  they  live  at  Sheppton,  Schuylkill  county.  Joanna  died  when 
three  months  old.    Mary  Elizabeth,  bom  May  28,  1872,  died  Dec.  17,  1915, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  841 

and  is  buried  at  Unitjrville,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.;  she  married  Harry  McClin- 
tock,  of  Muncy  Valley,  Sullivan  Co.,  Pa.,  and  had  children:  Ezra,  Ruth, 
Joanna,  Margaret,  Elias,  Mary,  Leah,  Orpha  and  Seth. 

John  Peifer,  eldest  son  of  Elias  Peifer,  was  bom  Oct.  22,  1857,  near  Bran- 
donville,  in  Union  township,  that  part  now  known  as  East  Union.  He  attended 
the  Upper  Valley  school,  and  also  the  Peifer  or  Lorah  school  in  East  Union 
township,  receiving  the  first  of  his  instruction  during  the  first  year  the  public 
school  system  was  in  operation  in  his  township.  Until  he  reached  his  major- 
ity he  assisted  his  father  with  the  farm  work  and  lumbering,  and  then  worked 
the  home  place  on  his  own  account,  buying  the  property  before  his  father's 
death.  He  still  gives  much  of  his  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the  farm, 
and  continues  his  lumber  operations  also,  filling  contracts  for  various  coal 
companies.  Mr.  Peifer  takes  a  lively  interest  in  all  the  affairs  of  his  neigh- 
borhood, public,  religious  and  social.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  several 
offices,  having  served  three  years  as  school  director,  two  terms  as  auditor 
and  for  some  time  as  registry  assessor.  A  prominent  member  of  the  Re- 
formed congregation  of  St.  John's  Church  in  East  Union  township,  he  is  one 
of  the  deacons  at  present,  having  filled  that  office  since  the  building  of  the 
new  church,  in  1896.  He  was  a  member  of  the  building  committee  at  that 
time.  Formerly  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school,  of  which  he  was  also 
secretary  and  later  treasurer.  In  fraternal  connection  he  is  an  Odd  Fellow, 
belonging  to  Ringtown  Lodge,  No.  287. 

Mr.  Peifer  married  Agnes  Cook,  who  was  bom  Feb.  10,  1858,  at  Tusca- 
rora,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Hannah  (Teft)  Cook, 
and  died  Feb.  28,  1913.  She  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  St.  John's  Church, 
of  which  she  was  a  Reformed  member,  and  she  took  great  interest  in  its 
work  and  sang  in  the  choir.  Mrs.  Peifer  was  a  capable,  industrious.  Chris- 
tian woman,  and  a  great  help  to  her  husband.  She  worked  out  from  the 
time  she  was  eleven  years  old  until  her  marriage.  Five  children  were  bom 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peifer:  Henry  Paul  died  when  two  months  old;  Emaline 
Charlotte,  bom  Aug.  24,  1895,  received  her  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  is  now  living  at  home;  Ira  Edward  died  when  two  months  old;  Adam 
Elias,  bom  Oct.  24,  1898,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  is  now 
livingf  at  home ;  Hannah  died  at  birth. 

Michael  Cook,  father  of  Mrs.  Agnes  (Cook)  Peifer,  was  bom  in  Ireland, 
and  came  to  America  when  seven  years  old.  He  worked  for  one  of  the 
Reagan  family  at  Tuscarora,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  later  became  a  foreman 
round  the  mines  at  Audenried.  Then  he  was  at  Lost  Creek  for  some  time, 
and  he  lived  retired  for  a  while  before  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Lost 
Creek  when  he  was  eighty-four  years  old.  He  married  Hannah  Teft,  who 
was  bora  at  Mount  Laffee,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  reared  by  the  grand- 
father of  the  present  Judge  Bechtel  of  the  Schuylkill  county  courts.  Mrs. 
Cook  is  also  deceased,  and  is  buried  with  her  husband  at  Girardville,  this 
county.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  convictions.  They  had  the 
following  children:  John,  deceased,  married  Julia  Welsch,  who  now  lives 
at  McAdoo,  Schuylkill  county;  Martin  died  unmarried;  Agnes  was  the  wife 
of  John  Peifer;  Annie  resides  at  Lost  Creek;  Michael  died  unmarried;  Ed- 
ward, who  lives  at  Lost  Creek,  this  county,  is  unmarried. 

JOHN  LEBO,  of  Tower  City,  a  well  known  farmer  of  Porter  town- 
^ip,  was  bom  Feb.   14,  1844,  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  son  of  Daniel  and 


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842  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Sarah  (Schoffstall)  Lebo,  and  grandson  of  Michael  Lebo.  The  latter  spent 
his  early  life  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  later  moving  to  Dauphin  county,  where 
he  died. 

Daniel  Lebo  was  bom  in  the  Lykens  valley,  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and 
there  his  life  was  passed,  his  activities  being  devoted  to  the  carpenter's  trade. 
He  died  in  1871,  after  an  industrious  and  well-spent  career.  Mr.  Lebo's 
first  wife  was  Sarah  Rowe,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Joseph,  Sarah,  Caroline  and  Adeline.  His  second  wife,  who  prior  to  her 
marriage  was  Sarah  Schoffstall,  was  a  daughter  of  Emanuel  SchoffstaU,  a 
farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  Gratz,  and  there  were  eleven  children  bom  to  tihis 
union :  John ;  Isabella ;  Dr.  William,  a  physician  of  Valley  View,  Pa. ;  Edward; 
Catherine;  Emmanuel;  Amos;  Emma  Jane;  Frank;  Alice,  and  Henry. 

Reared  on  a  farm  in  Dauphin  county,  John  Lebo  secured  the  educa- 
tional advantages  usually  granted  to  the  country  youths  of  his  day  and  local- 
ity, and  when  still  a  young  man  leamed  the  butcher  business,  which  he  fol- 
lowed, in  connection  with  farming,  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  After  that 
he  devoted  all  his  time  to  farming.  His  operations  in  a  business  and  agri- 
cultural way  were  intermpted  by  the  Civil  war  when  he  enlisted  at  Harris- 
burg,  in  1864,  for  one  year,  in  Company  H,  210th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry,  under  Captain  Miller.  He  was  not  called  upon  to  serve  the  com- 
plete term  of  his  enlistment,  for  the  war  closed,  and  he  was  mustered  out  after 
nine  months'  service.  However,  during  that  period,  he  had  seen  some  very 
active  service,  and  when  he  received  his  honorable  discharge  had  a  record  for 
fidelity  that  had  won  him  the  thorough  respect  of  his  comrades  and  officers. 
He  has  never  lost  interest  in  his  fellow-soldiers,  and  at  the  present  time  is 
serving  as  treasurer  of  William  Thompson  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic, of  Tower  City. 

On  his  retum  to  the  pursuits  of  civil  life  Mr.  Lebo  resumed  his  butcher- 
ing and  agricultural  operations.  He  removed  from  Dauphin  county  to 
Schuylkill  county  in  1888.  Here  his  industry,  perseverance  and  good  manage- 
ment have  been  well  rewarded,  for  at  this  time  he  is  the  possessor  of  two 
fine  farms  in  Porter  township,  one  of  165  acres  and  the  other  of  forty-eight 
acres.  Advancing  years  find  Mr.  Lebo  still  strong,  hearty  and  energetic, 
but  he  has  gained  his  competency  and  does  not  need  to  exert  himself  as  in 
former  years,  so  that  he  is  now  living  on  the  smaller  property,  allowing  his 
son,  John  E.  Lebo,  to  cultivate  the  larger  farm. 

In  1867  Mr.  Lebo  was  married  to  Sarah  A.  Row,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Susanna  (Motter)  Row,  of  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  Fifteen  children  were 
bom  to  this  union :  Maggie,  deceased ;  Charles,  now  a  resident  of  Lancaster, 
Pa.;  William  and  Sallie,  deceased;  Oliver,  living  in  Porter  township;  John 
E.,  on  his  father's  165-acre  farm;  Annie,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of 
George  Keilman;  Kate,  the 'wife  of  John  Schwalm;  Frank,  deceased;  Corde- 
lia, the  wife  of  Harvey  Snyder;  Joseph,  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.; 
Lottie,  of  Tower  City,  Pa.;  Mabel  and  Harry,  who  are  deceased;  and  a 
daughter  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lebo  are  consistent  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Lebo  has  faithfully  performed  the  duties  of 
citizenship,  having  for  seven  years  served  his  township  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors,  and  having,  in  every  way,  lent  his  aid  to  movements 
for  the  advancement  of  morality,  religion,  education  and  good  citizenship.  He 
holds  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens  by  reason  of  a  life 
characterized  by  straightforward  dealing. 


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•     SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  843 

GEORGE  CLARENCE  LINDENMUTH,  who  is  profitably  engaged  in 
fruit  growing  and  general  farming  in  Union  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
was  bom  April  21,  1881,  on  the  place  he  now  owns  and  occupies. 

The  Lindenmuth  family  has  been  in  this  county  for  considerably  more 
than  a  century,  Daniel  Lindenmuth,  the  great-grandfather  of  George  Clar- 
ence Lindenmuth,  having  come  hither  from  Berks  county,  Pa.,  in  1792.  He 
was  a  native  of  Berks  county.  His  father,  Michael  Lindenmuth,  received  a 
grant  of  four  hundred  acres  from  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in 
reward  for  his  services  as  colonel  and  lieutenant  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  the  property  was  divided  among  his  four  sons,  Daniel,  George,  Henry 
and  Martin;  the  last  named  moved  to  Indiana.  They  came  into  what  was 
then  dense  woods  and  set  about  clearing  their  land,  meantime  living  in  ^ 
shanty  and  putting  up  with  many  privations.  The  soil  was  put  under  culti- 
vation as  fast  as  it  could  be  prepared,  and  though  the  work  was  toilsome 
they  accomplished  much  with  the  facilities  at  hand.  They  had  to  go  to  Read- 
ing on  horseback  with  their  grain  in  order  to  get  flour,  and  had  all  the  other 
experiences  typical  of  the  times.  Daniel  Lindenmuth  settled  in  Union  town- 
ship, where  Mrs.  William  Boyer  now  lives.  He  was  married  four  times,  and 
his  children  were:  E^iel  was  killed  in  the  woods  by  a  falling  tree;  Molly 
married  John  Kline;  Benjamin  mayried  Rachel  Metz;  Jacob  married  Salome 
Gilbert;  Andrew  married  Sallje  Domback;  George  is  next  in  the  family; 
Joseph  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  being  Rebecca  Reisler;  Michael 
married  Mina  Miller;  Esther  married  David  Kfine.  The  father  died  aged 
eighty-two  years,  nine  months,  one  day,  and  is  buried  with  three  of  his  wives 
in  the  family  cemetery  at  Lindenmuth's  Comer,  in  Union  township.  The 
fourth  wife  moved  from  this  section.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  a  Lutheran, 
belonging  to  the  Old  White  Church. 

George  Lindenmuth,  son  of  Daniel,  above,  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Union  township  Feb.  7,  1815,  farmed  all  his  life,  and  died  July  21, 
1885.  He  took  an  active  part  in  local  affairs,  served  as  auditor  of  his  town- 
ship, and  was  interested  in  politics  as  a  worker  in  the  Democratic  party; 
he  acted  as  judge  of  election.  Mr.  Lindenmuth  married  Polly  Dumbach, 
who  was  bom  June  27,  1814,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Buzzard) 
Dumbach,  and  died  March  20,  1893,  They  are  buried  at  the  Old  White 
Church,  of  which  Mr.  Lindenmuth  was  a  Lutheran  member.  Six  children 
were  bom  to  this  worthy  couple:  Charles  Daniel  died  in  infancy;  Sallie  Ann 
married  William  Lindenmuth,  and  both  are  deceased ;  William  D.  is  the  father 
of  George  Clarence  Lindenmuth;  Jeremiah  married  Catherine  Brobst,  and 
both  are  deceased ;  Polly  is  deceased ;  Amanda  Elizabeth  lives  at  Ringtown. 

William  D.  Lindenmuth  was  bom  May  9,  1841,  on  the  old  home  place 
in  Union  township,  now  owned  by  the  William  Boyer  estate.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  the  pay  schools  of  the  locality.  He  worked  at  home  for  his 
father  until  tWenty-three  years  old,  when  he  found  emplo)rment  at  Seit- 
zinger's  colliery,  Colorado,  this  county,  helping  to  put  up  the  sawmill  now 
owned  by  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company,  known  as  Packer  No.  5. 
Then  he  took  another  position  in  the  same  neighborhood,  working  at  Lost 
Creek  for  Frank  Karcher  and  Colonel  Cake,  and  he  also  worked  at  William 
Penn  and  Raven  Run,  at  the  latter  place  sawing  timber  and  acting  as  manager 
on  the  platform;  he  was  there  for  three  years  and  three  months.  In  1872 
Mr.  Lindenmuth  bought  from  Adam  Lindenmuth  the  farm  now  owned  by 
his  son  George  Clarence,  which  was  then  all  covered  with  brush,  and  he  has 


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844  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

made  all  the  improvements  in  the  way  of  buildings  which  the  place  now 
boasts,  though  he  had  only  his  evenings  for  the  work  at  home,  putting  in 
twelve  hours  daily  at  the  coal  mines.  Nevertheless  he  made  great  progress 
with  the  development  of  his  farm,  started  the  fine  orchard  which  is  now 
yielding  so  well,  and  also  followed  general  farming  successfully.  He  now 
lives  near  there,  in  Union  township.  Agriculture  has  been  very  interesting 
to  him,  and  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Ringtown  Fair  Association. 
For  five  years  he  was  supervisor  of  his  township,  elected  on  the  Democratic 
tidcet,  to  which  he  has  always  given  loyal  support.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  at  Ringtown. 

Mr.  Lindenmuth  married  Hannah  Frey,  who  was  bom  Aug.  9,  1845,  ^^ 
Union  township,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Sallie  (Rumbel)  Frey,  and  died  July 
10,  1910;  she  is  buried  at  the  Old  White  Church.  Four  children  were  bom 
to  this  marriage:  Mary  Sabina  married  W.  E.  Stauffer,  who  keeps  a  hotel 
in  Union  township;  Sallie  Sa villa  is  the  widow  of  William  Boyer  and  lives 
on  the  old  Lindenmuth  homestead;  Dr.  Eli  Oscar,  now  superintendent  of 
the  X-ray  department  in  the  State  University  of  Indiana,  at  Indianapolis, 
married  Elnora  Breisch;  George  Clarence  is  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

George  Clarence  Lindenmuth  attended  the  Home  school  in  Union  town- 
ship, and  worked  at  home  with  his  father  until  twenty  years  old.  Then  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  under  Joseph  Laudig,  of  Ringtown,  remaining 
with  him  for  three  years,  since  when  he  has  been  farming  again,  having 
bought  his  father's  farm  of  eighty  acres,  of  which  sixty-five  are  cleared.  He 
studied  fruit  growing  and  insects  and  insecticides,  as  a  correspondent  stu- 
dent of  Pennsylvania  State  College,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  f mit  growing, 
principally  apples,  his  leading  varieties  being  the  Northern  Spy,  iSng  and 
Follawater,  which  have  proved  very  satisfactory.  Mr.  Lindenmuth  has  one 
of  the  finest  orchards  in  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  he  follows  up- 
to-date  methods  in  its  care,  as  he  does  in  all  his  other  work.  He  attends 
market  at  Girardville,  and  ships  all  over  the  State.  Mr.  Lindenmuth  has 
not  been  negligent  of  his  responsibilities  of  citizenship,  any  more  than  he  has 
of  his  private  interests.  Anything  that  affects  the  general  welfare  he  con- 
siders worthy  of  his  attention,  and  he  has  always  used  his  influence  in  the 
most  public-spirited  manner.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Farmers' 
Independent  Telephone  &  Telegraph  Cotnpany,  and  since  June,  191 1,  has 
been  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ringtown.  At  present  he  is 
holding  the  office  of  tax  collector  of  Union  township,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Schuylkill  County  Farm  Bureau.  Like  his  immediate  ancestors,  he  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  opinion.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  St.  John's 
Lutheran  Church  of  Ringtown,  of  which  he  is  a  deacon.  At  one  time  he 
was  superintendent  of  Home's  Sunday  school,  and  Mrs.  Lindenmuth  formerly 
taught  in  the  Lindner  Sunday  school.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Cata- 
wissa  Lodge,  No.  349,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Maple  Leaf  Camp,  No.  246,  Wood- 
men of  the  World,  at  Ringtown. 

Mr.  Lindenmuth  was  married  to  Edith  Priscilla  Stauffer,  who  was  bora 
April  23,  1877,  ^^  Union  township,  where  she  received  her  education.  Six 
children  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage,  as  follows:  Edna  Alberta,  Oct. 
29,  1901  (died  Feb.  17,  1904)  ;  Mary  Emma,  June  27,  1903 ;  Helen  Grace, 
March  4,  1905;  Ralph  Lester,  Jan.  19,  1907;  Earl  James,  May  i,  1910;  Wood- 
row  Wilson,  Jan.  16,  1913.  Mary  is  now  a  pupil  at  the  Ringtown  high 
school. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  845 

John  StauflFer,  Mrs.  Lindenmuth's  great-grandfather,  was  born  Dec.  24, 
1758,  in  New  Hanover  township,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  the  second  child  and 
only  son  of  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christian  StaufFer.  He  lived  in  his 
native  county  until  1809,  when  he  settled  in  Ryon  township,  Berks  (now 
Schuylkill)  county,  and  on  May  10,  1839,  he  moved  with  his  son  David  to 
the  Catawissa  valley.  He  died  March  5,  1845,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son 
Jacob  at  Broad  Mountain,  Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  Stauffer  was  always  a 
farmer.  His  father  was  a  Mennonite,  like  his  ancestors,  and  John  Stauffer 
always  adhered  to  that  faith,  but  under  the  influence  of  Rev.  Mr.  Schaeffer, 
a  Lutheran  missionary  who  came  into  their  district,  all  his  children  became 
Lutherans.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Elizabeth  Yer^^er 
Dec.  18,  1782,  and  they  are  buried  in  Locust  Valley,  near  Mahanoy  City, 
Schuylkill  county.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Jacob,  Rebecca  (Mrs. 
Peifer),  John,  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Drase),  Catherine  (Mrs.  Puhl),  George, 
Isaac,  Henry,  Magdalene  (Mrs.  Bittler),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Shell),  David  (mar- 
ried Maria  Anne  Andreas),  Joseph  and  Amos. 

Joseph  Stauffer,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  December,  1806,  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Pa.,  farmed  in  Union  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
Joseph  J.  Stauffer  now  lives,  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
His  wife,  Mary  Magdalena  (Huntz),  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Old  White  Church,  of  which 
he  was  a  Lutheran  member.  In  politics  he  supported  the  Democratic  party. 
Seven  children  were  bom  to  him  and  his  wife,  of  whom  John  married  Matilda 
Eisenhauer;  Rachel  became  Mrs.  John  Eisenhauer;  Jacob  married  Caroline 
Long;  Joseph  married  Catherine  Trexler;  Amos  married  Caroline  Trexler; 
one  daughter  died  in  infancy. 

Edmond  Stauffer,  son  of  Joseph,  was  bom  March  12,  1846,  in  Union 
township,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
wheelwright  with  Stephen  Yohe,  of  Slabtown,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  followed 
it  all  his  life.  For  some  time  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Shenandoah, 
Schuylkill  county.  He  bought  an  acre  of  ground  in  Union  township  from 
John  and  Benjamin  Seltzer,  of  Ringtown,  and  erected  a  fine  shop  there, 
doing  blacksmithing  and  wheelwrighting,  wagon  building  and  general  repair 
woi;k.  His  patrons  come  from  a  wide  radius.  Later  he  bought  six  acres 
located  across  the  road,  from  P.  J.  Ferguson,  and  there  built  a  fine  home, 
which  he  has  ever  since  occupied.  In  addition  to  his  shop  he  has  a  cider 
press,  and  he  has  done  very  well  in  his  various  enterprises.  Mr.  Stauffer 
has  been  active  in  township  and  church  affairs,  having  served  two  terms  as 
school  director  and  held  a  number  of  offices  in  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church 
of  Ringtown— elder,  deacon  and  trustee.    Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Stauffer  married  Carolina  Bitting,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Priscilla 
Bitting,  and  six  children  have  been  bom  to  their  union :  Mrs.  George  Clarence 
Lindenmuth;  Milton  Joseph,  who  follows  blacksmithing  with  his  father  (he 
married  Emma  Mensinger)  ;  Emma  Catherine,  who  married  C.  C.  Breisch, 
an  attorney  at  law,  and  died  April  4,  1906 ;  Richard  Edmond,  who  died  when 
one  year  old;  Ellen  Alvaretta,  Who  died  when  eight  years  old;  and  Monroe 
Daniel,  who  is  principal  of  public  schools  at  New  Market,  New  Jersey. 

HENRY  Z.  KUEBLER,  now  living  retired,  spent  many  years  of  his 
honorable  and  useful  career  in  educational  work  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  as 
a  successful*  and  popular  instructor  enjoyed  an  influence  among  his  young 


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846  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

charges  which  has  surely  borne  good  fruit.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county 
and  of  German  descent. 

Christian  Kuebler,  father  of  Henry  Z.  Kuebler,  was  born  and  reared 
in  Wurteniberg,  Germany,  and  learned  the  trAde  of  butcher  in  that  country. 
When  a  young  man  of  twenty  years  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Schuyl- 
kill coimty,  Pa.,  locating  first  at  Pottsville  and  later  at  Minersville,  where 
he  carried  on  a  butchering  business.  Later  he  moved  to  the  Mahantongo 
Valley  in  this  county,  and  thence  to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  died.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Zimmerman,  who  was  bom  in  the  Mahantongo  Valley,  in  this 
county,  where  her  father,  Solomon  Zimmerman,  settled  upon  his  removal 
from  Berks  county.  Pa.  Mr.  Zimmerman  was  a  carpenter,  and  followed 
farming  as  well  as  his  trade.  Eventually  he  moved  to  Tremont,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death.  Mrs.  Kuebler  died  in  December,  1854,  in  Tremont. 
Henry  Z.  was  the  only  child  bom  to  his  parents,  but  he  had  four  half  brothers 
and  sisters,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 

Henry  Z.  Kuebler  was  bom  Dec.  5,  1835,  at  his  father's  home  in  the 
Mahantongo  Valley,  where  he  grew  to  maturity.  In  his  boyhood  he  attended 
the  local  township  schools,  and  after  his  school  days  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  began  teaching  school, 
and  he  continued  to  follow  the  profession  for  thirty  years,  being  engaged  in 
Eldred  township,  this  county,  for  three  terms;  Porter  township,  one  term; 
Tremont  township,  seven  terms;  Tremont  borough,  one  term;  and  in  Butler 
township,  one  term.  For  several  years  Mr.  Kuebler  followed  the  nursery 
business,  in  which  he  was  very  successful,  but  he  has  been  living  retired  for 
some  time.  At  one  time  he  studied  law.  Until  recently  he  resided  in  the 
borough  of  Tremont,  now  making  his  home  with  his  son  at  Llewellyn, 
this  county. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Kuebler  joined  Company  H,  6th  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer  Infantry,  at  Tremont,  and  served  three  months  under  that 
enlistment.  Later,  during  the  emergency,  he  reenlisted,  in  a  cavalry  company 
from  Morristown,  N.  J.,  served  about  seven  weeks,  and  was  mustered  out 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  retuming  to  Tremont  at  the  close  of  his  period  of  service. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  has  been  a 
worker  in  that  and  other  similar  organizations,  belonging  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Masonic  fraternity;  he  has  been  especially  interested 
in  the  latter,  affiliating  with  the  blue  lodge  at  Ashland  and  the  chapter  (No. 
221)  at  Tremont,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs  and  attained  the 
dignity  of  high  priest.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the  United  Evan- 
gelical Church. 

On  April  18,  1875,  Mr.  Kuebler  married  Emma  R.  Kohr,  who  was  bom 
at  what  is  now  Fredericksburg,  in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  daughter  of  John  H. 
and  Hannah  (Shirk)  Kohr,  of  that  county.  Five  children  have  been  bom 
to  this  union :  Kohr  L.  and  Sallie  R.  are  deceased ;  Hannah,  widow  of  Adolph 
O.  Fleisch,  lives  in  Westchester,  Pa.;  Harry  Emile  lives  in  Branch  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county;  Viva  L.  Virgil  is  a  resident  of  Atlantic  City. 

PROF.  PATRICK  S.  CANFIELD,  of  New  Philadelphia,  has  been 
occupied  in  educational  work  from  youth  and  is  probably  best  known  in  that 
connection  in  this  county.  But  he  has  also  given  considerable  time  success- 
fully to  business,  and  is  the  present  postmaster  at  Silver  Creek  (the  post  office 
of  New  Philadelphia).      He  has  never  withheld  his  services  or  influence  in 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  847 

promoting  the  general  welfare,  and  his  high  qualifications  have  made  his 
cooperation  very  acceptable,  his  good  judgment  and  energy  being  employed 
to  advantage  in  whatever  claims  his  attention. 

Mr.  Canfield  is  of  Pennsylvania  birth  and  Irish  extraction,  his  grand- 
father, Edward  Canfield,  having  been  a  native  of  Ireland,  from  which  coun- 
try he  brought  his  family  to  America,  and  many  years  ago  settled  at  Windy 
Harbor,  in  Bl)rthe  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  His  son  John,  the  father 
of  Patrick  S.  Canfield,  was  bom  in  Ireland,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to 
the  United  States.  He  became  a  stationary  engineer,  and  was  employed  in 
that  capacity  by  ,the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company  at  Eagle 
Hill,  this  county,  for  the  long  period  of  thirty-five  years,  makin|^  a  high  record 
for  efficiency  and  fidelity.  He  never  had  any  accidents  nor  mjured  anyone 
at  his  post.  When  sixty-five  years  old  he  was  intrusted  with  the  sinking  of 
a  shaft  for  the  company,  in  whose  employ  he  continued  until  the  strike  of 
1902.  Personally  he  bore  the  highest  reputation,  his  excellent  habits  gaining 
him  deserved  respect  among  his  associates.  Few  men  in  the  region  were 
any  better  or  more  favorably  known.  His  death  occurred  Oct.  9,  1909,  and 
he  is  buried  at  New  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Canfield  married  Mary  Bums,  who 
now  resides  at  New  Philadelphia  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Gannon.  The  fol- 
lowing children  were  borii  to  this  union :  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Gannon, 
of  New  Philadelphia;  Edward  J.  is  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  New 
Philadel|^a;  James  F.  lives  ^t  PottsviTle,  this  county,  where  he  has  been 
assistant  superintendent  for  the  Pmdential  Life  Insurance  Company  for 
the  last  twenty  years;  John  W.  has  held  the  same  position  at  Tamaqua,  this 
county,  for  fifteen  years;  Annie  is  the  wife  of  W.  R.  Lawrence,  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y. ;  Robert  V.  has  been  assistant  superintendent  for  the  Prudential  Life 
Insurance  Company  at  Lansford,  Pa.,  for  the  last  thirteen  years;  Patrick  S. 
completes  the  family. 

Patrick  S.  Canfield  was  bom  July  25,  1881,  at  Windy  Harbor,  in  Bl3rthe 
township,  and  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  local  public  schools,  under 
County  Superintendent  Livingston  Seltzer.  So  well  did  he  apply  himself  to 
his  studies  that  he  was  given  a  school  to  teach  when  but  sixteen  years  old, 
being  engaged  at  Silver  Creek,  in  Blythe  township,  where  he  remained  for 
three  years.  He  has  followed  the  profession  continuously  since.  For  three 
years  after  leaving  Silver  Creek  he  was  at  Middleport,  this  county,  and  the 
next  year  had  a  school  in  North  Manheim  township.  For  the  last  five  years 
he  has  been  stationed  at  New  Philadelphia,  where  he  now  has  charge  as 
principal  of  the  public  schools,  in  which  capacity  he  has  given  eminent  satis- 
faction. Professor  Canfield  is  earnest  and  conscientious  in  the  performance 
of  his  duties,  having  a  keen  sense  of  the  responsibilities  they  involve,  espe- 
cially in  shaping  and  directing  the  ideas  of  the  young  minds  in  his  charge. 
Their  confidence  and  esteem  are  his  most  cherished  reward. 

For  a  few  years  Mr.  Canfield  had  a  general  store  at  Cumbola,  Schuylkill 
county,  but  discontinued  the  business  in  I910.  On  April  i,  1915,  he  received 
the  appointment  of  postmaster  at  Silver  Creek  (New  Philadelphia),  and  he 
has  been  handling  the  business  of  the  office  with  characteristic  ability.  He 
also  acts  as  registrar  of  births  and  deaths  in  Blythe  township  and  New  Phil- 
adelphia borough,  doing  his  work  with  the  accuracy  and  intelligence  which 
render  such  records  very  valuable.  In  religion  he  is  a  Catholic.  Socially  he 
affiliates  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  and  for  the  last  fourteen 
years  has  been  secretary  of  its  local  lodge. 


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848  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Professor  Canfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Devlin,  daughter 
of  the  late  Thomas  DevHn,  who  died  April  i8,  191 5.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Canfield 
have  two  children,  John  (now,  1915,  aged  four  years)  and  Thomas  (one 
year  old). 

MORRIS  W.  HIKES  is  a  native-bom  citizen  of  Pine  Grove  who  has 
taken  his  share  of  municipal  responsibilities  in  an  active  life,  doing  his  part 
in  maintaining  good  business  and  living  conditions  in  the  progressive  borough 
where  his  life  has  been  spent.  His  connection  with  movements  which 
stimulate  good  citizenship  or  are  the  expression  of  public  spirit  shows  how 
thoroughly  he  has  the  general  welfare  at  heart,  and  his  own  career  stamps 
him  as  well  fitted  to  assist  in  its  defense. 

There  are  on  record  several  of  the  name  of  Hikes  anlong  the  imm^rants 
to  Pennsylvania  during  the  Provincial  period.  One  John  Henry  Hyckes 
arrived  Sept.  16,  1738,  on  the  ship  "Queen  Elizabeth,"  from  Rotterdam,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  In  1751  a  John  Peter  Heygies  sailed  on  the  ship  "Duke 
of  Bedford,"  carrying  160  passengers,  from  Rotterdam,  and  landed  at  Phil- 
adelphia. John  George  Heiges,  who  landed  at  Philadelphia,  shipped  Oct.  22, 
1754,  on  the  "Henrietta,"  from  Rotterdam,  whose  passengers  were  from 
Hesse  and  Wurtemberg.  George  Hikes,  great-grandfather  of  Morris  W. 
Hikes,  was  born  March  8,  1725,  supposedly  near  Wurtemberg,  in  the  south- 
em  part  of  Germany.  He  was  among  the  very  earliest  settlers  in  Adams 
county,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  engaged  in  farming,  passing  away 
Jan.  3,  1800,  and  is  buried  at  the  Bermudian  Church,  at  York  Springs,  Adams 
county.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and  spent  the  winter  of  1777-78 
with  Washington  at  Valley  Forge.  He  was  married  to  Margaret  Alben, 
daughter  of  Lorentz  Albert,  and  their  three  children  were  Charlotte  C,  Fred- 
erick (who  died  unmarried)  and  Henry.  The  daughter  was  married  about 
1794  to  John  Albert,  a  clockmaker,  and  about  1812  they  emigrated  to  Perry 
county.  Pa.,  where  they  settled  and  reared  their  large  family — thirteen  chil- 
dren. It  was  with  this  family  that  Singleton  Hikes,  father  of  Morris  W. 
Hikes,  spent  most  of  his  youth. 

Henry  Hikes,  grandfather  of  Morris  W.,  was  born  Feb.  14,  1790,  in 
Adams  county,  Pa.,  and  died  Nov.  10,  1871.  His  entire  life  was  passed  in  his 
native  county,  where  he  was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  extensive  landowner. 
He  married  Mary  Erb,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children, 
eight  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  now  deceased,  viz.:  Henry,  Moses,  Fred- 
erick, George,  John,  Singleton,  Howard,  Eli,  Christina,  Mary  and  Catherine. 

Singleton  Hikes  was  bom  in  May,  1823,  near  York  Springs.  When  a 
young  man,  in  1846,  he  moved  tp  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  from  Landis- 
burg,  Perry  county,  and  here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  long  life,  dying 
Aug.  26,  1904.  Though  he  did  some  farming  he  was  occupied  principally  at 
his  trade,  that  of  carpenter,  which  he  followed  until  his  death.  No  man  in 
the  community  was  more  sincerely  respected.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  and  a  devoted  religious  worker,  one  of  the  oldest 
Sunday  school  superintendents  in  this  locality,  and  always  used  his  influence 
for  the  promotion  of  good  works.  Having  taught  school  for  some  time 
in  his  earlier  life  (he  was  so  engaged  in  Pine  Grove  township),  he  was  well 
fitted  for  his  efforts  to  provide  proper  training  for  the  young,  both  as  a  Sun- 
day school  worker  and  a  member  of  the  township  board  of  school  directors. 
In  1849  he  married  Catherine  Harvey,  and  they  made  their  home  at  North 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  849 

Pine  Grove,  where  they  reared  their  family,  viz. :  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Jeremiah 
Klingler,  residing  at  Fredericksburg,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.;  John  C,  living  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Pine  Grove ;  Isaac,  deceased ;  Morris  W. ;  Howard  and 
Walter  H.,  both  deceased.  The  mother  was  bom  in  Reading,  Pa.,  and  died 
July  24,  1894. 

Isaac  Harvey,  Sr.,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Hikes,  was  of  English  ancestry. 
He  was  at  Reading,  Pa.,  among  the  early  settlers.  He  married  Margaret 
Ruppert,  and  they  had  a  large  family.  Isaac  Harvey,  Jr.,  son  of  Isaac,  was 
bom  Nov.  16,  1801,  at  Reading,  Pa.,  and  died  at  Pine  Grove  April  27,  1875. 
He  moved  to  Pine  Grove  in  its  earlier  days,  and  was  engaged  in  transport- 
ing coal  from  the  mines  for  the  Union  Canal  Co.  His  wife,  Mary  (Wunder), 
was  bom  May  29,  1803,  and  died  July  11,  1854.  They  had  a  numerous 
family:  Daniel,  Esther,  Henry,  George,  John,  Isaac,  Franklin  (a  resident  of 
Missouri),  Mary,  Sarah  (widow  of  John.  Fuller,  of  Boulder,  Colo.),  Annie, 
Tamson  (deceased),  Rebecca,  Catherine,  and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 

Morris  W.  Hikes  was  bom  Jan.  26,  1862,  in  Pine  Grove  township,  where 
he  spent  his  youth  and  received  the  principal  part  of  his  education,  attend- 
ing the  State  Normal  School  at  Millersville  for  a  short  time.  For  eight 
years  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  this  county,  in  Pine  Grove,  East  Union 
and  Porter  townships.  In  1890  he  commenced  the  business  he  has  since 
followed,  painting  and  paperhanging,  and  he  has  been  notably  successful  as 
an  interior  decorator,  in  which  line  he  commands  a  wide  patronage.  With 
skill  and  taste  developed  by  experience,  and  by  scmpulous  care  in  the  fulfill- 
ment of  contracts,  he  has  obtained  solid  standing  among  local  craftsmen. 

Mr.  Hikes  has  been  associated  with  the  administration  of  local  affairs  for 
over  twenty  years.  In  1893  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
held  the  office  continuously  until  1^14.  In  December,  1903,  he  received  a 
commission  as  notary  public,  and  still  acts  in  that  capacity.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Pine  Grove  Fire  Company,  founded  in  1894,  has  sehred 
as  president,  and  is  now  secretary  of  the  company;  he  is  a  member  of  the 
State  Firemen's  Association.  Mr.  Hikes  has  various  social  connections,  be- 
longing to  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  of  which  he  has  been  recording 
secretary  since  1898;  to  Tremont  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  has  been 
a  member  since  1893 ;  and  to  the  Pine  Grove  Blue  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which 
he  is  a  past  master. 

On  Dec.  25,  1884,  Mr.  Hikes  married  Kate  L.  Drine.  who  is  a  native  of 
Pine  Grove,  one  of  the  six  children  bom  to  Owen  and  Mary  (Mease)  Drine. 
Mr.  Drine  was  bom  in  1822  in  Orwigsburg,  and  coming  to  Pine  Grove  in 
1842  followed  the  shoe  business  here  for  many  years,  being  a  shoe  maker  and 
dealer.  He  was  a  devoted  member  of  St.  Paul's  United  Evangelical  Church 
and  highly  respected  as  a  model  Christian.  He  died  in  Pine  Grove  at  the 
home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Hikes,  Dec.  16,  1898.  His  wife,  who  died  Jan. 
31,  1872,  was  a  native  of  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  earliest  families  of  this  part  of  Pennsylvania,  being  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Mease.  The  Meases  became  established  at  an  early  day  in  the 
northem  jxirt  of  Lebanon  county,'  near  Lickdale.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drine  had 
the  following  family:  Sarah,  widow  of  E.  J.  Haak,  living  at  Pine  Grove; 
Emma,  wife  of  Franklin  Maurer,  of  Pine  Grove;  Kate  L.,  Mrs.  Morris  W. 
Hikes ;  London,  who  is  deceased ;  and  Louisa  and  Irene,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hikes :  Lloyd  D.,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  Albright  College,  is  now  engaged  in  the  laundry  business  at  Tre- 
Vol.n— 16 


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850  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

mont,  Schuylkill  county  (he  is  a  musician  of  considerable  local  reputati(Hi, 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Pine  Grove  band,  and  Tremont  band) ;  V.  La  Rue, 
Ina  B.  and  Mary  Catherine  are  at  home. 

J.  J.  McKNIGHT  has  for  several  years  been  in  charge  of  various  public 
utilities'  of  vital  importance  to  the  boroughs  of  Pottsville  and  Schuylkill 
Haven.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  the  former  borough  since  1902,  when  he 
came  to  take  the  position  of  foreman  of  the  Pottsville  Gas  Company.  He  has 
been  with  that  concern  ever  since,  and  meantime  has  become  general  man- 
aiger,  with  the  added  responsibility  of  manager  of  the  Schuylkill  Haven  Gas 
&  Water  Company.  Mr.  McKnight  is  a  native  of  Durham,  Bucks  Co.,"Pa., 
bom  Dec.  28,  1876,  son  of  Michael  McKnight,  also  a  native  of  Bucks  county. 
The  father  was  a  steel  worker,  employed  at  the  Durham  Steel  Mills.  He 
died  in  January,  191 3,  at  Easton,  Pennsylvania. 

J.  J.  McKnight  received  a  public  school  education  at  Durham  and  also 
attended  the  academy  at  Riegelsville,  in  his  native  county.  For  ten  years, 
from  1892,  he  was  employed  in  the  steel  mills  at  Bethlehem,  first  as  a  machin- 
ist, later  as  a  bricklayer,  and  then,  for  three  years,  in  charge  of  all  the 
steel  that  went  out  of  the  mill,  holding  the  position  of  annealer.  For  a  year 
after  leaving  the  mills  he  was  with  the  Bethlehem  South  Gas  &  Water  Com- 
pany as  a  gas  fitter.  Then  in  October,  1902,  he  came  to  Pottsville  to  take 
the  position  of  foreman  and  inspector  of  the  gas  plant,  acting  in  that  capac- 
itor lor  three  years,  since  when  he  has  been  general  manager  of  the  Potts- 
ville Gas  Company,  the  Schuylkill  Haven  Gas  &  Water  Company  and  the 
Schuylkill  County  Light  &  Fuel  Company.  Mr.  McKnight  is  thoroughly 
familiar  with  the  operation  of  these  plants  according  to  up-to-date  ideas, 
and  he  is  trusted  and  respected  for  his  intelligence  and  reliability. 

The  Pottsville  Gas  Company  was  incorporated  Feb.  25,  1850,  by  Samuel 
Sillyman,  John  H.  Adams,  Joseph  S.  Silver,  James  Hoy,  Simon  Cameron, 
Lewis  Audenried,  Charles  W.  Clemens,  Joseph  W.  Cape,  Alexander  Small, 
Adam  Glassbrenner,  Joseph  C.  Potts,  John  P.  Kennedy,  Francis  W.  Hughes 
and  Eli  Morris.  The  plant  is  now  owned  by  C.  P.  King  and  F.  H.  Treat, 
who  purchased  it  in  1902.  Mr.  Treat  is  president  of  the  company,  and  W. 
H.  Lawton,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  office  is  at  No.  no  South  Centre 
street,  Pottsville,  and  the  plant  on  Centre  and  Coal  streets.  About  three 
thousand  meters  have  been  installed  and  the  capacity  is  fifty  million  cubic 
feet,  Schuylkill  Haven  as  well  as  Pottsville  being  supplied  from  this  point. 
The  equipment  is  entirely  modem. 

Mr.  McKnight  married  Laura  Louise  Meiswinkel,  daughter  of  Frederick 
Meiswinkel,  of  Pottsville.  They  have  had  two  children  bom  to  them,  Laura 
Louise  and  Mildred  Josephine.  Mr.  McKnight  is  a  Catholic  in  religious 
faith,  belonging  to  St.  Patrick's  Church,  at  Pottsville,  and  he  also  holds  mem- 
bership in  Pottsville  Lodge,  No.  207,  B.  P.  O.  Elks ;  in  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus;  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

SAMUEL  M.  FESIG,  of  Tower  City,  justice  of  the  peace,  one  of  the 
well  known  men  of  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  in  Pine  Grove  township 
March  16,  i860,  a  son  of  John  and  Angeline  (Schwartz)  Fesig.  Jolm  Fesig 
carried  on  the  hotel  business  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  in  1874  located  at 
Tower  City,  where  he  conducted  a  small  store.    His  death  occurred  in  1883, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  851 

and  he  is  buried  at  Tower  City.  His  children  were :  Emma,  Elizabeth,  John 
(deceased),  Samuel  M.,  William  and  Edward. 

While  still  a  lad. Samuel  M.  Fesig  worked  in  the  mines  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, first  at  day  work,  and  then  as  door  tender.  In  1889  he  began  mining, 
and  so  continued  until  1913,  at  the  West  Brookside  colliery.  In  the  fall  of 
1913  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  at  Tower  City,  and  has  been  serving 
as  such  to  the  present  time.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  council  (three 
years)  and  borough  clerk  (two  years),  and  upon  a  number  of  occasions  has 
been  sent  as  delegate  to  county  conventions.  In  addition  to  other  interests, 
Mr.  Fesig  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  charter  members  of  the  Moun- 
taineer Hose  Company  of  Tower  City.  He  gives  to  all  his  duties  a  careful, 
conscientious  attention  that  displays  the  character  of  the  man  and  his  realiza- 
tion of  the  responsibilities  which  rest  Hipon  him. 

Mr.  Fesig  was  married  to  Alice  Shower  and  their  nine  children  have 
been:  John,  who  married  Merda  Brown;  Charles,  who  is  deceased;  Henry; 
Edna;  Bella;  Rebecca;  Millie,  who  married  Solomon  Kline;  Martha;  and 
George.  Not  only  is  Mr.  Fesig  prominent  in  local  politics,  but  he  takes  an 
intelligent  interest  in  the  welfare  of  Local  Union  No.  1261,  U.  M.  W.  of  A., 
of  which  he  is  a  member,  and  he  represented  it  at  tiarrisburg.  He  also 
belongs  to  Camp  No.  52,  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America,  and  in  its  behalf 
has  attended  conventions  at  Williamsport  and  Uniontown,  Pa. ;  he  holds  mem- 
bership in  Washington  Commandery.  No.  22.  When  it  is  remembered  that 
Mr.  Fesig  has  risen  to  his  present  position  from  very  humble  beginnings, 
and  all  through  his  own  efforts,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  he  is  a  man  of  much 
more  than  ordinary  ability  who  has  known  how  to  make  excellent  use  of 
opportunities  as  they  presented  themselves. 

LOUIS  C.  BOLICH  has  been  a  resident  of  Ashland  practically  all  his 
life,  having  been  bom  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county.  May  22,  1854,  and 
brought  hither  in  his  youth  by  his  parents,  Albert  and  Augusta  (Clouse) 
BoUch. 

Albert  BoHch  was  a  native  of  Germany,  bom  in  Saxony.  His  parents 
died  in  that  country,  and  he  continued  to  live  there  until  1852,  following  his 
marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bolich  settled  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
and  he  engaged  in  mine  work,  also  following  his  trade,  that  of  tinsmith, 
which  he  learned  in  Germany.  In  1855  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Ashland, 
where  he  engaged  in  business,  continuing  it  until,  because  of  his  father's 
death,  he  retumed  to  Germany,  where  he  settled  up  the  estate.  Coming 
back  to  America,  he  settled  at  Sayre,  in  Bradford  county.  Pa.,  and  again  went 
into  business,  remaining  at  that  place  until  his  death,  in  1904.  His  wife  was 
like  himself  a  native  of  Germany.  They  became  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
of  whom  Louis  C.  is  the  eldest;  Clara  is  the  wife  of  Ernest  Thompson,  of 
Sayr^ ;  Alfred  is  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  at  that  place,  where  he  is 
a  leading  merchant;  Herman  L.,  also  of  Sayre,  is  in  partnership  with  his 
brother  Alfred;  Louisa  is  next  in  the  family;  Rosie  and  Minnie  are  deceased. 
.Louis  C.  Bolich  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  at  Ashland. 
When  only  a  boy  he  entered  his  father's  employ,  learning  the  trade  of  tin- 
smith, and  he  continued  with  him  until  the  father  went  to  Europe,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  livery  business  on  his  own  account.  This  was  in  1876,  and 
he  conducted  the  business  for  over  thirty-five  years,  eventually  tuming  it 
over  to  his  son  Herman,  who  had  been  assisting  him  for  some  time.    Mr. 


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852  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Bolich  always  kept  an  excellent  stock  of  horses  and  vehicles,  and  by  obliging 
attention  to  the  wants  of  his  customers  he  succeeded  in  establishing  a  profit- 
able trade.     He  has  turned  the  business  over  entirely  to  his  son  Herman. 

On  June  12,  1881,  Mr.  Bolich  was  married  to  Catherine  Brixius,  who 
was  born  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Susanna 
(Scholles)  Brixius,  both  natives  of  Germany  (the  father  bom  at  Better), 
where  they  were  reared  and  married.  Coming  to  America  in  ^1842,  they  first 
located  near  Williamsport,  Pa.,  later  settling  at  Minersville,  this  county,  in 
1850.  Here  they  made  a  permanent  home,  Mr.  Brixius  following  the  trade 
of  stonemason  and  builder  to  the  end  of  his  life.  He  died  Oct.  23,  1892,  and 
his  widow  on  April  18,  1906.  They  had  the  following  children:  Theodore, 
the  eldest,  is  deceased;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Louis  C.  Bolich;  Christine 
is  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Madlinger,  of  Mahanoy  City,  Pa.;  Anna  M.  is  the  wife 
of  Joseph  O^Neill,  of  Minersville,  this  county;  John  lives  at  Minersville; 
Theodore  (2)   is  also  a  resident  of  that  place. 

Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  C.  Bolich :  ( i )  Mary 
A.  died  April  27,  1885.  (2)  Harry  P.,  bom  March  21,  1886,  received  his 
early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Ashland,  and  later  entered  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  tx)ok  a  course  in  veterinary  surgery,  gradu- 
ating in  1908.  He  began  practice  at  Ashland,  where  he  still  maintains  an 
office,  also  practicing  at  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.,  where  he  makes  his  home.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  of  St.  Mauritius  Church  of  Ash- 
land. (3)  J.  Louis,  bom  May  18,  1887,  had  public  school  advantages  at  Ash- 
land, and  has  since  taken  a  course  at  the  Eckels  School  of  Embalming,  Phil- 
adelphia, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1910.  He  is  now  located  at  South 
Bethlehem,  Pa.    He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus. 

(4)  Herman  A.  Bolich,  bom  Aug.  18,  1889,  at  Ashland,  was  reared  and 
educated  there,  and  is  now  one  of  the  prosperous  young  business  men  of 
the  place.  He  is  carrying  on  the  livery  and  transfer  trade  established  by 
his  father,  and  has  already  proved  himself  a  trustworthy  and  reliable  busi- 
ness man,  thoroughly  progressive  in  the  manner  in  which  he  has  conducted 
the  stables  since  they  came  into  his  hands.  He  is  a  young  man  of  com- 
mendable habits  and  good  character,  a  member  of  Sarto  Council,  Knights  of 
Columbus,  and  of  St.  Mauritius  Catholic  Church,  at  Ashland. 

JOHN  M.  COOMBE,  notary  public,  insurance  and  real  estate,  Mahanoy 
City,  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania. 

WILLIAM  H.  RYLAND,  of  Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  county,  bears 
a  name  which  has  been  associated  with  honorable  purpose  and  a  high  order 
of  citizenship  since  his  grandparents  settled  there  in  1838.  His  father, 
Albanus  S.  Riland,  has  been  living  there  continuously  since,  and  now  over 
ninety  years  old,  with  faculties  keen  and  alert,  has  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
his  descendants  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  benefits  for  which  he  labored  so 
earnestly  during  his  more  active  days.  Though  a  man  of  broad  sympathies 
and  ready  with  encouragement  for  every  good  movement,  his  deepest  interest 
was  always  along  the  line  of  religious  work,  and  his  best  efforts  were  given 
to  the  strengthening  of  the  churches  and  their  allied  enterprises,  upon  which 
he  has  always  felt  that  the  tme  advancement  of  humanity  depends. 

This  name  was  originally  spelled  Riland,  William  H.  being  the  first 
to  adopt  the  form  Ryland.    The  family  has  been  in  Pennsylvania  since  pre- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  853 

Revolutionary  days.  Tradition  has  it  that  Lord  Riland,  of  London,  England, 
had  three  sons  who  came  to  America,  one  settling  in  New  Jersey,  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  the  other  it  is  supposed  in  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  likely  the  founder 
of  the  branch  of  the  family  to  which  William  H.  Ryland  belongs.  Andrew 
Riland,  the  earliest  ancestor  of  his  line  of  whom  we  have  any  positive  knowl- 
edge, was  a  miller,  operating  a  mill  on  the  Tulpehocken  creek,  in  Berks  county. 
Pa.  Thence  he  removed  to  Whitemarsh,  then  in  Philadelphia  (now  Mont- 
gomery) county,  near  Chestnut  Hill,  later  purchasing  a  farm  in  the  upper 
end  of  Philadelphia  county,  near  the  Montgomery  county  line.  He  died  there, 
and  he  and  his  wife  Phoebe  (Burkheart)  are  buried  in  the  Barren  Hill  ceme- 
tery in  Montgomery  county. 

Samuel  B.  Riland,  son  of  Andrew  and  Phoebe  Riland,  was  bom  in  Berks 
county  in  1795.  He  and  his  brother  William  served  as  soldiers  in  the  war  of 
1812.  Though  principally  engaged  in  farming,  he  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and 
made  many  flour  barrels  for  the  millers  in  and  about  Philadelphia.  For  some 
years  he  farmed  in  Montgomery  county,  being  located  at  Norristown,  in  1838 
removing  to  Schuylkill  county  and  settling  in  Wayne  township,  where  he 
bought  the  farm  upon  which  he  resided  thereafter  to  the  close  of  his  long 
life.  His  death  occurred  at  the  home  of  Albanus  S.  Riland,  who  had  always 
been  a  devoted,  affectionate  son,  the  father  passing  away  in  his  arms  Jan.  24^ 
1877,  aged  eighty-one  years,  ten  months,  nine  days.  His  religious  connec- 
tion was  with  the  Evangelical  Church.  Samuel  B.  Riland  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  Sarah  Schoch,  who  was  bom  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  eighteenth  century  at  what  was  then  called  Robinhood,  Philadelphia 
county,  now  included  in  Philadelphia,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rachel  (Edle- 
man)  Schoch.  The  latter  died  at  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety-nine  years, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Barren  Hill  cemetery.  Her  father  was  living  in  German- 
"town  when  the  Revolutionary  battle  was  fought  at  that  place,  and  the  family 
took  refuge  in  the  cellar,  placing  bedding  at  the  windows  as  a  protection 
against  the  British  bullets.  After  the  battle  the  British  looted  the  house, 
carrying  off  everything  they  wanted,  even  the  clothing  and  the  bedticks, 
which  they  first  ripped  open  and  emptied  of  straw.  Mrs.  Sarah  (Schoch) 
Riland  died  Sept.  15,  1825,  the  mother  of  two  children,  Albanus  S.  and 
Arabella;  the  daughter  married  Charles  Krecker,  of  Friedensburg,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  both  are  now  deceased.  For  his  second  wife  Samuel  B. 
Riland  married  Elizabeth  MuUin,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  namely:  Samuel  B.,  Jr.;  Peter;  Charles;  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried Thomas  Morgan,  of  Montgomery  county,  later  of  Schuylkill  county; 
Catherine,  who  married  Daniel  Kemmerling,  of  Schuylkill  Haven ;  and  Sarah, 
who  married  Daniel  Snyder,  of  Schuylkill  county. 

Albanus  S.  Riland  was  bom  Dec.  22,  1824,  at  Chestnut  Hill,  Philadelphia, 
and  received  common  school  advantages  at  the  various  localities  in  eastem 
Pennsylvania  where  the  family  lived.  Though  the  scope  of  the  early  schools 
was  limited  he  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities,  and  has  always  been  a 
reader,  becoming  well  informed  by  his  own  efforts.  His  mind  is  still  active, 
and  he  takes  great  pleasure  in  keeping  in  touch  with  current  events,  of  national 
as  well  as  local  interest.  Besides  farming  during  his  active  years  he  acted 
as  traveling  salesman  for  a  time  for  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow  Company,  in 
New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Virginia,  Delaware  and  eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  by 
application  and  good  judgment  managed  his  business  affairs  very  successfully. 
On  May  16,  1850,  Mr.  Riland  married  Anna  Nunemaker,  daughter  of  John 


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854  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Nunemaker,  of  Wayne  township,  and  granddaughter  of  Jacob  Nunemaker, 
who  came  to  this  country  from  Germany;  her  maternal  grandfather,  Peter 
Smith,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riland  were 
bom  four  children,  three  sons  and  one  daughter:  John  N.,  Daniel  S.  (de- 
ceased), William  H.  and  Mary  E.  (deceased). 

Mr.  Riland  began  attending  Sunday  school  in  1832,  and  when  a  young 
man  became  a  Sunday  school  teacher.  In  1852  he  was  elected  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school  of  the  Friedensburg  Church,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
for  fifty-six  consecutive  years.  The  first  Sunday  school  he  organized  was 
called  together  in  an  old  springhouse.  In  1913,  at  the  jubilee  convention  held 
in  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Riland  was  awarded  a  medal  as  the  oldest  Sunday 
school  worker  in  the  State.  His  membership  with  the  Friedensburg  Church 
dates  back  to  1848.  When  .the  United  Brethren  and  Evangelical  congr^ations 
of  Friedensburg  I  erected  the  English  Protestant  Union  Church  in  1859  Mr. 
Riland  assisted  faithfully  in  the  work  as  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee, and  he  has  been  one  of  the  church  trustees  for  a  nimiber  of  years. 
He  covered  a  large  field  in  soliciting  funds  for  the  Lebanon  Valley  College, 
and  served  as  a  trustee  of  that  institution  for  some'  twenty  years. 

William  H.  Ryland,  son  of  Albanus  S.  Riland,  was  bom  in  October,  1857, 
and  was  given  excellent  educational  advantages,  taking  a  course  in  the  Lebanon 
Valley  College.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  -years  he  settled  on  the  farm  in 
Wayne  township  where  he  has  since  made  his  home,  and  all  his  business  inter- 
ests have  centered  in  agricultural  work  and  allied  lines.  Besides  operating 
his  land  he  has  been  the  local  representative  of  several  firms  dealing  in  agri- 
cultural implements  and  fertilizers.  Like  his  father  he  is  a  devoted  church 
worker,  a  valued  member  and  official  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  and 
active  in  the  Sunday  school.  Politically  a  Republican,  he  has  been  identified 
with  party  work  to  a  considerable  extent,  acting  as  delegate  to  several  con- 
ventions, and  socially  he  belongs  to  Schuylkill  Haven  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the 
Knights  of  Malta  and  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America. 

On  Nov.  22,  1878,  Mr.  Ryland  married  Emma  Straub,  who  was  bom  Sept. 
5,  1856,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Steib)  Straub,  of  Wayne  township, 
natives  of  Germany.  Mrs.  Ryland  died  Oct.  24,  1914,  the  mother  of  six 
children:  (i)  Albanus  S.,  born  Aug.  18,  1880,  graduated  from  the  Millers- 
ville  State  Normal  School  and  taught  during  his  early  manhood,  being  engaged 
for  a  time  in  the  high  school  at  Shoemakersville.  He  also  took  a  course  at 
the  Lebanon  Valley  College,  and  prepared  for  the  medical  profession  at  the 
Medico-Chirurgical  School  of  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  was  graduated. 
After  a  year's  experience  as  interne  at  the  Wilkes-Barre  hospital  he  located  at 
Allentown,  Pa.,  where  he  practiced  one  year,  and  he  has  since  been  in  medical 
and  surgical  practice  at  Valley  View,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  has  a  wide 
circle  of  patrons  and  is  held  in  great  esteem  personally.  He  is  a  Mason,  and 
also  belongs  to  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  Dr.  Ryland  married  Katherine  Bittle. 
(2)  John  G.,  bom  Dec.  20,  1881,  also  graduated  from  the  Millersville  Normal 
School,  taught  for  a  time  at  Auburn,  Schuylkill  county,  and  is  now  engaged 
as  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow  Company.  He  is  a 
Mason  fraternally.  His  "wife,  Helen  (Mengle),  died  leaving  one  child,  Helen 
E.  (3)  Harry  E.,  bom  May  5,  1883,  worked  at  one  time  ui  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
traveled  for  some  years,  and  is  now  farming  in  Wayne  township.  He  mar- 
ried Laura  Zettlemoyer,  and  they  have  one  child,  Glenn  A.  Mr.  Ryland 
belongs  to  the  F.  &  A.  M.  and  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.     (4)  Robert  S.,  bom  Oct.  5, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  865 

1885,  is  a  machinist  by  calling,  was  formerly  employed  at  Reading,  Pa.,  and 
now  lives  at  home.  He  is  a  member  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  (5)  An^a  M., 
born  May  14,  1889,  is  at  home.  (6)  Dora  H.,  bom  April  20,  1893,  is  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Harrison  Heffner,  of  Pequea,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  pastor  of  the 
Evangelical  Church. 

THOMAS  J.  CUMMINGS  has  been  one  of  the  controlling  spirits  in  the 
government  of  Mount  Carbon  borough  during  the  most  progressive  stage  of 
its  existence.  As  borough  auditor  since  1903  he  has  been  taking  a  direct  part 
in  the  management  of  public  affairs,  and  his  work  has  extended  into  other 
departments  also.  His  efforts  have  been  employed  principally  in  obtaining 
for  his  borough  the  benefits  of  modem  methods.  Mr.  Cummings  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  a  family  which  has  long  been  settled  in  Schuylkill  coimty. 

The  earliest  known  ancestors  of  the  Cummings  family  were  natives  of 
Scotland,  and  the  forefather  of  the  branch  here  under  consideration  went 
across  and  settled  in  Ireland.  Pierce  Cummings,  father  of  Thomas  J.  Cum- 
mings, was  bom  in  Ireland  and  spent  his  early  life  in  that  country.  Coming 
to  -/^erica  in'  1844,  he  settled  at  Mount  Carbon,  in  North  Manheim  township, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  1845  began  railroad  work  with  the  Reading  Com- 
pany, in  whose  employ  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  April, 
1880.  He  is  buried  at  Pottsville.  Mr.  Ciunmings  was  not  only  a  reliable  and 
thrifty  workman,  but  he  became  well  known  to  hisf  fellow  citizens  in  North 
Manheim  township  for  his  intelligent  stand  on  public  questions,  and  he 
gave  efficient  service  in  the  positions  of  school  director  and  tax  collector.  In 
1864,  when  the  borough  of  Mount  Carbon  was  erected,  he  was  one  of  the 
organizers.  His  wife,  Mary  (Dobbins),  like  himself  a  native  of  Ireland, 
died  Nov.  28,  19 10,  and  is  also  buried  at  Pottsville.  They  had  a  large  family, 
namely:  James,  John,  Nicholas,  Edward,  Bridget  (who  has  a  grocery  and 
notion  store  at  Mount  Carbon),  Thomas  J.,  Edmund,  George,  Elizabeth,  Cath- 
erine, Mary,  Margaret,  Anna  and  Matthew. 

Thomas  J.  Cummings  was  bom  in  1859  near  Mount  Carbon  in  North 
Manheim  township,  and  there  received  a  public  school  education.  He  was 
but  ten  years  old  when  he  commenced  work,  boating  on  the  canal,  being  so 
employed  from  1869  until  December,  1880,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of 
th^  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  as  brakeman.  However,  he 
soon  retumed  to  his  old  occupation,  in  1881  becoming  a  boatman  on  Long 
Island  sound,  where  he  was  employed  for  over  fifteen  years.  He  also  spent 
three  years  at  Philadelphia,  employed  in  the  Baldwin  locomotive  shops,  before 
returning  to  Schuylkill  county,  in  1901,  in  which  year  he  located  at  Potts- 
ville. He  has  since  been  employed  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  road,  being 
now  engaged  as  a  conductor  and  flagman. 

Mr.  Cummings  makes  his  home  at  Mount  Carbon,  and  like  his  father 
has  been  one  of  the  most  favorably  known  citizens  of  the  community.  For 
several  years  he  was  a  zealous  member  of  the  school  board,  and  since  1903 
he  has  held  the  position  of  auditor  of  the  borough.  At  present  he  is  vice 
president  of  the  Mount  Carbon  Fire  Company,  which  he  has  also  served  as 
trustee,  having  taken  an  active  part  in  the  direction  of  its  affairs  ever  since 
it  was  organized  in  1909.  The  company  has  every  reason  to  be  proud  of  its 
up-to-date  equipment,  and  Mr.  Cummings  and  his  fellow  members  have  spared 
neither  time  nor  pains  to  bring  the  company  up  to  a  high  standard  of  efficiency. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Foresters  and  of  the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors. 


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856  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr.  Cummings  married  Luticia  Gelespie,  who  died  in  October,  1901,  and 
is  buried  at  Pottsville.  The  only  child  of  this  union,  Anna,  is  unmarried 
and  lives  at  home  with  her  father. 

JAMES  MONROE  HAND  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  borough  of 
Tremont,  Schuylkill  county,  and  has  long  been  employed  at  the  Lincoln  col- 
liery. He  has  filled  a  useful  place  in  the  administration  of  the  local  govern- 
ment, having  served  faithfully  in  important  positions  of  trust,  and  his  honor- 
able and  intelligent  discharge  of  every  duty  has  recommended  him  to  the 
favor  and  confidence  of  his  associates  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 

^  The  Hand  family  has  been  in  Pennsylvania  for  several  generations, 
founded  here  by  John  Hand,  an  Orangeman  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  who 
came  to  America  with  his  brother  William.  The  latter^settled  in  New  Jersey, 
John  Hand  coming  to  this  State,  where  he  made  a  settlement  in  the  Lykens 
valley,  taking  up  a  farm.  He  lived  and  died  there.  His  children  were :  Wil- 
liam, Abraham,  John,  and  two  daughters. 

William  Hand,  son  of  John,  above,  also  followed  farming  in  the  Lykens 
valley,  later  removing  to  Clearfield  county,  Pa.,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
and  engaged  in  the  timber  business  as  well  as  agriculture.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-eight  years,  and  is  buried  there.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Zimmerman,  and  their  children  were:  John,  William,  Elias,  Henry,  Joseph, 
George,  James,  Kate  (Mrs.  Daubert),  Mrs.  Young,  and  a  daughter  who  died 
in  Pittsburgh. 

John  Hand,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  what  was  then  Upper  Mahan- 
tongo  (now  Hegins)  township,  on  the  old  John  Reed  farm  about  three  quar- 
ters of  a  mile  northeast  of  Hegins.  He  learned  shoemaking,  but  did  not 
follow  the  trade  long.  Later  he  learned  stonemasonry,  whidi  he  also  fol- 
lowed but  a  short  time,  eventually  going  to  work  at  the  mines,  where  he  was 
engaged  for  about  forty-five  years.  In  1844  he  settled  at  Tremont,  where  he 
was  one  of  the  pioneers,  and  he  continued  to  make  his  home  there  until  his 
death,  Feb.  18,  1902,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  He  is  buried  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  cemetery  at  Tremont.  Five  children  were  bom  to  his 
marriage  with  Elizabeth  Shuckert,  daughter  of  Henry  Shuckert:  Daniel, 
James  Monroe,  William  F.,  Mary  and  Margaret. 

James  Monroe  Hand  was  bom  at  Tremont  in  1849,  ^^^  had  rather 
limited  advantages,  being  only  a  young  boy  when  he  began  to  pick  slate 
at  the  mines.  With  the  exception  of  about  eighteen  months  during  which  he 
was  employed  in  a  foundry  at  Tremont  he  has  been  engaged  at  the  mines 
continuously  since,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  reliable  hands  at  the  Lincoln 
colliery.  He  has  many  interesting  stories  of  the  early  days  at  Tremont,  and 
he  has  taken  a  good  citizen's  part  in  assisting  in  the  improvement  of  condi- 
tions in  the  town.  For  about  seventeen  years  he  served  as_a  member  of  the 
town  council,  and  he  was  the  second  health  officer  of  the  borough,  filling  that 
office  for  three  years.  Socially  he  affiliates  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America. 

Mr.  Hand  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Carl,  daughter  of  Elias 
Carl,  and  the  following  children  have  been  bom  to  them :  Amelia ;  Susanna ; 
John  F.,  who  is  inside  foreman  at  the  Lincoln  colliery ;  William  Elias,  a  con- 
tracting miner  at  the  Goodspring  colliery,  living  at  home  with  his  parents; 
Eleanor,  twin  of  William  E.,  deceased  in  infancy;  and  James  Monroe,  Jr., 
contracting  miner  at  the  Lincoln  colliery,  who  makes  his  home  at  Tremont. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  857 

JOHN  P.  MAHER,  late  of  Shenandoah,  was  for  many  years  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  that  place,  where  he  made  his  home  for  over  forty  years. 
By  diligent  attention  to  business  he  gained  a  comfortable  competence,  and  in 
its  acquisition  dealt  so  honorably  with  everyone  that  he  held  the  respect  of 
all  his  associates.  His  widow  and  several  children  are  still  living  in  the  bor- 
ough and  among  its  most  esteemed  residents.  ^ 

Mr.  Maher  was  of  Irish  birth  and  extraction,  a  son  of  Philip  Maher  and 
a  grandson  of  John  Maher,  the  latter  an  innkeeper  in  Tipperary,  Ireland, 
where  he  and  his  wife  are  buried.  In  religion  they  were  Roman  Catholics. 
Their  children  were:  Philip,  John,  Michael,  Patrick,  William,  Dr.  James 
(who  lived  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.),  Mary  (who  married  a  Mr.  Kingsley),  Mar- 
garet (a  school  teacher)  and  Catherine. 

Philip  Maher  was  bom  in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  and  lived  to  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  He  learned  shoemaking  and  followed  the  trade 
while  living  in  his  native  country,  whence  he  removed  in  1851  to  Coniston, 
England,  at  which  place  he  died.  For  services  rendered  the  crown  he  was 
appointed  royal  mail  carrier.  He  and  his  wife  Alice  (Dundon),^  who  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  are  buried  at  Coni3ton.  They  were  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church.  To  them  were  bom  the  following  children :  Patrick 
came  to  America  and  was  killed  in  1873  at  Jackson  Patch,  Schuylkill  county ; 
Johp  P.  was  next  in  the  family;  Andrew  married  and  died  in  England,  leav- 
ing four  children,  Alice,  Alfonso,  David  and  another ;  Michael  died  in  Shenan- 
doah, unmarried;  Ellen  married  John  Murphy,  who  died  in  England,  and  she 
died  in  New  York  (she  is  buried  at  Shenandoah).  The, mother  was  bom  in 
County  Tipperary,  daughter  of  John  Dundon. 

John  P.  Maher  was  bom  March  25,  1845,  in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland, 
and  grew  up  in  that  country,  receiving  common  school  advantages.  He  was  a 
rocksman  in  the  mines  and  also  worked  in  the  copper  mines  in  England, 
whither  he  had  moved  with  his  parents  when  six  years  old.  Coming  to  this 
country  about  1868,  he'  landed  at  New  York,  and  for  a  few  years  remained  in 
the  East,  at  various  locations.  He  spent  some  time  in  Massachusetts,  and 
was  later  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  following  his  trade.  In  the  year  1871  he  came  to 
Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life.  Here, 
too,  he  was  engaged  at  mining,  working  as  a  miner  in  the  Turkey  Run  colliery 
for  Charles  Atkins,  also  at  Davis's  shaft,  sinking  the  first  shaft  at  that  point, 
and  elsewhere.  His  careful  operations  soon  brought  him  a  reputation  as  a 
reliable  mine  contractor,  and  he  was  so  occupied  successfully  with  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company  until  his  retirement  in  1905,  driving 
gangways,  breasts,  etc.;  for  many  years  he  was  at  the  Kohinoor  colliery. 
From  March,  1883,  until  April,  1900,  he  conducted  the  "National  Hotel"  at 
Shenandoah,  and  retained  ownership  of  the  property  after  quitting  the  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Maher  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  his  business  and  conscientious 
in  the  performance  of  any  work  he  undertook,  and  his  intelligence  and  good 
management  won  him  the  prosperity  he  well  deserved.  He  took  a  keen  inter- 
est in  local  politics  as  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party  and  served  as  judge 
of  election.  In  religion  he  adhered  to  the  faith  of  his  ancestors,  belonging  to 
the  Church  of  the  Annunciation  at  Shenandoah,  as  well  as  to  St.  Patrick's 
Society.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Columbia  Fire  Company.  He  died 
at  Shenandoah  Dec.  2,  1912,  and  is  buried  at  that  place. 

In  1872  Mr.  Maher  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Delaney,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  by  Father  O'Reilly,  who  christened  all  their  children,  gave  them 


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858  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

first  communion,  confirmed  and  married  them,  and  christened  most  of  the 
grandchildren.  We  have  the  following  record  of  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Maher:  Philip  J.,  bom  Jan.  5,  1873,  is  now  engaged  as  a  printer  on  the 
Anthracite  Labor  News,  at  Shenandoah,  where  he  is  a  well  known  citizen ;  he 
married  Agnes  McManus,  and  they  have  children,  Mary,  John,  Catherine, 
Alice,  Tessie  and  Agnes.  Martin  F.,  bom  Nov.  13,  1874,  a  hotel  proprietor  in 
Shenandoah,  was  auditor  of  the  Third  ward  for  four  years ;  he  married  Cath- 
erine McDermott,  and  their  children  are  Mary,  Catherine,  John,  Michael, 
Martin,  Philip  and  Marraret.  Bridget  Florence  Maher,  bom  Nov.  7,  1876,  is 
the  wife  of  Andrew  J.  Flynn,  and  lives  in  New  York  City,  where  he  is  em- 
ployed as  a  supervisor  on  the  Third  avenuje  elevated  road ;  their  children  are 
{ohn,  Rosemary,  Joseph,  Francis,  Thomas,  James  and  Mary.  Patrick  J.,  bom 
)ec.  4,  1877,  is  proprietor  and  owner  of  Maher's  Hall,  Shenandoah,  the  larg- 
est dancing  hall  in  Schuylkill  county;  he  married  Annie  Quinn,  who  di^ 
June  21,  1914,  and  has  two  children,  Thomas  and  John.  Alice  Claire,  bom 
Sept.  18,  1884,  married  Edward  J.  Tobin,  of  New  York  City,  by  whom  she  had 
one  child,  James;  after  his  death  she  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Ploppert,  who 
is  employed  as  a  bar  clerk,  and  they  have  two  children,  John  and  Joseph. 
John  Maher,  bom  July  10,  1879,  died  in  August,  1880.  Malachi,  bom  March 
17,  1882,  died  July  4,  1882.  Mary,  bom  Sept.  28,  1893,  is  the  wife  of  Harry 
Whittaker,  and  has  one  child,  Mary.  All  of  this  family  were  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Shenandoah. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  (Delaney)  Maher,  who  continues  to  make  her  home  in  the 
old  family  residence  at  No.  228  South  Main  street,  Shenandoah,  was  bom  Oct. 
I,  1854,  at  Valley  Fumace,  near  New  Philadelphia,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was 
seven  years  old  when  the  family  moved  to  Shenandoah.  She  first  attended 
the  Dunn's  Hill  school,  where  she  had  for  teacher  Richard  Wright,  who  is 
now  a  practicing  physician  in  Shamokin,  Pa. ;  at  Shenandoah  her  teachers  were 
Miss  Patrick  and  Miss  McCarty.  She  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage. 
Mrs.  Maher  has  long  been  one  of  the  active  supporters  of  the  Church  of  the 
Annunciation,  belonging  to  the  Sodality  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  and  to 
the  Sacred  Heart  Society;  she  was  formerly  a  leading  worker  in  the  ladies' 
auxiliary  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibemians. 

Martin  Delaney,  father  of  Mrs.  Maher,  was  bom  in  Queen's  County,  Ire- 
land, son  of  Lawrence  (Lag.)  Delaney,  who  farmed  in  that  county  and  also 
had  a  coal  mine  in  operation  on  his  farm.  He  married  Mary  Brennan,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Martin;  Matthew,  who 
died  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Margaret,  who  married  Dennis  Brennan  (both 
now  deceased;  she  is  buried  in  Chicago,  111.)  ;  Patrick,  who  was  killed  while 
serving  in  the  Civil  war:  and  Mary,  wife  of  John  D.  LeGrange,  both  deceased. 
The  parents  were  Catholics  in  religious  faith.  The  father  is  buried  in  Queen's 
County,  Ireland ;  the  mother  was  buried  at  sea,  having  died  on  her  way  to  this 
country. 

Martin  Delaney  came  to  America  when  eighteen  years  old  and  settled  in 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  first  at  New  Philadelphia  (Valley  Furnace)  and  later 
at  Shenandoah.  By  occupation  he  was  a  miner,  and  one  of  the  first  employees 
of  Miller  &  Rhoads.  When  he  gave  up  that  work  he  entered  the  under- 
taker and  livery  business  and  also  had  a  furniture  store,  in  ^time  taking  his 
son  Martin  into  partnership  under  the  firm  name  of  Delaney  &  Son.  He 
took  a  trip  back  to  Ireland  some  time  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1884  at  Shenandoah,  when  he  was  sixty-five  years  of  age.     He  and  his  wife 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA    ~  859 

Bridget  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation  at 
Shenandoah.  Mr.  Delaney  was  a  Democrat  and  took  considerable  interest 
in  politics  and  other  public  affairs,  and  he  was  elected  to  several  local  offices 
which  he  filled  very  creditably,  having  been  school  director,  councilman  and 
constable. 

At  Port  Carbony  this  county,  Mr.  Delaney  was  married,  by  Father  McGorey, 
to  Mrs.  Bridget  (Higgins)  Watson,  who  was  bom  in  County  Roscommon, 
Ireland,  came  to  America  in  the  year  1844,  and  died  at  Shenandoah  in 
March,  1905,  at  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety-four  years.  By  her  first  hus- 
band, Michael  Watson,  she  had  two  children:  Malachi,  who  married  Nancy 
Monahan  and  (second)  Anne  Costello  (he  and  both  his  wives  are  deceased)  ; 
and  James,  who  was  killed  on  the  railroad  at  Glen  Carbon  and  is  buried  at 
Minersville,  this  county.     Mr.  Watson  is  buried  at  Shenandoah. 

Fiye  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Delaney,  viz.:  Patrick,  a  tin- 
smith,* now  living  retired,  married  Bridget  Boner ;  Martin,  who  married  Mar- 
garet Cavanaugh,  lives  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Mary  Ann  is  Mrs.  John  P. 
Maher;  Bridget  is  the  wife  of  Michael  Doyle,  proprietor  of  the  Anthracite 
Labor  News;  John  married  Ellen  Dowd  (now  deceased)  and  lives  in  Phil- 
adelphia. 

Peter  Higgins,  father  of  Mrs.  Bridget  (Higgins)  Delaney,  was  bom  in 
County  Roscommon,  Ireland,  where  he  did  farm  work.  In  that  country  he 
married  Mary  Donnelly,  also  a  native  of  County  Roscommon,  and  they  came 
to  America  at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  Mrs.  Higgins 
dying  at  Pottsville  in  1841 ;  she  is  buried  there.  After  coming  to  the 
United  States  Mr.  Higgins  followed  mining.  He  remarried,  in  Savannah, 
Ga.,  where  he  is  buried.  His  children  by  the  first  union  were:  Bridget  (Mrs. 
Delaney) ;  Patrick,  who  died  in  New  York;  Maria  (Mrs.  James  Fox),  who 
died 'in  Chicago  (her  husband  is  buried  at  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.),  and  Michael, 
who  married  Mary  Keogh  (they  are  buried  at  Port  Carbon). 

AARON  OSSMAN  has  been  a  resident  of  Tremont  for  the  last  thirty 
years  and  one  of  the  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  borough,  still  taking  an 
active  interest  in  matters  of  importance  to  the  community,  though  now  lead- 
ing a  practically  retired  life  so  far  as  business  is  concerned.  Bom  in  the 
Lykens  valley  in  Schuylkill  county,  Dec.  9,  1838,  on  the  old  place  which  was 
the  homestead  of  his  grandfather,  he  is  of  English  ancestry.  Robert  Ossman, 
the  grandfather,  came  to  this  country  from  England  and  settled  in  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  dying  on  the  farm  where  his  grandson,  Aaron  Ossman,  was 
bom.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  His  children  were:  Philip,  Edward, 
Robert,  Joseph,  Sarah,  Catherine  and  Grace.     All  are  now  deceased. 

Philip  Ossman  was  bom  in  the  Lykens  valley,  and  like  his  father  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life.  Few  men  of  his  day  were  more  widely 
and  popularly  known.  Active  in  politics,  he  was  closely  connected  with 
public  affairs,  serving  as  county  commissioner,  to  which  office  he  was  elected 
in  1838,  and  for  many  years  as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  also  prom- 
inent in  the  State  militia,  at  one  time  major  of  a  Schuylkill  county  regiment. 
His  wife,  Barbara  (Friedline),  was  also  bom  in  the  Lykens  valley,  daughter 
of  Conrad  Friedline,  a  pioneer  in  that  section ;  he  had  several  children.  The 
following  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ossman:  Lucetta,  the  eldest  daughter; 
ICate,  who  married  Pete  Zerbe;  Maria,  who  married  William  Yohe;  Lydia, 
wife  of  Michael  Kutzelman;  Anna,  wife  of  William  Yohe;  Israel,  the  eldest 


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860  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

son;  Edward;  Eli;  William;  Levi;  and  Aaron,  who  is  the  only  survivor  of 
this  large  family.  Levi  served  three  years  in  the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of 
Company  A,  50th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Aaron  Ossman  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  in  the  Lykens  valley,  and 
went  to  public  school  there.  In  his  youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
at  which  he  was  engaged  throughout  his  active  years.  He  is  now  enjoying 
comparative  leisure,  though  for  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  in  the  employ 
of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company,  looking  after  their  timberland. 

When  the  Civil  war  came  on  Mr.  Ossman  entered  the  Union  service, 
enlisting  Sept.^  9,  ^86i,  from  Hegins,  Schuylkill  county,  in  Company  A,  50th 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Col.  D.  C.  Christ,  of  Minersville, 
this  county.  Under  this  enlistment  he  served  two  years  and  four  months, 
at  the  end  of  that  period  reenlisting,  in  the  same  company  and  regiment,  with 
which  he  served  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  took  part  in  the  actions  at 
the  following  places :  Hilton  Head ;  Port  Royal ;  Brownsville  Island ;  Fortress 
Monroe ;  Freeman's  Ford ;  Bull  Run ;  Chantilly ;  Wilderness ;  Fredericksburg ; 
etc.  He  was  wounded  in  the  right  arm  at  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  Court 
House  and  was  confined  for  some  time  in  the  hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va., 
where  he  was  mustered  out.  Returning  to  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  he  lived 
in  Hegins  township  for  some  years  thereafter,  moving  to  Tremont  about 
thirty  years  ago.  He  has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  having  joined  the 
latter  organization  in  1866;  he  is  affiliated  with  the  lodge  at  Hegins,  this 
county,  and  has  been  very  active  in  its  work,  having  passed  all  the  chairs  twice. 
Religiously  he  belongs  to  the  English  Lutheran  Church.  Mrs.  Ossman  has 
participated  in  public  affairs  to  the  extent  of  serving  as  school  director, 
which  office  he  filled  very  acceptably. 

In  1861  Mr.  Ossman  married  Harriet  Header,  a  native  of  Schuylkill 
county,  who  died  in  1877,  the  mother  of  four  children :  Harrison,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Tremont;  Alfred  H.,  now  of  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.;  Charles  E.,  of 
Dubois,  Pa.;  and  Joseph,  of  Easton,  Pa.  In  1877  Mr.  Ossman  married  (sec- 
ond) Maggie  L.  Bone,  of  Schuylkill  county.  There  are  no  children  by  this 
union. 

WESTON  DODSON  &  CO.,  of  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  miners  and  shippers 
of  anthracite  coal,  have  collieries  at  Beaver  Brook,  Morea,  and  Locust  Moun- 
tain, this  State,  the  Morea  and  Locust  Mountain  operations  being  in  Schuyl- 
kill county. 

MoREA  Colliery,  in  Mahanoy  township,  was  opened  in  1888,  and  the 
first  coal  run  through  the  breaker  on  March  7,  i88g.  It  has  been  in  con- 
tinuous operation  since  that  date.  The  following  men  have  been  in  charge: 
D.  J.  Thomas,  1889-1896;  Elmer  E.  Evans,  1896-1899;  William  J.  Hayes, 
1899-1902;  Howard  Dugan,  1902-1906;  Truman  M.  E>odson,  Second,  1906  to 
the  present  date.  Under  the  present  management  Morea  colliery  has  under- 
gone many  and  wonderful  changes  for  its  advancement.  That  Mr.  Dodson 
is  the  most  successful  manager  of  this  work  in  its  history  has  been  many 
times  shown.  After  graduating  from  Lehigh  University,  at  Bethlehem,  Pa., 
his  home,  he  came  to  Morea  as  manager  of  the  colliery.  Since  Mr.  Dodson 
has  taken  over  the  superintendency  and  management,  through  his  ability  to 
reconcile  the  differences  which  naturally  arise  in  a  large  business,  and  by  his 
wise  counsel  and  discretion,  entire  peace  and  harmony  have  come,  and  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  861 

same  is  fully  enjoyed  by  both  company  and  men.  Mr.  Dodson  is  altogether 
a  man  of  the  people,  democratic  in  his  inclinations,  uniting  with  his  people, 
giving  ear  tq  their  complaints,  and  looking  to  their  interest  and  benefit  at  all 
times.  He  has  been  foremost  in  striving  for  the  betterment  and  improvement 
of  conditions  in  the  large  plant  and  its|  auxiliaries,  giving  his  time  and  con- 
sideration to  the  humblest  as  well  as  the  most  influential  of  his  employes, 
and  the  result  is  that  there  is  none  but  gives  him  praise.  To-day  the  colliery 
is  one  of  the  most  profitable  in  the  coal  business.  Electric  haulage  is  used. 
The  breaker  capacity  is  approximately  1,500  tons  a  day.  Mr.  Dodson  is  a 
thorough  business  man,  believing  in  the  square  deal  for  every  one.  He  takes 
an  active  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  the  interest  or  advancement  of 
Morea.  All  of  the  athletic  events  taking  place  in  Morea  are  supported  by 
him.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Mahanoy  City  and  Morea  Gun  Clubs. 

Morea  is  one  of  the  most  model  towns  in  the  anthracite  mining  region. 
The  inhabitants  of  that  up-to-date  plape  enjoy  many  of  the  things  usually 
found  only  in  larger  towns.  A  modem  club-house  equipped  with  pool  and 
billiard  tables,  a  large  library,  an  up-to-date  moving  picture  show,  fine  base- 
ball grounds  and  a  dancing  pavilion,  are  some  of  the  things  of  which  Morea 
can  boast.     ' 

The  Morea  Supply  Company  has  one  of  the  most  up-to-date  stores  in  the 
State.  An)rthing  that  can  be  purchased  in  a  city  department  store  may  be 
had  here  at  prices  as  low  as  the  lowest.  The  meat  market  is  one  of  the 
conveniences  much  appreciated  by  the  employes.  It  is  thoroughly  modem. 
An  artificial  ice  plant  furnishes  all  the  refrigeration  for  the  meat  market 
and  store.  P.  J.  Malloy  is  the  manager  of  all  the  Dodson  Company's  stores, 
and  also  purchasing  agent  for  the  Dodson  Coal  Company  collieries.  J.  B. 
Connell  is  the  general  superintendent.  "]ot/*  as  he  is  familiarly  called,  is 
acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  best  store  managers  in  the  business.  He 
started  at  the  bottom  and  worked  his  way  up  to  his  responsible  position,  com- 
mencing his  career  with  the  Dodson  Company  about  twenty-three  years  ago. 

Weston  Dodson  &  Co.,  Inc.,  of  Bethlehem,  were  established  in  1862  by 
the  late  Weston  Dodson,  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  anthracite  coal  trade. 
They  have  extensive  operations  in  both  the  anthracite  and  bituminous  coal 
fields.  The  present  officials  are:  President,  C.  M.  Dodson;  vice  president,  A. 
C.  Dodson;  secretary  and  treasurer,  Josiah  Bachman. 

JOHN  J.  BOBBIN,  of  Shenandoah,  has  been  a  business  man  of  that 
borough  for  over  forty  years,  and  during  much  of  that  time  one  of  the  ener- 
getic spirits  in  her  modem  development.  His  life  story  is  full  of  interest, 
aflfording  a  remarkable  illustration  of  the  opportunities  America  is  still  offer- 
ing to  those  who  have  the  ability  and  perseverance  to  take  advantage  of  them. 
The  term  self-made  is  often  misused,  but  it  may  be  correctly  applied  in  Mr. 
Bobbin's  case,  for  he  started  without  means  or  influence  in  a  strange  com- 
munity and  has  gone  ahead  as  he  deserved.  A  native  of  Lithuania,  though 
he  belonged  to  a  family  of  substance  and  standing  he  felt  that  local  condi- 
tions did  not  hold  much  promise,  so  he  courageously  came  alone  to  the  New 
^  World.  After  a  few  years  he  set  up  in  business,  modestly,  but  with  the 
hope  of  becoming  independent.  Long  ago  he  realized  this  ambition,  and  he  is 
now  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  people  in  this  section  of  the  State,  helping  them 
in  their  affairs  and  doing  much  by  his  own  example  to  promote  ideals  of  good 


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862  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

citizenship  among  them.  The  record  of  his  business  career  will  show  the 
part  he  has  played  in  the  progress  of  his  adopted  place.  * 

Mr.  Bobbin  was  bom  Jan.  27,  1850,  at  Malina,  in  the  coimty  of  Kalvariya, 
state  of  Suwalki.  His  grandfather,  Roland  Bobbin,  was  a  man  of  means, 
and  married  a  farmer's  daughter  from  an  adjoining  village,  whose  'people 
were  also  well-tX)-do.  Their  son  Macej  Bobbin,  father  of  John  J.  Bobbiti,  fol- 
lowed farming,  was  thrifty  and  prosperous,  and  respected  for  his  character  as 
well  as  his  business  talents.  To  his -first  marriage,  with  Eve  Kuczinski, 
were  bom:  John  J.,  who  was  seven  years  old  when  his  mother  died;  Annie, 
and  Simon,  who  died  in  childhood.  For  his  second  wife  the  father  married 
Victoria  Saldukas,  ^nd  to  them  were  bom  the  following  children:  Vincent, 
Anthony,  Matcej,  Maggie  and  Mary.  All  of  these  followed  their  older  half- 
brother  to  Shenandoah  but  Maggie,  who  was  the  only  one  of  the  family  that 
did  not  come  to  the  United  States;  she  was  married  twice.  Vincent  Bobbin 
joined  his  brother  here  and  had  his  Jielp  in  continuing  his  education,  after- 
wards working  with  him  in  the  store  and  finally  going  into  business  for  him- 
self ;  he  still  resides  in  Shenandoah ;  his  family  consists  of  four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Anthony  Bobbin  also  came  to  Shenandoah,  but  returned  to 
Poland  and  still  lives  there.  Matcej  also  returned  tq  Poland.  Mary  mar- 
ried Joseph  Witkowski  and  died  at  Minersville,  this  county ;  her  husband  now 
lives  there  with  his  children. 

John  J.  Bobbin  lived  at  home  until  nineteen  years  old,  attending  school 
and  working  with  his  father  on  the  farm.  But  he  was  ambitious  to  tecome  a 
merchant,  and  hoping  for  chances  in  America  which  his  own  land  lacked 
decided  to  venture  out  on  his  own  account.  He  had  to  be  very  cautious  about 
his  departure  on  account  of  the  military  service  expected  of  all  young  men. 
Making  his  way  to  Hamburg,  Germany,  he  crossed  to  Hull,  England,  jour- 
neyed from  that  port  to  Liverpool,  and  then  sailed  for  New  York  City,  where 
he  arrived  in  January,  1870.  Three  or  four  days  later  he  came  to  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.,  joining  his  uncle,  Paul  Bobbin,  at  Mahanoy  Plane.  For  a  time 
he  was  employed  in  the  mines  at  that  point,  but  when  the  strike  came  on 
eighteen  months  later  he  removed  to  Gilberton,  this  county,  where  he  was 
located  for  nearly  four  years,  peddling  part  of  the  time,  when  he  did  not 
have  mine  work.  Meantime  he  had  been  awaiting  the  chance  to  go  into 
business,  and  in  1874  he  came  to  Shenandoah  and  opened  a  grocery  store  on 
South  Main  street.  By  this  time  he  had  acquired  enough  familiarity  with 
the  language  and  customs  to  look  after  his  affairs  properly,  and  he  did  well 
from  the  start,  continuing  in  his  original  location  for  ten  years.  During  that 
time  he  had  in  addition  to  his  retail  trade  established  quite  an  extensive  com- 
mission business,  and  also  acted  as  agent  for  the  Hamburg  American  Packet 
Company,  the  Bremen  &  Baltimore,  the  Red  Star  and  other  steamship  lines, 
his  countrymen  especially  availing  themselves  gladly  of  his  services  as  such. 
In  1884  his  store  was  burned  out,  and  he  came  to  the  site  he  has  since  occu- 
pied, at  No.  132  North  Main  street,  which  is  now  the  headquarters  of  all  his 
business  interests.  There  is  probably  no  better  known  citizen  in  the  borough. 
As  a  grocer  he  had  the  largest  trade  in  the  town,  and  he  has  followed  a  num- 
ber of  other  lines  with  equal  success.  He  has  always  maintained  a  steam- 
ship agency,  has  made  a  specialty  of  handling  sewing  machines,  and  does 
considerable  business  as  a  private  banker,  being  licensed  to  handle  both 
American  and  foreign  exchange.  The  steady  expansion  of  his  business  has 
been  due  to  more  than  his  very  evident  gift  for  good  management.    He  has 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANLV  863 

been  found  worthy  of  the  utmost  confidence  in  all  his  transactions,  and  it  is 
this  which  has  gained  him  the  constant  increase  of  patronage.  Mr.  Bobbin  is 
a  charter  director  of  the  Merchants'  National  Bank;  a  charter  member  of 
the  Miners',  Mechanics'  &  Laborers'  Building  &  Loan  Association;  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Shenandoah  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of 
which  he  is  still  a  director;  and  holds  the  same  position  in  the  Shenadoah 
Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company,  which  he  helped  to  organize.  He  was  one 
of  the  purchasers  of  the  Mahanoy  Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company  and  a 
director.  All  enterprises  looking  to  the  improvement  of  the  borough  count 
on  him  for  support. 

Mr.  Bobbin  married  Mary  Janiski  (in  Polish  Januszewski),  who  was  bom 
Jan.  29,  1862,  in  Shamokin,  >forthtunberland  Co.,  Pa.  Her  parents,  Andrew 
and  Anna  (Kuhaszek)  Janiski,  are  both  natives  of  Posen,  German  Poland.  In 
1854,  when  fourteen  years  old,  her  father  came  to  America  with  his  parents, 
Jacob  and  Mary  (Schuter)  Januszewski,  the  family  landing  at  Montreal,  Can- 
ada, where  the  father  died  of  cholera.  He  had  expected  to  find  work  on  the 
canal  from  Montreal  to  Lachine  at  $1.06  per  day,  or  4  shillings,  6  pence.  The 
widowed  mother  came  to  Lykens,  Pa.,  with  her  family  of  five  children,  An- 
drew, Joseph,  Michael,  John  and  Agnes  (who  married  Joseph  Akert  and  died 
soon  afterwards).  Andrew  Janiski  became  a  mine  worker,  following  that 
occupation  at  Lykens  and  later  at  Shamokin,  where  he  still  resides.  He  is 
now  (^916)  seventy-eight  years  old,  and  comes  of  a  long-lived  family,  his 
grandmother  having  attained  the  remarkable  age  of  116  years,  on  which 
account  she  receivwl  a  pension  from  the  government.  She  died  in  Posen, 
and  the  entire  village  attended  her  funeral.  Andrew  Janiski  went  to  visit 
a  sister  in  Philadelphia  and  there  met  and  married  Anna  Kuhaszek,  now  de- 
ceased, by  whom  he  had  the  following  children:  Mary,  Mrs.  Bobbin;  Anna, 
who  is  the  wife  of  John  Konopki,  of  Shamokin ;  Kate,  wife  of  Michael  Dekar- 
ski,  living  at  Manistee,  Mich.;  James,  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  who  mar- 
ried .Sophia  Christensen;  Helen,  unmarried,  who  resides  in  Scranton,  Pa.; 
Agnes,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Dencewicz,  of  Shamokin,  Pa.;  Andrew, 
who  is  married  and  lives  in  Shamokin;  John,  also  a  resident  of  Shamokin; 
and  Joseph,  who  died  aged  about  twenty- four  years,  unmarried; 

Nine  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bobbin:  Edward  G.,  an 
attomey  at  law,  now  located  in  Waterbury,  Conn.,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Shen- 
andoah high  school,  Wyoming  (Pa.)  Seminary  and  from  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania;  he  married  Mary  Fay,  of  Connecticut, 
and  they  have  had  one  child,  deceased  in  infancy.  Blanch  B.  is  married  to 
Max.  J.  Spotanski,  now  engaged  in  business  as  a  druggist  at  Nanticoke,  Pa. ; 
she  was  formerly  a  resident  of  Shenandoah,  where  she  was  a  music  teacher 
for  several  years,  being  a  graduate  of  the  Broad  Street  Conservatory  of 
Music,  Philadelphia;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spotanski  have  no  children.  Adolph  C. 
graduated  from  the  high  school  of  Shenandoah  and  McCann's  business  col- 
lege of  Mahanoy  City,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  hardware  business,  hav- 
ing a  store  at  New  Philadelphia ;  he  is  unmarried.  Clara  M.  graduated  from 
the  West  Chester  Normal  School  and  taught  five  terms  in  Shenandoah  before 
her  marriage  to  Anthony  J.  Rogers,  who  is  receiving  teller  for  the  Shenan- 
doah Trust  Company;  she  and  her  husband  have  one  son,  John  Anthony, 
bom  May  16,  191 5.  Clayton  died  in  1902,  when  eleven  and  a  half  years 
old.  Isabel  graduated  from  the  Shenandoah  high  school  and  from  Drexel 
Institute,  Philadelphia,  taking  the  course  in  domestic  arts,  and  she  has  also  had 


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864  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

a  course  in  portrait  painting  and  shows  unusual  ability  as  an  artist;  she  is 
unmarried.  Alberta  died  in  1900,  when  four  years  old;  Raymond  D.  and 
Mary  V.  are  attending  high  school  in  Shenandoah. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bobbin  and  their  family  are  members  of  St.  George's  Lithu- 
anian Catholic  Church.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus. 

SAMUEL  WEIDMAN,  of  Shenandoah,  is  a  descendant  of  an  honorable 
old  Pennsylvania  family  of  German  origin,  long  established  in  Berks  coimty. 
Its  members  in  every  generation  have  bween  notable  for  their  high  principles, 
energy  and  industry,  qualities  which  have  contributed  so  much  to  advancing 
this  State  to  a  place  in  the  front  rank.  He  is  a  typical  representative  of  the 
name  he  bears,  and  his  children  in  their  turn  are  upholding  the  best  traditions 
of  the  family. 

Mr.  Weidman  was  bom  April  16,  1849,  on  the  old  farm  of  his  father  and 
grandfather  in  Perry  township,  Berks  county,  at  Five  Locks,  on  the  canal,  son 
of  Elias  and  Sarah  (Fister)  Weidman.  In  a  recent  biographical  w6rk  of 
Berks  county  we  find  the  following: 

Johannes  Weidman  was  the  founder  of  this  family  in  Berks  county.  He 
came  from  Germany  on  the  ship  "Royal  Union,"  which  landed  at  Philadelphia 
Aug.  15,  1750,  with  250  passengers.  He  obtained  a  number  of  acres  of  land 
in  Windsor  township,  two  miles  north  of  Shoemakersville,  upon  which  he 
settled,  and  there  prospered.  He  was  a  Ehinkard  and  reared  his  children  in 
that  faith.  The  remains  of  himself  and  wife,  as  well  as  some  of  their  chil- 
dren, are  interred  on  the  farm  on  which  he  settled,  now  owned  by  his  great- 
grandson  (Joel  K.  Weidman).  He  had  these  children:  John  and  Jonas. 
The  latter  settled  at  Myerstown,  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  the  owner  of  con- 
siderable property; 

John  Weidman,  son  of  Johannes,  was  the  owner  and  operator  of  the  home- 
stead in  Perry  township,  and  also  engaged  in  carrying  produce  to  Philadel- 
phfa,  bringing  back  merchandise  with  the  big  Conestoga  wagon,  although  at 
that  time  the  roads  were  bad,  the  trip  requiring  a  week.  A  strict  Dunkard, 
Mr.  Weidman  clung  to  the  customs  of  his  people,  wearing  a  broad-brimmed 
hat,  and  his  clothes  were  fastened  with  hooks  and  eyes.  He  married  Magda- 
lena  Kauffman,  and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Magdalena,  bom  Oct.  11, 
1803;  Joseph,  Feb.  22,  1805;  Jonathan,  Jan.  16,  1809;  Sarah,  April  17,  181 1; 

Benjamin, 5,  1813 ;  Elias,  Sept.  2,  1815 ;  John,  March  3,  1818;  Lydia, 

Nov.  I,  1820;  Reuben,  Jan.  15,  1823;  Lydia,  married  to  John  Shomo;  Syria, 
bom  April  17,  1828,  married  to  Isaac  Unger. 

Elias  Weidman,  son  of  John,  was  bom  Sept.  2,  181 5,  on  the  old  Weidman 
place  in  Perry  township,  where  he  followed  farming  and  took  a  prominent  part 
in  local  affairs,  being  highly  regarded  throughout  his  long  life.  He  served 
several  terms  as  assessor  of  his  township,  and  though  a  Democrat  in  politics 
was  paid  the  compliment  of  being  the  candidate  on  the  Republican  ticket  the 
last  time  he  ran  for  the  office.  He  married  Sarah  Fister,  who  was  bom  in 
Albany  township,  Berks  county,  on  the  farm  of  her  father,  who  was  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  his  district.  Mr.  Weidman  died  aged  eighty-three 
years,  his  wife  passing  away  in  1913,  at  the  age  of  eighty.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, viz.:  (i)  William  died  when  fourteen  years  old.  (2)  Samuel  is  next 
in  the  familv.  (3)  Martha  married  Jacob  Frantz,  and  they  reside  in  Reading, 
Pa.,  where  he  is  a  cigar  and  tobacco  manufacturer;  they  have  a  family.     (4) 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  865 

John,  engineer  at  the  Reading  water  plant,  married  Su^n  Bayer,  and  they 
have  a  family.  (5)  Susan  is  the  wife  of  Walter  Mengle,  and  they  live  with 
their  family  at  Hamburg,  Berks  county.  (6)  George,  who  resides  in  San 
Francisco,  has  no  family.  (7)  Clara  married  Albert  M.  Seeger,  a  painter,  of 
Reading,  and  has  a  family.  (8)  Deborah  is  the  wife  of  Walter  Smith,  a  mer- 
chant in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.  They  have  no  children.  (9)  Annie  married 
Will  Robinhold,  a  merchant,  and  they  are  living  with  their  family  at  Port 
Clinton,  Pa.  They  have  three  children,  Mabel,  Frank  and  Ada.  (-lo)  Sallie 
is  the  wife  of  Adam  Block,  a  retired  merchant,  of  Lebanon,  Pa. ;  they  have 
no  children.  (11)  Wirt,  who  is  a  blacksmith  and  foreman  in  the  Reading  rail- 
road repair  shops  at  Rutherford,  Pa.,  married  Dora  Leiby,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Charles.  (12)  Charles,  a  cigar  manufacturer  of  Lebanon,  is  married 
but  has  no  family. 

When  Samuel  Weidman  was  five  or  six  years  old  the  family  moved  to 
Leesport,  Berks  county,  where  he  attended  school.  Later  they  moved  again, 
to  Shoemakersville,  Berks  county,  at  which  place  he  finished  his  schooUng. 
When  twenty  years  of  age  he  went  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  when  twenty-three 
years  old  came  to  Girardville,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  butcher,  eventually  moving  to  the  borough  of  Shenandoah,  which  has  since 
been  his  home.  For  some  time  after  locating  at  Shenandoah  he  worked  as  a 
journeyman,  until  he  had  accumulated  enough  to  open  a  shop  of  his  own, 
which  he  carried  on  for  ten  or  twelve  years  very  successfully.  He  has  since 
been  in  the  ice  business,  which  he  carried  on  first  under  the  name  of  the  City 
Ice  Company,  later  interested  in  the  Kehley  Run  Ice  Company,  of  whose  busi- 
ness he  became  owner  in  1912.  The  plant  has  been  a  popular  industry  at 
Shenandoah,  and  under  Mr.  Weidman's  management  has  increased  steadily 
in  its  value  to  the  community.  He  is  highly  regarded  for  his  solid  qualities, 
which  have  won  him  the  friendship  as  well  as  the  respect  of  his  associates. 
At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the  borough  school  board,  to  which  he  was 
elected  for  a  three-year  term.  His  political  sympathies  are  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  national  issues,  but  in  local  matters  he  has  been  identified  with 
the  Citizens'  party.  Socially  he  holds  membership  in  the  Junior  Order  United 
American  Mechanics,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Knights  of  the  Mystic  Chain. 
Before  he  was  of  age  he  joined  the  Reformed  Church,  and  he  and  all  his 
family  attend  the  German  Reformed  Church  at  Shenandoah.  Mrs.  Weidman 
became  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Berks  county. 

Mr.  Weidman  married  Salome  Heckman,  daughter  of  Elias  and  Lucy 
Ann  (Mengle)  Heckman,  of  Berks  county,  and  the  following  children  have 
been  bom  to  this  marriage:  (i)  Harry,  now  superintendent  of  the  Har- 
wood  Electric  Company,  of  Shenandoah,  married  Alice  Downey,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Harry  and  Edith.  (2)  Lubin  died  in  infancy.  (3)  Edna  is 
an  artist  of  ability,  also  at  present  engaged  as  supervisor  of  drawing  in  the 
grade  and  high  schools  of  Shenandoah,  and  'as  drawing  instructor  of  the 
teachers  of  Ashland.  She  has  lectured  at  Pottsville  and  elsewhere,  and  has 
taught  many  teachers  in  ,the  townships.  Miss  Weidman  graduated  (as  vale- 
dictorian) from  the  high  school  at  Shenandoah,  and  later  graduated  with  hon- 
ors at  the  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  also  taking  a  post-graduate  year  at 
that  institution;  followed  this  with  a  drawing  course  at  West  Chester  Nor- 
mal, and  took  a  special  course  in  the  art  department  of  Harvard  College,  near 
Bo§ton,  where  she  received  a  certificate.  Subsequently  she  studied  in  the 
Auersburg  Art  School  at  Chicago,  111.,  where  she  also  received  a  certificate, 
Vol.  n— 17- 


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866  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  she  has  visited  various  art  schools  in  California  and  elsewhere  in  the  West. 
Indeed,  she  is  a  thorough  and  devoted  student,  constantly  seeking  improve- 
ment, and  well  deserving  of  the  confidence  she  has  gained.  (4)  Roy  is  en- 
gaged as  electrician  at  the  Harwood  Electric  plant,  Shenandoah.  He  married 
Bessie  Heckler,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Ruth.  (5)  Mabel,  a  graduate 
of  the  West  Chester  Normal  School  and  of  the  Thomas  Conservatory  of 
Music,  Detroit,  Mich.,  is  now  music  supervisor  of  the  Downington  (Chester 
county,  Pa.)  schools.  (6)  Carrie,  a  teacher  in  the  public  school  at  East  Mill- 
stone, N.  J.,  graduated,  as  did  her  sisters,  from  the  hig^  school  at  Shenan- 
doah and  from  the  normal  school  at  West  Chester. 

DARKWATER  COLLIERY.  In  the  fall  of  1903  Messrs.  S.  B.  Thome 
and  James  B.  Neale  purchased  from  H.  K.  Myers, 'of  Philadelphia,  the 
stock  of  the  Darkwater  Coal  Company,  which  company  owned  a  lease  on 
what  is  known  as  the  Pott  and  Bannan  tract,  situated  towards  the  eastern 
end  of  the  Heckscherville  valley.  Quite  shortly  a  new  breaker  was  built, 
and  the  water  which  had  been  lying  in  the  main  basin  for  probably  fifty  years 
was  removed.  Coal  is  now  being  mined  from  the  Mammoth  and  Sladmore 
veins  lying  in  the  main  basin.  During  the  past  summer  a  new  breaker  was 
built,  which  has  a  capacity  of  seven  hundred  tons  per  day. 

BUCK  RUN  COLLIERY".  During  the  fall  of  1900  and  the  spring  of 
1901  Messrs.  S.  B.  Thome  and  James  B.  Neale  negotiated  a  lease  with  Mr. 
R.  C.  Luther,  then  general  manager  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  & 
Iron  Company,  and  with  Mr.  G.  W.  Streng,  of  Pittston,  Pa.  The  two  leases 
cover  an  area  of  about  424  acres  lying  contiguous,  and  situated  in  the  westem 
end  of  the  Rohrersville  basin.  During  the  summer  of  1901  the  water  was 
pumped  from  the  old  mine  workings  on  this  property  and  work  was  begun  on 
building  the  breaker  and  other  colliery  improvements.  The  first  coal  was  run 
through  the  breaker  on  March  12,  1902.  The  colliery  has  been  in  prac- 
tically continuous!  operation  since  that  time,  and  has  now  a  daily  capacity  of 
one  thousand  tons.  The  coal  is  an  excellent  quality  of  Schuylkill  white  ash, 
and  finds  a  ready  market  in  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  Washington  and  that 
general  vicinity. 

Buck  Run  Colliery  has  an  excellent  operating  equipment,  doing  much  of 
its  work  with  electricity.  It  has  also  a  fair  equipment  of  houses  for  its 
employes,  and  it  also  has  an  excellent  club-house  and  amusement  hall  for 
the  benefit  of  the  community  in  general.  One  of  the  schools  of  Foster  town- 
ship is  operated  under  the  management  of  the  Coal  Company's  officials,  and 
excellent  instmction  is  afforded  to  the  children  in  the  vicinity. 

EDWARD  LANDES  SHISSLER,  late  of  Minersville,  was  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  that  borough,  and  his  widow  is  one  of  its  most  respected 
residents.  That  place  has  been  her  lifelong  home,  and  by  her  family  and 
social  connections  she  has  gained  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances,  to  whom  she 
has  endeared  herself  in  years  of  friendly  association. 

Mr.  Shissler  was  born  at  Minersville,  son  of  William  C.  Shissler,  who 
lived  principally  at  Pottsville,  this  county.  The  father  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade  and  was  engaged  in  newspaper  work  for  some  years.  He  met  his  death 
while  serving  in  the  Union  army,  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run.  By  his 
marriage  to  Catherine  Mosser  he  had  two  children,  Edward  L.  and  Mary 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  867 

Frances;  the  daughter  taught  school  a  number  of  years  ago  at  Port  Carbon, 
and  died  March  24,  1915,  at  Vineland,  New  Jersey. 

Edward  L.  Shissler  received  his  early  education  at  Minersville  and  fol- 
lowed the  shoemaker's  trade  there.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  48th 
Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  served  in  the  Union  army  to  the  close  of  the  war. 
On  June  17,  1864,  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  at  the  battle  of  Petersburg. 
After  the  war  Mr.  Shissler  again  took  up  his  residence  at  Minersville,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  until  his  death,  July  5,  1904.  He  is  buried  in  the  Union 
cemetery  at  Minersville.  Mrs.  Shissler,  whose  maiden  name  was  Clara 
Kauffman  B  rancher,  continues  to  reside  at  Minersville.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Cecilia  Heisler  (Kauffman)  Braucher,  who  had  a  family  of  three 
children,  namely:  Mary  Jane,  Samuel  and  Clara  K.,  all  deceased  but  Mrs. 
Shissler.  She  was  reared  by  her  maternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Kauffman. 
Mr.  Braucher  was  an  extensive  farmer  and  drover,  and  lived  and  died  in 
Union  county,  Pa.;  he  is  buried  at  Hartleton,  that  county.  His  widow  subse- 
quently married  Edward  Shissler,  of  Minersville,  and  by  him  she  also  had 
three  children,  William  K.  and  Emily  Cecilia  and  George  Lynn,  twins,  the 
last  named  deceased. 

The  Kauffmans  have  been  in  America  since  1680,  in  which  year  two 
brothers,  Jonas  and  Christian  Kiauffman,  natives  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
emigrated  to  this  country.  They  settled  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  among  its 
early  residents;  some  of  their  descendants  located  in  the  Lykens  valley,  in 
what  is  now  Schuylkill  county,  in  the  days  when  the  Indians  were  still  in 
possession.  The  savages  molested  them  frequently  and  drove  them  from 
their  homes  a  number  of  times,  but  they  left  their  families  for  safety  at  Pine 
Grove  and  returned  to  their  holdings  courageously.  Samuel  Kauffman,  the 
great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Shissler,  was  born  in  the  Lykens  valley,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  lived  and  died  in  what  is  now  known  as  Hubley  township,  this 
county.  Though  he  passed  away  at  a  comparatively  early  age  he  had  acquired 
the  ownership  of  a  large  and  valuable  farm,  having  followed  farming  all  his 
life.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  in  religion  a  devout  Lutheran.  A  family  of 
eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  was  born  to  him  and  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Klueger  or  Klinger:  Jacob,  who  married  Lydia 
Drehr,  was  a  merchant  in  the  Lykens  valley ;  Henry  and  Samuel  were  next  in 
the  family;  Emanuel,  who  was  engaged  as  a  merchant  for  some  time  and 
subsequently  went  West,  served  in  the  Civil  war,  and  received  promotion  to 
the  rank  of  captain  before  his  death,  which  was  caused  by  typhoid  fever; 
Jonas  died  in  1859  at  Llewellyn,  Pa. ;  John,  a  farmer,  is  deceased,  as  are  all  of 
his  brothers ;  Mary  married  a  Mr.  Baker,  of  Trevorton,  Northumberland  Co., 
Pa. ;  Sarah  is  also  deceased. 

Samuel  Kauffman,  son  of  Samuel,  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  in  Schuyl- 
kill county  in  his  day.  As  a  business  man  he  was  widely  acquainted  through 
his  long  connection  as  cashier  with  the  First  National  Bank  of  Minersville^ 
and  he  was  also  a  civil  engineer  of  note,  in  that  capacity  laying  out  most  of  the 
town  of  Minersville.  He  also  served  one  term  as  county  commissioner,  and 
represented  this  district  in  the  lower  branch  of  the  State  Assembly.  His  death 
occurred  at  Minersville,  when  he  was  seventy-six  years  old.  Mr.  Kauffman 
married  Maria  Heisler,  a  daughter  of  George  Heisler,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  five  children:  Cecilia  H.,  now  deceased,  mother  of  Mrs.  Qara 
Kauffman  Shissler;  Dr.  Jonas  H.,  a  prominent  resident  of  Minersville;  Luther 


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868  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

S.,  a  successful  attorney  of  Philadelphia;  George,  who  died  in  infancy:  and 
bamuel,  deceased. 

THOMAS  J.  MARTIN,  an  old  time  employee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  at  Pottsville,  is  a  native  of  that  borough,  bom  in  December, 
1853,  son  of  Joseph  Martin. 

Joseph  Martin  was  bom  in  County  Cavan,  Ireland,  where  he  was  reared, 
and  came  to  America  before  his  marriage,  locating  first  at  Doylestown, 
Bucks  Co.,  Pa.  While  at  Doylestown  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  but  after 
moving  to  Pottsville  found  employment  at  the  mines,  also  following  that  occu- 
pation while  at  Ravensdale,  near  St.  Clair.  On  his  return  to  Pottsville  he 
became  engaged  as  an  iron  worker  at  the  blast  furnace,  then  located  on  the 
island,  and  later  took  charge  of  the  stables,  holding  this  position  imtil  his 
death  April  23,  1897.  At  Doylestown  Mr.  Martin  met  and  married  Bridget 
Drumm,  a  native  of  Limerick,  Ireland,  who,  came  to  America  when  a  young 
girl.  Six  sons  were  bom  to  them:  Thomas  J.,  John,  James,  Edward,  Joseph 
and  William. 

Thomas  J.  Martin  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  at  Potts- 
ville.   He  was  first  employed  at  the  blast  furnace  when  thirteen  years  old, 
working  there  during  the  summer  time  and  attending  school  winters.    He  was 
so  engaged  up  to  the  age  of  sixteen  years.    Then  he  took  charge  of  a  car, 
hauling  cinders  out  to  a  dump,  and  after  two  years  at  this  employment  com- 
menced braking  on  the  blast  furnace  shifting  engine.    He  followed  this  work 
until  twenty-three  years  old,  when  he  had  to  give  up  work  because  of  an  acci- 
dent, being  incapacitated  for  about  a  year.     Subsequently  he  went  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Lester  Milk  Company,  with  whom 
he  remained  one  year,  in  1881  entering  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  in  the  West  Philadelphia  yards,  at  Thirty-second  and  Market 
streets,  as  a  brakeman.    He  continued  to  reside  at  Philadelphia  until  1886,  em- 
ployed as  brakeman  and  conductor,  and  on  Nov.  15th  of  that  year,  when  the 
railroad  was  opened  to  Pottsville,  he  was  transferred  hither  m  the  capacity 
of  brakeman.  ^  Shortly  afterwards  he  was  made  flagman,  and  about  the  end  of 
1886  became  a  freight  conductor,  being  so  employed  until  the  Shenandoah 
branch  was  opened,  when  he  was  appointed  conductor  of  the  work  train,  with 
headquarters  at  Shenandoah.     When  the   road  was  completed  he  became 
conductor,  in  1887,  his  run  being  from  Pottsville  to  Shenandoah,  and  he  held 
that  position  until  June,  1888,  when  he  became  assistant  yardmaster  at  Mount 
Carbon.     He  was  stationed  there  until  1903,  under  H.  C.  Dysinger,  yard- 
master,  and  was  then  appointed  to  his  present  position,  being  yarcSnaster  at 
Pottsville,  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  in  whose  employ  he  has 
been  continuously  since  1881.     By  the  conscientious  performance  of  all  his 
duties  and  intelligent  application  to  the  responsibility  intrusted  to  him,  Mr. 
Martin  has  proved  himself  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  his  superiors,  and  is 
esteemed  alike  by  them  and  by  his  associates  in  the  company's  employ.    He  is 
a  man  of  upright  character  and  highly  regarded  by  his  fellow  citizens  in  Potts- 
ville.   His  home  is  at  No.  417  South  Coal  street.     Mr.  Martin  is  a  member  of 
St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  Church,  at  Pottsville.    He  has  no  political  ties, 
voting  independently. 

In  1887  Mr.  Martin  married  Annie  Brown,  of  Centralia,  Columbia  county, 
and  a  family  of  five  children  were  bom  to  them :  Joseph  P.,  ticket  clerk  in  the 
Pennsylvania  office,  at  Reading;  Irene,  living  at  home;  Thomas  B.,  who  is  a 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  869 

clerk  in  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company's  shops  at  Potts- 
ville;  Anna,  who  is  attending  a  commercial  school  at  Pottsville;  and  Charles, 
also  at  school. 

GEORGE  H.  BEATTY,  of  Minersville,  at  present  holding  the  position  of 
machinist  at  the  Lytle  Coal  Company's  mine,  has  been  associated  with  local 
mines  in  that  capacity  for  a  number  of  years  and  has  made  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion for  mechanical  ability.  Mr.  Beatty  is  of  Irish  extraction,  his  grandfather, 
George  Beatty,  having  been  a  native  of  Ireland,  whence  he  came  to  America 
at  an  early  day,  settling  first  in  Nova  Scotia.  Later  he  came  to  this  country 
and  made  his  home  in  Schuylkill  county,  being  a  gardener  by  calling  and  so 
employed  on  the  Bennett  estate  at  Forestville,  in  Cass  township.  He  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life  there,  dying  in  1865. 

Joseph  A.  Beatty,  father  of  George  H.  Beatty,  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia, 
and  came  with  his  father  to  this  county,  where  he  made  his  permanent  home, 
dying  at  Minersville.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  which  he  followed 
at  different  collieries.  By  his  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Griffith,  of  Schuylkill 
county,  he  had  the  following  children:  Mary,  George  H.,  Jennie,  Florence, 
Selina,  Adelaide,  Blanch  and  William.  The  last  named,  who  died  in  191 1,  was 
chief  clerk  and  paymaster  at  the  Pine  Hill  colliery,  near  Minersville,  fo|-  sev- 
eral years. 

Georjg^e  H.  Beatty  was  bom  March  28,  1866,  at  Forestville,  in  Cass  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  received  a  common  school  education.  When  a  boy  he 
found  employment  at  the  mines,  holding  various  jobs,  and  spending  four  years 
at  mining.  He  then  became  engaged  at  blacksmithing  and  the  machinist's 
trade,  where  he  evidently  found  his  proper  vocation,  for  he  became  a  skilled 
and  well  trusted  employee  in  that  line.  For  fourteen  years  he  was  chief  ma- 
chinist at  the  Pine  Hill  colliery,  in  1910  taking  his  present  position  with  the 
Ljrtle  Coal  Company.  Aside  from  his  duties  in  this  association  Mr.  Beattv*s 
chief  activity  has  been  as  member  of  the  board  of  school  directors  of  Minersville. 
He  was  elected  to  that  body  in  1909,  and  in  191 2  was  appointed  to  succeed 
Edwin  Ford,  who  removed  from  the  borough  to  Cass  township.  Mr.  Beatty 
has  taken  a  keen  interest  in  the  work  of  the  board,  and  has  co-operated  ably 
with  his  fellow  members  in  providing  the  best  possible  educational  advantages 
for  the  children  of  the  borough.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  fraternally 
he  holds  membership  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  an 
Episcopalian  in  religious  connection. 

Mr.  Beatty  was  married  to  Annie  Turner,  daughter  of  Joseph  Turner, 
and  they  have  a  family  of  four  children :  William,  Frances,  Elizabeth,  and  Janet, 
all  living  at  home.  Frances  Beatty  is  a  graduate  of  the  Minersville  high 
school  and  the  Bloomsburg  State  Normal  School,  class  of  1914,  and  is  now 
teaching  in  the  Fourth  Street  school. 

> 
DANIEL  DEIBERT,  son  of  John  Deibert  and  grandson  of  WilheUn 
Deiver  (as  the  name  was  originally  spelled),  was  bom  July  2,  1802,  and  died 
at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa.,  in  September,  1890.  In  1884  a  pamphlet  was  printed 
containing  the  "Life  and  Experience  of  Daniel  Deibert,  from  his  youth  to  his 
old  age.  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa."  He  had  written  it,  as  he  tells  therein,  "Chil- 
dren and  whoever  wants  to  read  this,  to  tell  you  more  of  my  life  and  ex- 
perience, for  what  then?  Because  my  parents  and  grandparents  told  tlieir 
experience  in  life,  and  I  heard  them  with  delight.     I  am  old  and  weak  now ; 


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870  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

cannot  work  any  more."    We  quote  all  that  the  pamphlet  contains  concerning 
the  family  and  his  own  life. 

"My  grandfather,  Wilhelm  Deibert,  was  bom  in  Wittenburg,  Europe.  When 
he  was  three  years  old  his  parents  came  to  America,  and  settled  in  Bern  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  near  Michael's  church.  The  family  consisted 
of  five  children,  three  boys  and  two  girls :  Michael,  Christopher,  and  my  grand- 
father Wilhelm;  and  when  they  were  grown  up  came  to  Manheim  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  one  after  another  got  married.  My  grandfather  to  a 
daughter  of  John  Renchler,  from  Bern  township,  Berks  county.  Michael  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Weaver.  One  sister  to  George  Huntzinger,  the  other  to  John 
Gevert. 

"My  grandfather  and  his  brother  Michael  bought  in  partnership,  300  acres 
of  land  in  North  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  County,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1744, 
at  the  road  leading  from  Schuylkill  Haven  to  Landingville,  where  they  settled 
themselves.  My  grandfather's  part  was  at  the  place  where  Mr.  Edward  Peal 
lives ;  and  his  brother  Michael's  part  was  at  the  place  where  Mr.  John  Filbert 
lives  at  present,  1884.  Christopher  went  to  Virginia  in  his  younger  years,  and 
after  that  we  did  not  hear  from  him. 

"Grandfather  and  his  brother  Michael  had,  in  the  beginning,  the  Indians 
for  their  neighbors.  They  molested  them  very  much  at  that  time.  The  deers 
and  bears  were  plenty ;  when  they  shot  any,  and  gave  the  Indians  some  of  the 
meat,  they  were  good  fellows. 

"Grandfather  was  married  twice ;  he  had  three  children  with  his  first  wife, 
named  John,  Rosina,  and  Catherine.  His  second  wife's  name  was  Wagner. 
They  had  together  five  children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  Michael,  George, 
William,  Henry,  and  Elizabeth,  and  they  were  married  as  follows:  John,  my 
father,  to  Christina  Dewald  from  Manheim  township,  Bear  Creek  valley; 
Rosina  to  George  Orwig;  they  moved  to  Bellevue,  Seneca  county,  Ohio;  and 
Catharine  to  Philip  Schock,  from  Union  county,  Pa. ;  and  George  to  Miss  Mary 
Faust  of  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  County,  Pa.  Michael  and  William 
were  both  married,  but  I  forget  the  names  of  their  wives ;  and  Elizabeth  to 
Samuel  Schock,  Union  county.  Pa.;  Henry  to  Miss  Hertz  of  Weideer  (White 
Deer)  township.  Union  county.  Pa.  The  above  mentioned  died  and  got  buried 
at  Zion's  church  below  Orwigsburg,  and  his  sister  Gevert  at  Hetzel  s  church, 
Pinegrove  township.  All  the  other  children  died  and  were  buried  at  the  place 
above  .mentioned.  This  above  is  the  end  of  great  and  grandfather;  they  spelled 
their  name  Deiver,  but  the  second  generation  Deibert. 

'*A  small  history  of  Michael  Deiver,  the  brother  of  my  grandfather.  Had 
five  sons  and  two  daughters,  named  Henry,  Andrew,  Michael,  Christian,  John, 
Catherine  and  Elizabeth.  They  were  married  as  follows:  Henry  to  Miss 
Kriner,  Andrew  to  Miss  Luckenbill,  Michael  to  Miss  Luckenbill ;  they  had  no 
children;  Christian  to  Miss  Miller,  Catharine  to  John  Dewald,  Elizabeth  to 
Daniel  Repp. 

"I  am  coming  now  to  the  third  generation,  namely,  my  parents.  My  father, 
John  Deibert,  was  the  oldest  son  of  his  father's  family.  My  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  John  Dewald.  She  was  born  in  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.,  in  the  year  1797  (  ?).  He  bought  144  acres  of  land  in  the  township 
and  county  aforesaid,  on  the  road  leading  from  Orwigsburg  to  Schuylkill 
Haven.  He  built  the  house  where  James  Deibert  now  lives  at  present,  1884 
[he  was  still  living  there  in  1914;  died  Feb.  9,  191 5].  He  had  pretty  hard 
times  in  the  first  years.     I  remember  very  well  yet,  when  I  was  four  to  five 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  871 

years  old,  when  father  and  mother  were  clearing  land,  they  took  the  cradle 
along,  and  the  three  children;  I  was  the  oldest.  I  had  to  take  care  of  the 
other  two.  I  had  to  keep  the  locusts  from  the  cradle.  The  deer,  wolves  and 
bears  were  numerous  at  that  time.  We  could  hear  the  wolves  at  night.  They 
traveled  in  flocks.  I,  as  the  oldest  boy,  had  to  work  very  hard,  so  that  I  only 
had  eight  months'  schooling  in  all.  We  cleared  every  year  from  six  to  eight 
acres.  It  was  at  that  time  merely  a  wilderness.  At  that  time  Orwigsburg 
was  the  only  town  in  the  county.  In  the  year  1815  to  1816  the  courthouse  and 
jail  were  built.  I  helped  my  father  haul  stones  and  bricks  for  the  buildings. 
In  the  year  18 10  the  Centre  turnpike  was  made  from  Philadelphia  to  Sunbury. 
A  four-horse  stage  run  then.  About  the  same  time  coal  was  discovered  in 
Schuylkill  county.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  to  sixteen  years  I  hauled  coal  to 
Reading  with  the  wagon.  There  was  no  canal  or  railroad  at  that  time.  At  the 
age  of  twenty,  George  Body  and  I  hauled,  each  of  us,  a  load  of  coal  to  Phila- 
delphia, for  fifty  cents  per  bushel.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  I  worked  for  my 
uncle  George  Deibert  for  six  dollars  per  month ;  he  was  sick  at  the  time  and 
died  while  I  was  there.  My  grandfather  Diebert  was  living  with  him  at  that 
time ;  he  worked  at  weaving.  He  told  me  many  stories  about  the  Indians ;  how 
they  molested  them  when  they  first  settled  here.  But  no  wonder,  tKey  were 
the  first  settlers. 

"In  my  twenty- fourth  year  I  got  married  to  Elizabeth  Shappell  of  Windsor 
township,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Shappell,  brigade  inspector. 
Her  mother's  name  was  Wille.  I  lived  several  y^rs  with  my  father,  then 
moved  to  Landingville  and  tended  the  guard  lock  at  the.  canal.  I  also  kept  a 
ferry  boat  for  taking  passengers  over  the  Schuylkill.  There  was  no  bridge  at 
that  time.  Then  the  fever  got  so  bad  there  that  we  moved  back  to  my  parents 
again.  My  father  worked  at  plough  making.  We  had  a  blacksmith  shop  and 
made  the  iron  for  the  ploughs ;  that  gave  me  a  chance  to  learn  the  blacksmith 
trade. 

"In  1828  I  bought  a  house  and  eleven  acres  of  land  from  Rev.  M.  Knusky, 
a  half  mile  above  Orwigsburg,  at  the  turnpike,  for  six  hundred  dollars,  in 
payment  as  follows :  One  hundred  dollars  down,  and  the  balance  one  hundred 
dollars  per  year.  My  father  gave  me  the  money  for  the  first  payment.  I 
started  a  blacksmith  shop  and  did  customer's  work  for  the  farmers.  I  also 
made  the  iron  work  for  the  boat  builders,  and  plough  work  for  my  brother 
John.  I  had  two  fires  going.  The  iron  I  had  to  work  was  heavy  forged  iron. 
My  wife  often  helped  me  split  iron  to  make  spikes  for  boats.  I  worked  there 
seventeen  years,  and  the  most  of  the  time  I  was  complaining  from  the  sulphur 
of  the  coals ;  several  times  I  was  very  sick.  At  that  time  the  first  Evangelical 
preachers  came  to  Orwigsburg,  Revs.  Seibert,  Breitenstein,  Focht,  and  others. 
Through  them  we  were  enlightened  and  by  the  help  of  God  were  both  con- 
verted and  became  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

"After  the  death  of  my  father,  1834,  his  land  was  divided  as  follows:  The 
homestead  in  two  pieces,  the  lower  part  with  the  building  brother  George  took, 
containing  eighty-two  acres,  at  $3,116.  No.  2  brother  John  took,  containing 
sixty-two  acres  at  $1,674.  No.  3  and  No.  4,  I  took,  the  first  jnentioned  seventy- 
three  acres  at  $612,  the  second  mentioned  twenty-four  acres,  at  $229.  No.  3 
laid  at  the  second  mountain,  at  the  Poplar  run,  now  owned  by  John  Borman, 
at  present,  1884.  No.  4  laid  at  the  Fisher's  run,  one  mile  above  Daniel  Boyer's 
mill.  On  No.  3  I  built  a  new  stone  house ;  it  was  my  intention  to  move  there,  but 
didn't.    Afterwards  I  sold  it  with  no  profit.    And  in  1846  I  sold  my  place  at 


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872  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Orwigsburg,  for  $1,500,  to  a  man  by  the  name  of  Smith,  a  railroad  contractor. 
He  bought,  also,  the  place  formerly  the  homestead  of  my  uncle  Andrew 
Deibert,  where  Martin  Sheaffer  now  lives  at  present,  1884.  At  that  time 
the  Schuylkill  canal  was  enlarged.  Mr.  Smith  had  very  large  contracts;  he 
had  as  high  as  one  hundred  horses  and  five  to  eight  hundred  men  at  work.  He 
bought  sometimes  as  high  as  sixty  to  eighty  head  of  oxen  to  be  butchered ;  and 
the  bread  he  baked  by  the  two-horse  load.  He  boarded  his  hands  all  himself. 
The  times  were  good  and  money  plenty.  At  the  same  time  the  county  seat  was 
removed  from  Orwigsburg  to  Pottsville.  The  courthouse  and  jail  were  built, 
which  are  at  present.  The  times  were  very  brisk ;  many  men  got  rich ;  through 
the  many  banks  most  everybody  could  get  money. 

"Pottsville  increased  very  rapidly,  but  after  that  the  hard  times  came, 
and  many  men  lost  all.  Pottsville  went  down  faster  than  it  increased.  Many 
men  spent  their  money  in  building  houses.  Others  lost  their  money  in  banks. 
So  it  was  for  several  years ;  nearly  all  the  banks  in  Pottsville  closed ;  hundreds 
lost  all  they  had.  It  was  said  that  Henry  Qay  said  *too  many  banks  were  the 
ruin  of  the  people.' 

"In  the  year  1846  I  bought  a  farm  from  George  Moyer,  in  South  Man- 
heim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  containing  175  acres  at  $25.00  per  acre ; 
the  payment  was  as  follows:  $1,000  to  be  paid  down  and  the  bailee  in  yearly 
payments  of  $250  per  year,  without  interest.  Times  were  good,  and  I  believe 
the  Lord  gave  his  blessing  so  that  I  had  it  paid  in  twelve  years.  This  farm  lies 
two  miles  south  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  in  the  Werner's  Creek  valley.  The  State 
road  leading  from  Schuylkill  Haven  to  Schartlesville  passes  through  the  farm. 
I  never  had  any  desire  to  get  rich ;  all  I  wished,  to  have  a  farm  where  I  could 
raise  my  family  at  home.  Mother  and  I  had  to  work  very  hard  in  our  early 
years,  but  by  and  by  when  the  children  came  on  hand,  and  by  the  help  of  God, 
raised  my  family  as  good  as  I  understood ;  but  by  and  by  got  more  experience 
in  religion,  and  so  I  spent  my  time  in  the  service  of  God. 

"In  the  year  1851  I  sold  part  of  this  farm,  containing  22  acres  with  an  old 
house  and  stable  for  $25  per  acre,  to  Daniel  Daubert. 

"Fourteen  years  after  I  built  a  new  house  and  bam  on  the  lower  part  of 
the  farm. 

"Eight  years  after  I  sold  that  part  to  Jared  Wagner  containing  forty-five 
acres  at  $70  per  acre.  The  old  homestead,  one  hundred  and  some  acres,  I  own  at 
present,  1884.  Nine  years  I  had  it  rented  to  Jacob  Schweigert,  for  the  shares, 
and  afterwards  to  William  Hicks.  Eleven  years  ago  I  bought  a  house  and  lot 
in  Schuylkill  Haven,  Columbia  street,  for  $1,100,  from  George  Utz,  where  we 
live  at  present,  1884. 

"My  parents'  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  seven  boys  and  two. girls. 
They  were  all  raised  at  the  old  homestead.  Father  and  mother  died  and  were 
buried  in  the  Schuylkill  Haven  cemetery.  The  names  of  the  children  and  to 
whom  they  were  married:  Daniel  to  Eliza  Schappell;  George  to  Susanna 
Reed;  Catharine  to  Henry  Shelly;  John  to  Catharine  Koch;  Jacob  to  Polly 
Miller ;  Benjamin  died  single :  William  to  Hannah  Wiest ;  Samuel's  first  wife 
Mary  Esert,  second  Mary  Sterner ;  Hannah  to  John  Hummel.  The  following 
are  the  names  of  the  deceased :  Daniel's  first  wife  died ;  George  died ;  Catharine 
died;  John  and  wife  died;  Benjamin  died;  Samuel  and  first  wife  died;  Hannah 
died. 

"I,  Daniel  Deibert,  was  married  to  my  second  wife  the  first  day  of  April, 
1865,  Hannah,  wife  of  Joseph  Berger,  deceased,  a  bom  Kerschner. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  873 

"The  following  contains  the  family  of  Daniel  Deibert,  consisting  of  thir- 
teen children,  and  to  whom  they  were  married:  Marcus  to  Elizabeth  Allison; 
Lucy  to  George  Rischel;  Christian  to  Elias  Reed;  Henry  to  Susan  Hoffman; 
Catharine  to  John  Focht;  Susannah  to  George  Schafer;  William  to  Rebecca 
Saylor;  Jeremiah  to  Angeline  Huntzinger;  Daniel  to  Emma  Reber.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  the  deceased  children :  Daniel  died  at  the  age  of  a  year 
and  a  half ;  Elizabeth  died  at  the  age  of  six  years ;  Hannah  died  at  the  age  of 
two  weeks ;  John  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years ;  Jeremiah  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three  years.  The  above  named  children  all  died  in  their  youth,  except 
Jeremiah;  he  was  married  when  he  died.  His  wife  and  one  son  named  Jere- 
miah live  in  Iowa  at  present. 

"Eliza,  my  first  wife,  and  the  mother  of  the  above  named  children,  was  bom 
the  8th  day  of  July,  in  the"  year  1803,  and  died  February  25th,  1861,  aged 
fifty-seven  years,  seven  months  and  seventeen  days.  Her  sickness  was  dropsy : 
her  suffering  was  six  months,  but  she  bore  it  resignedly,  and  in  hope  of  a  blessed 
immortality.  She  looked  into  the  future.  Shortly  before  her  death  she  said 
to  me  and  the  children,  'When  I  die  don't  mourn  for  we  all  must  die ;  but  what 
I  desire  most  of  all  is,  that  you  may  all  be  converted  to  God,  then  we  shall' 
meet  again  in  heaven.  Eleven  years  ago,  when  I  was  very  sick  and  you  were 
young  yet,  it  seemed  much  harder  to  die  and  leave  you;  now,  you  are  all 
grown  up;  be  obedient  to  your  father  as  long  as  he  remains,  he  will  surely 
not  mislead  you,  but  direct  you  in  the  right  way.' 

"Nearly  the  same  time,  or  a  few  years  earlier  than  my  grandfather  settled 
here  in  Schuylkill  county,  a  German  family  by  the  name  of  Hartman  came 
from  Europe  and  settled  at  the  place  where  Orwigsburg  now  stands.  The  fam- 
ily consisted  of  the  parents  and  four  children,  two  boys  and  two  girls.  They 
were  a  pious  and  God  fearing  family ;  they  went  to  work  and  prospered  well. 
One  day,  in  fall,  in  the  year  1744,  Hartman  and  his  eldest  son  were  to  finish 
their  sowing.  Mrs.  Hartman  and  the  yc^ungest  son  went  to  the  mill  to  get 
some  grist  done,  but  little  they  thought  that  this  should  be  the  last  time  that 
they  should  see  each  other  in  this  world.  At  noon  when  they  were  eating  their  . 
dinner,  a  troop  of  Indians  came,  fifteen  in  number,  and  killed  Hartman  and 
his  eldest  son ;  plundered  the  house,  then  s^t  it  on  fire.  The  two  girls  they  took 
along  as  victims.  Towards  evening  when  Mrs.  Hartman  came  home,  she  found 
her  buildings  all  in  ashes.  They  burned  the  bodies  of  Hartman  and  his  son ; 
even  the  dog,  they  threw  him  into  the  flames  and  burned  him.  The  two  girls, 
as  above  mentioned,  aged  ten  and  thirteen  years,  they  took  along,  and  another 
little  girl  only  about  three  years  old,  that  they  took  along  as  victim,  from  a 
family  named  Smith.  They  murdered  the  father  of  that  family  in  the  morning, 
the  same  day  they  came  to  Hartman's,  the  girls  they  took  along  barefoot,  and 
soon  their  feet  got  sore  thit  they  could  hardly  walk  any  more ;  the  oldest  of 
the  girls  got  sick  and  could  go  no  farther ;  then  they  killed  her  with  the  toma- 
hawk. The  two  other  girls  they  wrapped  their  feet  with  old  cloth  and  took  them 
along  in  their  camp.  Mrs.  Hartman  was  very  much  troubled  about  her  husband 
and  children ;  some  hunters  found  the  body  6i  her  eldest  daughter  and  buried 
her.  She  could  comfort  herself  better  over  them  that  were  dead,  than  over  the 
one  she  knew  was  among  the  Indians.  She  was  a  praying  and  God  fearing 
woman  and  prayed  to  God  that  He  should  restore  the  child  to  her  .again ;  but 
years  passed  on  and  sometimes  she  heard  that  children  were  taken  from  the 
Indians,  then  she  went  to  see  whether  she  could  find  her  lost  daughter.  One 
time  she  went  as  far  as  Pittsburg,  but  all  in  vain.     So  nine  long  and  weary 


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874  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

years  passed  away,  and  she  prayed  to  God  fof  her  lost  daughter.  One  day  a 
man  brought  her  a  message  that  a  great  many  children  were  taken  from  the 
Indians  and  they  were  in  care  of  Colonel  Boquet  at  Carlisle.  As  soon  as  she 
heard  it  she  expected  to  find  her  long  lost  daughter  there,  so  she  started  for 
Carlisle ;  when  she  came  there  the  children  were  all  presented  to  her,  but  she 
could  not  recognize  one  that  might  be  her  daughter ;  she  spoke  to  some  of  them 
but  got  no  answer,  for  they  could  only  speak  the  Indian  langi6ge.  With  a 
heavy  heart  she  thought  she  had  to  go  home  again  without  her  daughter.  The 
Colonel  asked  her  whether  she  could  sing  a  German  hymn  they  used  to  sing  in 
their  family  at  home.  Then  she  commenced  to  sing  the  following  hymn :  * Allein 
und  doch  nicht  ganz  allein  bin  ich,'  meaning  in  English,  'Alone  and  yet  not 
all  alone  am  I.'  Then  a  grown-up  girl  sprang  to  her,  fell  around  her  neck  and 
kissed  her,  and  recogpized  her  as  her  dear  mother.  No  pen  can  describe  the 
joy  when  they  recognized  each  other  again.  O !  what  a  blessing  it  is  when  par- 
ents sing  and  pray  in  their  families  with  their  children.  This  hymn  the  mother 
sang  was  the  means  of  finding  her  long  lost  daughter  again. 

"At  Landingville,  near  George  Adams'  boatyard,  stood  a  small  log  mill  that 
the  Indians  burned  down. 

"Near  Landingville,  at  the  farm  now  owned  by  Daniel  Heim,  the  Indians 
took  a  sister  of  Martin  Werner  along  3s  a  victim. 

"In  Schuylkill  Haven,  where  the  Reading  shop  now  stands,  the  Indians 
murdered  a  family  by  the  name  of  Fincher,  and  burned  their  house. 

"One  day  a  troop  of  Indians,  eighteen  in  number,  passed  my  father's  house. 
They  looked  wild ;  they  had  bows  and  arrows,  and  blankets  around  them.  They 
laid  in  my  father's  woods  at  night ;  in  the  morning  they  went  to  Orwigsburg 
and  shot  small  pieces  of  money  at  a  distance  from  posts. 

"One  day  when  I  was  young,  father,  I  and  a  hired  man  were  mowing 
clover  in  a  field ;  two  deers  came  to  the  cows  in  the  adjoining  field,  and  made 
company  with  the  cows.    Father  went  for  the  gun  and  shot  one  of  them. 

"In  the  year  1850  there  was  a  very  high  flood.  The  Schuylkill  river  went 
over  its  banks  and  swept  several  houses  away  between  Schuylkill  Haven  and 
Pottsville.  Several  houses  and  a  barn  were  taken  away  by  the  flood.  Bridges 
were  swept  away.  Above  Port  Clinton  a  stone  grist  mill  was  taken  away  by  the 
flood,  and  two  families  consisting  of  eleven  persons  were  drowned.  They  found 
some  of  the  drowned  bodies  below  Hamburg. 

"Children  and  ;whoever  wants  to  read  this,  to  tell  you  more  of  my  life  and 
experience,  for  what  then?  Because  my  parents  and  grandparents  told  their 
experiences  in  life,  and  I  heard  them  with  delight.  I  am  old  and  weak  now; 
cannot  work  any  more. 

"My  grandfather  said  after  the  Indians  went  away,  some  of  them  came 
back  again  to  rob  them  of  their  planting  fruits.  My  grandfather  and  his 
brother  Michael  had  to  flee  over  the  Blue  mountain  to  their  father's  home. 
They  buried  their  implements  on  the  other  side  of  the  Schuylkill  river,  in  the 
woods,  that  the  Indians  could  not  get  them;  but  when  they  came  back  they 
didn't  find  them  any  more.  And  they  didn't  find  them  till  the  Schuylkill  canal 
was  made,  then  they  dug  them  out  again. 

"And  now  something  about  myself.  Once  I  was  in  danger  on  the  Schuylkill 
river.  At  Landingville  I  used  to  run  a  ferry  boat  for  taking  passengers 
to  and  fro  over  the  Schuylkill.  The  water  was  very  high ;  I  had  ten  passengers 
to  take  over.  We  came  safe  over,  but  landed  far  down  on  the  other  side. 
Once  I  got  very  sick,  but  it  was  my  own  fault.    After  a  thunder  shower  I 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  875 

waded  into  the  Schuylkill  to  get  out  a  fish  net.  I  was  tending  the  guard  lock 
and  boats  were  coming,  and  had  no  time  to  put  dry  clothes  on,  and  that  gave  me 
my  sickness.  When  I  was  sick  in  bed  two  neighbors  visited  me,  named  Gross 
and  Poh ;  they  were  both  lock  tenders  and  they  had  a  dispute  about  religious 
matters.  Gross  didn't  believe  in  the  New  Testament.  He  believed  where  it  is 
said,  *An  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth.'  Poh  said  he  believed  in  the 
New  Testament,  and  said  if  he  should  be  struck  on  the  right  cheek,  that  he 
would  offer  the  left,  also,  rather  than  strike  back.  Gross  then  gave  him  a  hard 
blow  on  the  right  cheek,  that  he  nearly  fell  from  his  chair ;  but  he  offered  his 
left  cheek,  also.  Then  Gross  went  off,  as  it  seemed  Gross  lived  in  this  con- 
dition, and  was  fighting  afterwards  with  two  men  and  got  hurt  and  died  from 
the  effects  thereof.    It  was  said  that  he  wished  to  kill  those  men  before  he  died. 

"Some  natural  wonders :  The  first  appeared  when  I  was  young.  It  was  a 
dark  spot  on  the  sun,  through  the  whole  summer.  The  summer  was  very  cool. 
It  had  frost  every  month.  Through  haymaking  and  harvest,  men  had  to  keep 
their  coats  on.  It  gave  very  little  good  grain.  The  next  was  in  the  year  1833, 
November  12th,  from  midnight  till  morning,  fiery  flakes  fell  from  heaven,  the 
same  as  large  snowflakes.  It  make  a  red  shining.  The  farmers'  teams  which 
went  out  to  cross  the  Broad  mountain  had  trouble  with  their  horses,  they  were 
afraid.  In  South  Carolina  it  was  more  severe.  A  slaveholder,  who  had  a 
number  of  slaves,  was  awakened  up  by  them ;  they  thought  the  world  was  on 
fire.  This  miracle  we  can  also  read  in  a  book  i)earing  the  title  The  Coming 
Wonders.'  The  next  miracle  a  red  ball  passed  through  the  air,  just  before 
sunset,  in  harvest  time,  just  a  little  before  the  slave  war  broke  out.  This  ball 
shone  like  the  full  moon ;  it  moved  from  west  to  east.  It  was  a  remarkable 
affair. 

"Dear  friends,  and  whoever  reads  tnis,  that  ye  may  know  that  where 
our  forefathers  had  come  from,  and  been  bom  and  buried,  and  that  they 
had  a  hard  and  troublesome  life. 

"I,  your  father,  Daniel  Deibert,  am  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  third  generation 
of  the  Deibert  family.  I  had  nearly  the  same  hardships  to  go  through  as  my 
forefathers,  but  I  will  not  lament  over  it,  the  Lord  has  helped  hitherto." 

WARREN  G.  BROWN,  who  has  been  proprietor'^of  the  "Keystone  Hotel" 
at  Schuylkill  Haven  for  several  years  past,  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  that 
borough.  He  was  bom  there  Nov.  24,  1877,  son  of  Col.  Charles  E.  Brown  and 
grandson  of  John  Brown. 

The  family  is  of  Irish  origin.  John  Brown  was  bom  in  Ireland,  came  to 
America  when  eighteen  years  old,  and  settled  at  Moyers  Mills,  between 
Schuylkill  Haven  and  Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  Co..  Pa.  By  trade  he  was  a 
miller.  Shortly  after  his  marriage  he  removed  to  the  Catawissa  valley,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  contracting  business,  building  railroad  bridges.  Besides  he 
followed  his  trade,  owning  two  gristmills  and  two  sawmills,  and  was  a  well 
known  man  of  his  day  in  the  Catawissa  valley.  He  died  there  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years.  By  his  marriage  to  Sarah  Moyer  he  had  children  as  follows : 
Joseph,  Benjamin,  John,  Charles  E.,  Mary  A.,  Martha  and  Margaret. 

Col.  Charles  E.  Brown,  father  of  Warren  G.  Brown,  was  born  in  the  Cata- 
wissa valley  Dec.  11,  1841,  and  when  a  boy  was  employed  upon  the  canal, 
continuing  that  work  until  he  enlisted,  Aug.  8,  1861,  in  Company  C,  50th 
Pennsylvania  Veteran  Volunteers.  He  served  until  Aug.  8,  1865,  having  won- 
derful experiences  as  a  soldier.     Beginning  as  a  private,  he  was  promoted  to 


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876  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

corporal  and  served  one  year  in  that  rank,  until  advanced  to  lieutenant.  Dur- 
ing the  thirty  days  he  held  that  position  he  was  presented  a  medal  of  honor  by 
Congress  for  bravery,  and  was  then  promoted  to  captain  of  his  company. 
His  period  of  service  covered  four  years  to  the  day,  and  he  took  part  in  all 
the  principal  battles  that  were  fought.  After  his  discharge  he  returned  to 
Schuylkill  Haven  and  again  was  employed  on  the  canal,  in  different  positions, 
at  boating  and  at  the  Landing.  He  was  also  an  officer  during  the  time  the 
Molly  Maguires  were  active  in  this  section,  and  made  many  arrests ;  he  knew 
the  notorious  Pat  Hester,  one  of  their  leaders.  Going  to  New  Pork  City, 
Mr.  Brown  ran  a  barge  for  some  time,  and  on  his  return  to  Schuylkill  Haven 
ha4^  a  team  and  traveled  through  the  country,  selling  goods.  He  then  went 
back  to  New  York  City  for  two  years,  was  subsequently  located  in  Philadel- 
phia for, five  years,  and  returned  once  mpre  to  Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he 
was  watchman  at  the  First  National  Bank  during  the  construction  of  its 
present  buildingf,  and  also  for  the  Schuylkill  Haven  Trust  Company.  In  191 1 
he  was  appointed  gatekeeper  at  the  county  almshouse,  and  still  holds  that  posi- 
tion. Colonel  Brown  is  a  chatter  member*  of  Jere  Helms  Post,  No.  36,  G.  A. 
R.,  and  a  past  officer  of  that  organization.  He  has  been  connected  with  sev- 
eral other  orders,  all  of  which  are  now  out  of  existence.  Colonel  Brown  is 
a  stanch  Republican,  and  for  six  years  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  of 
Schuylkill  Haven.  He  resides  on  St.  John  street,  Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he 
is  a  very  well  known  and  mu«h  respected  citizen. 

Colonel  Brown  married  Frances  Mellon,  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  and 
they  have  had  children  as  follows :  Ella  married  Ambrose  Freeman,  and  died 
leaving  two  daughters,.  Ada  and  Mabel,  who  reside  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.; 
Martha,  Harry  and  Robert  all  died  young;  Warren  G.  and  Arthur  complete 
the  family. 

Warren  G.  Brown  was  educated  in  the  local  schools.  His' first  work  w^as 
for  Dr.  Koxe,  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  in  the  laboratory,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  two  years  and  six  months,  after  which  he  became  a  clerk  for  D.  D.  Yoder, 
at  the  "Washington  House,"  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he  continued  for  two 
years.  His  next  employment  was  with  the  Gerber  Shoe  Company,  at  Schuyl- 
kill Haven,  and  he  coi^inued  with  that  concern  for  a  period  of  nine  years, 
following  which  for  a  short  time  he  was  employed  at  Orwigsburg.  For  the 
four  years  succeeding  he  was  employed  by  the  Eastern  Street  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  for  a  similar  period  was  engaged  in  the  green  grocery  business  at 
Schuylkill  Haven,  on  Nov.  11,  1907,  entering  his  present  business.  The  **Key- 
stone  Hotel"  is  located  at  Dock  and  Willow  streets,  Schuylkill  Haven,  and 
Mr.  Brown  has  made  a  success  of  the  hotel,  which  has  been  well  patronized 
throughout  the  period  of  his  ownership.  His  personal  popularity  and  reputa- 
tion for  solid  business  qualities,  gained  in  the  efficient  discharge  of  various 
public  responsibilities,  have  no  doubt  attracted  customers,  and  the  comforts 
and  conveniences  afforded  by  the  house  have  held  old  and  new  trade  both. 

Mr.  Brown  was  formerly  a  member  of  Company  F,  4th  Regiment,  National 
Guard,  at  Pottsville,  and  during  the  Spanish-American  war  he  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  4th  Regiment,  which  was  attached  to  the  3d  Brigade.  He  went 
to  Porto  Rico  with  his  regiment,  serving  as  corporal  and  also  acting  quarter- 
master for  some  time.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  served  as  ward 
constable  three  times,  as  election  inspector,  and  as  a  member  of  the  borough 
council.  He  was  honored  with  the  presidency  of  that  body,  and  it  was  during 
his  term  that  the  street  paving  was  done  in  the  borough.    For  the  last  twenty- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  877 

two  years  Mr.  Brown  has  been  a  member  of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of 
America,  and  he  also  holds  membership  in  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 
Mr.  Brown  married  Annie  E.  Deibert,  daughter  of  William  and  Rebecca 
(Saylor)  Deibert,  and  they  have  one  son,  James  Lawton,  who  is  at  school. 
The  family  are  members  of  Trinity  Evangelical  Church. 

JOHN  H.  LYNCH,  a  well  known  citizen  and  storekeeper  of  Gordon, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  in  Wales  in  1847,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Emma  (Evans)  Lynch.  He  came  to  America  in  1852  with  two  of  his  brothers 
and  settled  in  Pottsville.  His  grandfather,  William  Lynch,  was  a  native  of 
Wales  and  a  hatter  by  trade. 

John  Lynch,  father  of  John  H.  Lynch,  was  a  native  of  Wales,  and  a 
machinist  by  trade.  He  married  in  Wales  Emma  Evans,  daughter  of  William 
Evans,  who  was  a  native  of  England,  and  served  as  a  soldier  under  Welling- 
ton at  the  battle  of  Waterloo ;  his  daughter  Emma  was  bom  in  a  British  army 
barracks  in  England.  Her  father  died  in  England,  and  she  died  in  1880 
in  Cressona,  Sdiuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lynch  were  bom  five 
children:  William,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  enlisted  in  the  army  from 
Schuylkill  county,  and  who  also  served  in  the  United  States  navy,  died  in 
California,  and  is  buried  in  the  national  cemetery  in  Napa  county,  that  State; 
Walter  died  at  Cressona;  Frank  died  in  1904;  Emma  is  also  deceased;  John 
H.  completes  the  family.  John  Lynch  died  in  Cressona,  March  10,  1903,  and 
is  buried  in  the  cemetery  there. 

John  H.  Lynch  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  P\)ttsville  and  Cressona, 
and  leamed  the  trade  of  machinist,  which  he  followed  in  Cressona  until  1868. 
Then  he  went  to  Sunbury  for  one  year,  and  retuming  to  this  coimty  went  to 
work  in  the  shops  of  the  Reading  Railway  Company  at  Gordon.  He  remained 
in  the  machine  shops  here  for  seventeen  years  and  then  embarked  in  the 
general  store  business  at  Gordon,  which  he  has  continued  to  conduct  since 
with  success. 

In  1867  Mr.  Lynch  was  married  to  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Cathe- 
rine Wildermuth,  natives  of  Schuylkill  county.  Henry  Wildermuth  died  in 
1853  at  Cressona  and  his  wife  died  in  1874  at  the  home  of  her  daughter 
Rebecca.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lynch  have  been  bom  nine  children,  of  whom 
five  survive:  Carrie,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  H.  Grant  Uhler,  of  Gordon; 
Harry  is  residing  at  Gordon;  Emma  is  at  home;  Ella  is  the  wife  of  T.  W. 
Hammonds,  of  Bryn  Mawr,  near  Philadelphia;  George  resides  at  Essington, 
Pa.,  as  does  his  brother  Arthur.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lynch  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  he  being  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  treasurer 
of  the  board  of  stewards.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  Ashland  Lodge, 
No.  294,  F.  &  A.  M.,  since  1873,  h^s  passed  all  the  chairs,  and  has  been  a 
past  master  for  thirty-four  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Citizens'  Water 
Company  of  Gordon,  has  been  a  member  of  the  Gordon  school  board  for 
eighteen  years,  and  is  now  treasurer  of  that  body. 

REV.  WILLIAM  GANGLOFF,  of  McKeansbur^,  Schuylkill  county,  has 
been  officiating  as  pastor  of  the  Church  of  God  at  Steigerwalt  since  he  entered 
the  ministry,  preaching  regularly  in  the  local  circuit,  which  also  comprises 
the  Aubum  and  West  Penn  churches.  Sincerity  of  purpose  and  high  Chris- 
tian principles  have  guided  him  in  all  his  relations  with  his  fellowmen,  among 
whom  he  is  justly  esteemed,  both  for  nobility  of  character  and  practical 


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878  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

service.  As  proprietor  of  a  general  store  at  McKeansburg  for  several  years, 
in  business  he  has  sustained  the  high  reputation  gained  in  his  efforts  to'  min- 
ister to  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  community. 

The  family  has  been  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county  since  the  day  of 
Mr.  Gangloff's  grandfather,  George  Ganglotf,  who  came  from  Germany  and 
settled  in  West  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a  farm 
laborer,  and  acquired  the  ownership  of  a  tract  of  fifteen  acres.  He  had  the 
following  children :  George,  deceased,  married  Hannah  Paul,  who  resides  at 
Orwigsburg;  Henry  is  mentioned  below;  Dorothy  married  Christian  Koch, 
and  berth  are  deceased ;  John  married  a  Miss  Schoffstall,  who  is  deceased,  and 
he  lives  near  Tower  City;  Jacob  married  Maria  Shoener,  and  they  live  at 
Orwigsburg;  Kate  married  Wesley  Knittle.  The  father  lived  to  be  eighty- 
one  years  old,  and  is  buried  at  the  Steigerwalt  church.  He  belonged  to  the 
Church  of  God  there,  and  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

Henry  Gangloff,  father  of  Rev.  William  Gangloff ,  was  bom  in  West  Bruns- 
wick township  April  14,  1834,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  township, 
and  in  early  life  began  to  work  as  farm  laborer  on  the  neighboring  farms. 
Later  he  bought  a  farm  of  100  acres,  seventy-five  acres  of  which  were  cleared 
ground,  in  East  Brunswick  township,  where  he  carried  on  general  farming 
for  the  rest  of  his  days.  His  death  occurred  March  28,  1904,  and  he  is  buried 
with  his  second  wife  in  the  Kimmel  cemetery.  Mr.  Gangloff  first  married 
Polly  Gehret,  a  daughter  of  George  Gehret,  and  they  had  these  children: 
Mary  is  the  widow  of  William  Knittle,  and  resides  in  West  Brunswick  town- 
ship; Sarah  married  Samuel  McKinny,  and  they  reside  at  Camden,  N.  J.  The 
mother  died  and  Mr.  Gangloff  married  Sallie  Gehret  (a  sister  of  his  first 
wife),  who  was  born  April  18,  1829,  near  Fleetwood,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.  Children 
as  follows  were  bom  to  this  marri^e:  Mary  is  the  widow  of  William 
McKinny,  and  lives  at  Auburn,  Pa.;  Caroline  is  the  widow  of  David  Smith, 
and  lives  at  Orwigsburg;  George,  deceased,  married  Mary  Herman,  and  she 
lives  at  Orwigsburg;  Joanna,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  William  Heine,  who 
lives  at  South  Bethlehem,  Pa. ;  Henry,  deceased,  married  Ellen  Fisher,  now 
a  resident  of  Auburn,  Pa. ;  William  is  mentioned  below ;  Alice  married  Robert 
Heckert,  of  Lehigh  county.  Pa.;  Fred  died  unmarried.  Mr.  Gangloff  was  a 
zealous  member  of  the  Church  of  God,  uniting  with  the  KimmeFs  Church 
near  Orwigsburg,  and  was  one  of  the  active  officials  of  the  congregation. 
He  also  did  his  duty  in  town  affairs,  serving  ably  as  school  director  and  super- 
visor, and  supported  the  Democratic  party  in  political  matters. 

William  Gangloff  was  born  in  West  Brunswick  township  May  16,  1864, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  West  Brunswick  and  East  Bruns- 
wick townships.  He  began  life  as  a  farmer,  working  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  after  which  he  worked  for  other  farmers 
until  his  marriage.  Then  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Rail- 
road Company  as  a  repairman,  being  so  employed  for  three  years,  when  he 
resumed  farm  work,  at  which  he  continued  for  ten  years  more.  By  that  time 
he  had  finished  his  preparation  and  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Church  of 
God,  preaching  in  the  circuit  comprising  the  churches  of  Frackville,  Debinders, 
Auburn,  Steigerwalts  and  West  Penn.  He  was  in  this  circuit  for  four  years, 
when  it  was  reduced  to  the  churches  of  Steigerwalts,  Auburn  and  West  Penn, 
as  at  present,  and  he  has  since  served  that  circuit.  In  April,  1913,  Mr.  Gang- 
loff went  into  the  general  store  business  at  McKeansburg;  he  raises  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  vegetables  in  the  lots  he  owns  at  McKeansburg. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  '  879 

Mr.  Gangloif  married  Elmira  Priscilla  Stamm,  a  native  of  East  Brunswick 
township,  bom  in  January,  1869,  a  daughter  of  Severinus  and  Elizabeth 
(Frantz)  Stamm.  She  was  educated  in  East  Brunswick  township  and  at 
McKeansburg,  attending  public  school.  Six  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gangloff:  (i)  Kate  Rachel,  bom  Feb.  2,  1888,  married  Robert 
Mengel,  a  son  of  Francis  Mengel,  of  Frackville.  They  have  the  following 
children:  Wilbert  G.,  bom  June  12,  1909;  Rijth  Catherine,  Sept.  17,  1910; 
Ethel  May,  Jan.  6,  1912;  Leah  Elizabeth,  Nov.  23,  1914.  (2)  Sarah  Elizabeth 
was  bom  Sept.  17,  1889.  (3)  Alice  Elmira,  bom  March  29,  1894,  married 
Clayton  Bolich,  and  has  one  child,  Mildred  Elmira.  (4)  William  H.  S.  was 
bom  Sept.  7,  1897;  (5)  Mamie  Priscilla,  May  4,  1899;  (6)  Daniel,  Aug.  2, 
1904. 

The  Stamm  family,  to  which  Mrs.  Gangloff  belongs,  has  long  been  well 
and  favorably  known  in  Berks  county.  The  name  Stamm  or  Stam  is  found 
frequently  in  the  lists  of  emigrants  to  America.  On  the  passenger  list  of  the 
"Hope,**  Daniel  Reed,  master,  from  Rotterdam,  qualified  Sept.  23,  1734,  is 
the  name  of  Peter  Stam,  aged  twenty;  on  the  "Samuel,"  Hugh  Percy,  captain, 
from  Rotterdam,  qualified  Dec.  3,  1740,  that  of  Adam  Stam,  aged  twenty- 
five  ;  on  the  "Francis  and  Elizabeth,"  George  North,  master,  from  Rotterdam, 
qualified  Sept.  21,  1742,  those  of  Johann  Adam  Stam  and  Werner  Stam;  on 
the  snow  "Charlotte,"  John  Mason,  master,  from  Rotterdam,  Sept.  5,  1743, 
Johann  Jacob  Stam;  on  the  "Phoenix,"  William  Wilson,  commander,  from 
Rotterdam,  Sept.  30,  1743,  Johannes  Stamm;  and  on  the  "Union,"  Andrew 
Bryson,  captain,  from  Rotterdam,  Sept.  30,  1774,  Adam  Stam. 

The  Stamm  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Berks  county.  Werner  (or 
Peter)  and  Johann  Adam  Stam  (or  Stamm),  brothers,  were  natives  of 
Switzerland,  and  emigrated  to  the  New  World  on  the  ship  ''Francis  and 
Elizabeth,"  George  North,  commander,  from  Rotterdam.  It  qualified  at 
Philadelphia  Sept.  21,  1742,  and  of  the  141  male  emigrants  who  had  taken 
passage  many  settled  in  Berks  county,  their  descendants  being  still  found  in 
good  numbers  in  the  districts  where  they  located.  Where  Johann  Adam  Stam 
settled,  or  what  became  of  him,  we  do  not  know.  The  other  brother,  Wemer, 
was  the  ancestor  of  the  Stamms  of  Berks  county.  He  was  bom  Nov.  13,  1726, 
in  Bem,  Switzerland,  and  died  May  16,  1795.  He  settled  in  what  is  now 
Bem  township,  in  1763,  obtaining  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of 
Mount  Pleasant,  in  Berks  county,  where  he  lived  and  died.  He  and  his  wife 
are  buried  in  the  old  Bem  Church.  He  married  May  26,  1748,  Catharine, 
bom  in  1728,  died  Nov.  4,  1812.  Among  his  children  were  two  sons  named 
Nicholas  and  Frederick. 

The  name  Peter  is  said  to  have  been  Wemer  Stam.  There  is  a  Wemer 
Stam  buried  at  the  Bem  Church.  The  Pennsylvania  Archives  record  the  name 
as  Peter,  but  this  is  reputed  to  be  an  error,  the  tax  lists,  church  records,  etc., 
all  bearing  evidence  to  the  contrary.  However,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
Wemer  Stamm  was  under  age  when  the  two  mentioned  in  the  Archives 
arrived,  and  for  that  reason  his  name  does  not  appear.  The  date  of  their  land- 
ing agrees  with  the  tradition  that  old  members  of  the  family  have  of  Wcmer's 
coming  to  America. 

Frederick  Stamm,  son  of  Wemer,  the  emigrant  ancestor,  had  the  following 
children:  John;  Frederick;  Jacob;  Catharine,  married  to  Abraham  Good; 
Mary,  married  to  Dr.  Schwartz;  Maria  Magdalena  married  to  Peter  Bright 
(1793.1877). 


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880  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Nicholas  Stamm,  son  of  Wemer,  bom  April  22,  1752,  died  Oct.  6,  1828. 
He  married  Catharine  Lerch,  born  April  21,  1754,  died  May  16,  1844.  Like 
his  parents  they  are  buried  in  the  Bern  Church.  Among  their  children  were : 
Johann  Adam,  Frederick,  Peter,  John,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Graeff,  Philip,  William, 
Catherine  (married  Peter  Reinhart)  and  Benjamin.  Some  of  this  family 
moved  to  Lycoming,  Snyder  and  Northumberland  counties. 

John  Jacob  Stamm,  Uie  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Gangloff,  was  bom  in  Berks 
coimty,  at  Moimt  Pleasant.  He  was  a  cabinetmaker,  having  leamed  that  trade 
in  his  native  county.  Coming  to  West  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  coimty, 
he  rented  'Preacher  Moyer's  farm  for  a  number  of  years,  until  he  removed 
to  Mount  iEtna,  Berks  county,  and  bought  a  farm  of  sixty  acres,  which  he 
operated  until  1866.  Then  he  retumed  to  McKeansburg,  where  he  died  in 
1871,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  six  months.  He  is  buried  at  the  Frieden's 
Church,  New  Ringgold,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Elizabeth,  who  died  when  her  son 
Severinus  was  very  yoimg,  is  buried  at  Orwigsbui^.  Children  as  follows  were 
bom  to  them :  Israel  married  Maria  Weaver ;  John  married  Kate  Haas ;  Mary 
married  William  Frantz;  Sarah  married  John  Weaver;  Kate  married  William 
Tyson;  Eliza  married  Joseph  Marburger;  Severinus  was  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Gangloff.  Mr.  Stamm  was  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church,  at  Mount  iEtna,  Berks  county. 

Severinus  Stamm,  father  of  Mrs.  Gangloff,  was  bora  Oct.  23,  1839,  in 
West  Brunswick  township,  attended  school  in  berks  county,  and  stayed  with 
his  parents  until  he  was  fourteen  years  old.  He  then  moved  to  Adair  county, 
Mo.,  and  worked  as  a  cowboy,  going  thence  to  Kansas  and  then  to  Iowa  in 
i860.  There  he  fed  cattle  until  July  12,  1861,  the  date  of  his  enlistment  in 
Company  K,  2d  Iowa  Cavalry,  under  Captain  Crocker,  to  serve  three  years. 
He  was  mustered  in  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  assigned  to  the  Westem  Army. 
In  March,  1864,  he  reenlisted,  in  the  same  company,  under  Capt  Charles 
P.  Moore,  at  Germantown,  Tenn.,  to  serve  during  the  war,  and  was  discharged 
at  Thelma,  Ala.,  Sept.  25,  1865.  He  participated  in  about  thirty-five  engage- 
ments, including:  Monterey,  Booneville,  Corinth,  Black  Head,  siege  of 
Corinth,  Cold  Water,  Coffeeville,  Prairie  Station,  Palo  Alto,  Pigeon  Roost 
Creek,  Tuscahomat,  Jackson,  La  Grange,  Colliersville,  Moscow,  Prairie  Sta- 
tion, Oakolona,  Tupelo,  Hurricane  Creek,  Butler  Creek,  Lawrencebuiig, 
Campbellsville,  Nosbulle,  Little  Nazareth,  Rutherford,  and  Anthony  Hill. 

On  his  rettim  from  the  army  Mr.  Stamm  stopped  off  at  Drehersville  and 
visited  his  sister,  Mrs.  Marburger,  and  then  went  to  farming  with  his  brother 
Israel,  near  New  Ringgold,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Walter  Grube.  He 
remained  there  three  years,  and  next  went  to  McKeansburg,  to  work  with 
Daniel  Frantz,  learning  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  followed  his  trade  for 
seventeen  years,  as  a  bridge  builder  and  general  carpenter,  and  in  187 1  settled 
at  McKeansburg,  where  Asides  working  at  his  trade  he  helped  the  neighbor- 
ing farmers.  He  retired  about  four  years  ago.  Mr.  Stamm  was  formerly 
a  Democrat,  but  is  now  a  Republican.  By  reason  of  his  army  service  he 
belongs  to  Sevem  Post,  No.  no,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Mahanoy  City;  he  was  a  charter 
member  of  both  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  and  Odd  Fellows  lodges  at  New  Ringgold, 
and  belongs  to  the  Reformed  congregation  of  the  Frieden's  Church. 

Mr.  Stamm  married  Elizabeth  Frantz,  who  was  bom  Jan.  i,  1846,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Rachel  (Lutz)  Frantz.  They  have  had  a  large  fam- 
ily, viz.:  Lauranna  Victoria  married  Harry  Fink,  of  Annville,  Pa.;  Elmira 
Priscilla  is  Mrs.  Gangloff;  Kate  Rachel  married  Oscar  Miller;  Sallie  Ara- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  881 

bella  died  m  infancy;  John  Severinus  is  unmarried;  Mamie  Eliza  married 
Daniel  Saul;  Daniel  Israel  married  Rosie  Shellhammer;  William  Jacob,  twin 
of  Daniel  I.,  married  Mary  Hill;  Nydia  Maria  married  Frank  Miller;  George 
Aquilla  married  Nora  Hill;  Laura  Saloma  May  married  Robert  Grimes. 

AARON  NESTER  is  one  of  the  best  known  residents  of  West  Penn 
township,  where  he  has  served  as  constable  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
The  family  has  been  identified  with  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county  for 
.almost  a  century,  anci  his  earlier  ancestors  lived  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  his 
grandfather,  Daniel  Nester,  having  been  a  native  of  that  county,  bom  in 
Hereford  township.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer,  following  Uiose  occu- 
pations all  his  life,  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion, 
belonging  to  the  Hill  Church  in  Hereford  township,  where  he  and  his  wife, 
Esther  (Moyer),  are  buried.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Elijah,  who  died  unmarried;  Daniel,  who  married  Priscilla  Kepner, 
and  settled  in  Schuylkill  county;  Benjamin;  Henry,  who  married  Hannah 

Zimmerly  and  (second)  Sarah ;  Aaron,  who  never  married;  Sallie, 

Mrs.  J.  Shirey;  Esther,  Mrs.  Samuel  Seiple;  and  Lydia,  who  died  in  child- 
hood. 

Benjamin  Nester,  son  of  Daniel,  was  the  father  of  Aaron  Nester.  He 
was  bom  Feb.  20,  1815,  in  Hereford  township,  Berks  county,  and  there  grew 
to  manhood,  working  on  the  farm  for  his  father  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
Coming  to  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  he  settled  at  Rauschs 
and  there  learned  rolling-mill  work  in  the  plant  of  John  Rausch,  in  which 
employ  he  continued  for  about  ten  or  twelve  years.  He  then  bought  a  farm 
of  112  acres,  most  of  which  he  cleared,  residing  there  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  March,  1894.  His  land  was  devoted  to  general  farming,  and  he 
made  a  specialty  of  the  raising  of  fine  stock,  doing  well  in  both  lines.  Intelli- 
gent and  public-spirited,  he  took  an  active  interest  in  local  affairs,  and  served 
his  fellow  citizens  many  terms  as  school  director,  and  also  in  the  office  of 
tax  collector.  Politically  he  was  associated  with  the  Democratic  party.  In 
religious  faith  he  was  a  Lutheran,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Frieden's 
Church  at  New  Ringgold  and  one  of  its  most  zealous  officials,  having  been 
deacon,  elder  and  trustee.  He  is  buried  at  that  church,  as  is  also  his  wife 
Lillie. 

Mr.  Nester's  first  wife  was  Lillie  Seltzer,  and  she  and  her  father,  William 
Seltzer,  were  natives  of  East  Brunswick  township.  She  died  when  about 
forty  years  old,  the  mother  of  four  children,  namely :  John  D.,  who  married 
Catherine  Behler  (she  is  deceased)  ;  William,  now  a  resident  of  Tamaqua, 
Pa.,  who  married  Mary  Bock  and  (second)  Judith  Moyer;  Mary,  wife  of 
William  Kunkle,  of  Rush  township,  Schuylkill  county;  and  Benjamin,  who 
died  in  boyhood.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Nester  married  Lena  Shuster,  who 
was  bom  at  sea  while  her  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Solomon  Shuster,  natives 
of  Germany,  were  bringing  their  family  to  America.  Mrs.  Nester  is  now 
(191 5)  about  eighty  years  of  age,  and  is  living  with  her  daughter  Emma  (Mrs. 
W.  W.  Kleckner)  in  East  Brunswick  township.  To  this  union  were  bom 
seven  children:  Aaron;  David,  who  married  Sarah  Dreibelbeis  and  lives  at 
Geneva,  N.  Y. ;  Charles  (deceased),  who  married  Sarah  Behler,  his  widow 
living  at  Hometown,  Schuylkill  county ;  Emma,  married  to  W.  W.  Kleckner, 
of  East  Bmnswick  township;  Oara,  wife  of  Adam  Behler,  of  West  Penn 
township;  Catherine  and  Alice,  living  with  their  mother. 
VoL  II--18 


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882  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Aaron  Nester  was  bom  in  East  Brunswick  township,  at  the  place  Francis 
Bachert  now  occupies,  and  was  reared  and  educated  there,  attending  Rausch's 
school.  His  early  years  were  spent  assisting  his  father,  for  whom  he  worked 
^until  twenty-one  years  old.  Afterwards  he  was  employed  at  the  New  Ring- 
gold furnace,  operated  by  the  Little  Schuylkill  Coal  Company,  for  a  couple 
of  years,  but  when  he  married  he  decided  to  resiune  farming,  and  bought  from 
Solomon  Lynn  most  of  the  property  in  West  Penn  township  where  he  has 
since  resided.  His  first  purchase  was  eighty-four  acres,  to  which  he  has 
added  by  another  investment  until  he  now  has  102  acres,  of  which  about 
eighty  acres  are  under  cultivation,  in  general  crops.  There  are  several  acres 
in  fruit,  Mr.  Nester  having  two  himdred  peach  trees,  one  hundred  apple  trees, 
and  twenty  plum  trees.  He  markets  his  products  at  Lansford,  Carbon  county. 
Mr.  Nester  has  prospered  in  his  own  work  by  diligence  and  thrift,  profiting 
by  modem  methods  and  appliances,  and  he  has  shown  .himself  just  as  wide- 
awake in  other  matters,  giving  his  encouragement  and  support  to  all  projects 
which  have  the  general  welfare  in  view.  He  has  taken  considerable  part  in 
politics  in  the  township  as  a  worker  in  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  served 
twenty-six  years  as  constable  of  West  Penn  township.  He  is  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  Washington  Camp  No.  132,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  North  Penn,  in  his  home 
township,  and  is  a  past  president  of  that  organization.  Like  most  of  the  fam- 
ily he  is  a  Lutheran  on  religious  questions,  belonging  to  Zion's  Church  in 
West  Penn  township,  and  formerly  taught  in  the  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  Nester  married  Priscilla  Oswald,  who  was  bom  Feb.  18,  1853,  in 
East  Bmnswick  township,  where^she  was  reared  and  educated,  remaining  at 
home  until  her  marriage.  She,  too,  is  a  member  of  Zion's  Lutheran  congre- 
gation, and  has  taught  in  the  Sunday  school.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nester  have 
been  bom  the  following  children:  Rosie  died  when  three  years  old;  John 
Daniel  is  living  at  home ;  Wilson  died  when  five  years,  six  months  old ;  Victor 
Benjamin  is  at  home;  Amandus  William,  now  living  at  Bowmansville,  Car- 
bon county,  married  Mary  HoflFman;  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  John  Bachert  and 
lives  at  Rauschs,  in  East  Brunswick  township;  Mamie  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Winter  and  also  lives  at  Rauschs;  Clara,  wife  of  Oscar  Welsh,  lives  at  Tama- 
qua,  this  county ;  Eva  married  Charles  ShaeflFer  and  lives  at  Pinedale,  in  West 
Brunswick  township,  this  county.  All  of  this  family  were  educated  at  the 
Sassaman  (No.  10)  school  in  West  Penn  township.  Rosie  and  Wilson  are 
buried  at  Zion's  Church. 

Elias  Oswald,  Mrs.  Nester's  grandfather,  came  to  this  region  from  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  and  farmed  in  West  Penn  township,  owning  and  operating  the 
place  now  occupied  by  James  Homberg.  He  had  about  eiehty  acres,  and 
cleared  nearly  half  of  it,  raising  general  crops  and  prospering  by  dint  of  indus- 
try and  close  application  to  his  work.  He  built  the  old  stone  house  on  that 
property,  and  died  there.  Mr.  Oswald  was  an  earnest  Christian  and  active 
in  the  work  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church,  assisting  in  the  erection  of  the  present 
stone  church  used  by  that  congregation.  All  the  family  are  buried  there.  In 
politics  he  supported  the  Democratic  party.  His  children  were :  Elias,  Hoff- 
man, Emmanuel,  Catherine  and  Polly.    Elias  was  the  only  one  that  married. 

Elias  Oswald,  son  of  Elias,  above,  was  a  native  of  East  Bmnswick  town- 
ship, where  he  spent  his  early  life  and  received  his  education.  He  became  a 
farmer,  owning  a  tract  of  ninety  acres  which  he  bought  from  Samuel  Hoff- 
man, the  place  now  owned  by  his  son  John  Oswald,  upon  which  he  remained 
to  the  close  of  his  long  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.    For  many 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  883 

years  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  general  fanning,  retiring  about  five  years 
before  his  death.  He  attended  market  at  Tamaqua.  Like  his  father  he  was 
a  zealous  member  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church  in  West  Penn  township,  hold- 
ing the  offices  of  elder,  deacon,  etc.,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  that 
church.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment.  Mr.  Oswald  married 
Catherine  Hoffman,  who  was  born  in  East  Brunswick  township,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  (Dreisbach)  Hoffman,  and  they  had  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Priscilla,  wife  of  Aaron  Nester;  Frank,  who  married  Caroline 
Miller  and  is  now  living  in  Oklahoma ;  John,  who  is  on  the  homestead,  mar- 
ried to  Emma  Hartung;  Elias,  who  died  when  about  forty-two  years  old; 
Savina,  who  resides  in  East  Brunswick  township;  and  Catherine,  wife  of 
Monroe  Hess,  of  that  township. 

JOSEPH  KILLIAN,  ice  dealer  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  was  bom  in  Dan- 
ville, Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  lo,  1873,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Killian.  The 
grandfather,  Martin  Killian,  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  a  resident  of  that 
country  until  his  death. 

William  Killian,  the  father  of  Joseph,  was  a  stonemason  by  trade.  He 
emigrated  to  America  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  about  nineteen  and 
settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  followed  the  butcher  business.  Later  he 
came  to  Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he  continued  to  follow  the  occupation  of 
butcher  for  many  years.  He  also  did  considerable  contracting  in  the  way  of 
stone  work  in  the  surrounding  country.  He  owned  about  335  acres  of  land  in 
North  Manheim  township,  near  *  Schuylkill  Haven,  140  acres  of  which  was 
cleared,  and  the  remainder  he  permitted  to  remain  in  its  primeval  condition  of 
woodland.  Mr.  Killian  was  a  Union  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  A  Republican 
in  politics,  he  was  a  member  of  the  election  board  for  twenty  years,  a  school 
director  of  North  Manheim  township,  and  for  fourteen  years  constable.  He 
died  May  6,  1904,  and  is  buried  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  His  widow  still  resides 
in  North  Manheim  township. 

William  Killian  was  united  in  marriage  to  Susan  Eiler,  daughter  of  John 
Eiler,  and  granddaughter  of  John  Eiler,  the  latter  a  pioneer  of  lower  Schuyl- 
kill county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Killian  were  born  these  children :  Minnie,  who 
married  Henry  Mengle;  William,  deceased;  Joseph;  Clara,  deceased;  John; 
William  (2);  Mark;  Charles  Edw.,  deceased;  Henry  Clayton;  Marietta,  wife 
of  Oscar  May;  Elsie  May,  deceased;  Edward,  deceased;  Charles,  deceased; 
^  Emma  Susan,  deceased ;  and  Bessie,  wife  of  George  W.  Coover. 

Joseph  Killian  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Schuylkill  Haven  when  he 
was  but  nine  months  old,  and  attended  the  local  schools.  When  eighteen  years 
of  age  he  entered  the  ice  business,  which  he  has  continued  to  carry  on  since. 
He  has  a  large  storehouse,  with  a  capacity  of  50,000  tons,  and  cuts  his  product 
from  two  large  ponds,  fed  by  pure  springs.  He  has  a  large  auto-truck  and 
two  teams,  which  he  uses  to  supply  his  numerous  customers  in  Schuylkill 
Haven  and  Cressona.  He  also  supplies  the  Reading  Company  with  ice  in 
this  district.  Mr.  Killian  has  a  fine  home  and  a  farm  in  North  Manheim 
township  connected  with  his  business  property.  Mr.  Killian  also  does  some 
contract  work,  and  when  the  new  State  road  was  built  through  this  section 
did  some  work  upon  it. 

Joseph  Killian  was  married  to  Kate  Steffey,  daughter  of  Daniel  Steffey,  of 
Lancaster  county,  and  their  children  are  three  in  number,  Annie,  Samuel  and 
Edward.    Mr.  Killian  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  a  constable  and  a  mem- 


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884  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ber  of  the  election  board.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 

The  Killian  family  own  valuable  land,  in  North  Manheim  township,  ad- 
joining the  borough  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  most  of  which  at  one  time  was  the 
property  of  John  Eiler. 

The  Eiler  family,  of  which  Mrs.  William  Killian,  mother  of  Joseph  Kil- 
lian, is  a  member,  traces  its  origin  from  Johannes  Eyler,  who  was  bom  Dec. 
6,  1772,  in  Germany,  and  died  in  Pennsylvania,  Dec.  21,  1843.  He  settled 
in  what  is  known  as  Eyler's  Hollow,  Northumberland  township,  called  "Noo- 
sadaul"  in  Pennsylvania  German,  his  children  having  altered  the  name  to  its 
present  form.  His  son,  John  Eiler,  was  a  large  landowner  in  the  part  of  the 
county  of  Schuylkill  now  occupied  by  the  borough  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  as 
well  as  on  the  spot  called  Eyler's  Hollow.  He  died  upon  his  farm  after  a 
long  life  as  an  agriculturist  and  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Schuylkill 
Haven.  His  children  were:  John,  Daniel  (1811-1869),  Henry,  Betsy  (wife 
of  Frank  Mellon)  and  Kate  (wife  of  Peter  Strause). 

John  Eiler,  son  of  John,  above,  was  bom  on  the  homestead  in  North  Man- 
heim township,  and  died  in  that  township  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three 
years.  He  was  a  carpet  weaver  by  trade.  He  married  Hannah  (daughter  of 
Jacob)  SchAppell,  who  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six  and  is  buried  beside  her 
husband  in  tiie  old  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  They  had  the  following 
family:  Mary  married  John  Bubeck;  Maria  married  Levi  Reichert;  Hannah 
married  John  Krietzel,  who  was  killed  in  the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  the 
48th  Pa.  Vols.,  and  she  married  (second)  Samuel  Bonberger,  also  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war ;  Emaline  married  Joseph  Freeman ;  Susan  is  mentioned  above 
in  the  sketch  of  William  Killian;  Israel  died  while  serving  in  the  Civil  war; 
and  Frank  is  now  living  in  Schuylkill  Haven., 

ADAM  WINGERT  has  been  a  resdent  of  Mahanoy  City  fronv,  boyhood, 
and  few  of  its  citizens  are  more  generally  known  or  held  in  better  favor  in  the 
regard  of  the  community.  His  long  connection  with  the  Mahanoy  City  col- 
liery, where  he  has  held  the  responsible  position  of  outside  foreman  since 
1898,  has  brought  him  into  contact  with  a  large  number  of  the  men  whose 
work  has  attracted  them  to  the  locality,  this  being  one  of  the  largest  workings 
of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company. 

Mr.  Wingert  was  bom  Dec.  12,  1856,  in  Upper  Bem  township,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  and  the  family  has  been  in  Pennsylvania  from  early  times.  His  grand- 
father, John  Wingert,  was  a  native  of  Montgomery  county,  this  State,  where 
he  lived  and  died.  He  was  a  successful  contractor  and  builder,  and  a  well 
known  man  in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania  in  his  day,  having  constructed  several 
of  the  Schuylkill  canal  locks  in  and  near  Berks  county. 

Daniel  Wingert,  son'  of  John,  was  bom  in  Montgomery  county,  whence 
he  first  removed  to  Berks  county,  and  from  there  about  1865  to  Mahanoy 
City,  Schuylkill  county.  By  trade  he  was  a  blacksmith,  and  he  was  employed 
in  that  capacity  for  a  time  at  the  old  Robesonia  Fumace  and  also  at  Sinking 
Spring,  both  in  Berks  county.  He  also  followed  that  line  of  work  after  settling 
in  Mahanoy  City,  for  many  years  with  George  W.  Cole.  He  lived  retired 
for  some  years  before  his  death.  Mr.  Wingert  married  Mary  KauflFman, 
whose  mother  was  the  first  person  to  cross  the  long  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
bridge  over  the  Schuylkill  river  near  Reading.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wingert  became 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  but  only  three  survive  at  this  writing  (1915): 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  885 

Eliza,  wife  of  Joseph  Lindermuth,  living  at  Auburn,  Schuylkill  county ;  Adam ; 
and  Ella,  wife  of  John  Klingerman,  of  Locust  Valley,  Schuylkill  county  (his 
father,  David  Klingerman,  was  the  pioneer  in  that  section). 

Adam  Wingert  came  to  Mahanoy  City  with  his  parents.  He  attended  pub- 
lic school  until  he  went  to  work,  beginning  like  most  boys  picking  slate  at  the 
breaker.  Later  he  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  which  he  followed  for 
fifteen  years  at  the  mines,  until  promoted  to  the  position  of  assistant  outside 
foreman  at  the  Mahanoy  City  colliery.  He  was  so  engaged  until  1898,  when 
he  succeeded  Andrew  Ferguson  as  foreman,  and  has  t^en  retained  in  that 
capacity  continuously  since.  The  colliery  is  one  of  the  largest  operated  by 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  seven  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  men  and  boys  being  employed  at  these  workings,  in  whose  successful 
development  he  has  had  a  creditable  part.  His  able  discharge  of  his  duties, 
and  intelligent  comprehension  of  their  requirements,  account  for  the  high  stand- 
ing he  enjoys  with  both  employers  and  men.  For  high  personal  character 
there  is  no  more  trustworthy  man  at  the  mines.  Mr.  Wingert  married  Emma 
L.  Hoppes,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Hoppes,  in  his  day  well  known  as 
a  miller  in  Mahanoy  City.  They  have  one  daughter,  Kate,  now  the  wife  of 
Harry  Christ,  wh6  is  engaged  as  a  mining  engineer  by  the  Locust  Mountain 
Coal  Company;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christ  reside  with  her  parents.  Socially  Mr. 
Wingert  is  a  member  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  belonging  to  Washington  Camp 
No.  21,  of  Mahanoy  City.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Salem  United 
Evangelical  Church,  which  he  has  served  as  president  of  the  board  of  trustees 
for  the  last  twenty-five  years.  He  was  chairman  of  the  building  committee 
when  the  present  church  building  was  erected,  was  a  chorister  of  the  church 
for  twenty  years,  and  for  ten  years  acted  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school. 

FRElDERICK  L.  GRUMM,  of  Girardville,  justice  of  the  peace,  was  bom 
March  30,  1867,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Moll)  Grumm. 

Daniel  Grumm,  the  father,  was  born  in  Easton,  Pa.,  and  his  father  was  a 
native  of  Germany.  Coming  to  America  he  settled  at  New  Philadelphia,  later 
moved  to  Germantown,  and  then  to  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county,  eventually 
locating  at  Girardville.  He  was  a  miner  by  occupation,  working  in  several 
mines,  and  being  at  one  time  foreman  of  the  Beatty  mine.  Daniel  Grumm  was 
married  to  Sarah  Moll,  a  native  of  Tuscarora,  Schuylkill  county,  whose  family 
were  early  settlers  of  this  State  and  of  Genpan  origin.  Daniel  Grumm  died  in 
Girardville  a  number  of  years  ago,  and  his  wife  died  in  1910.  To  them  were 
bom  nine  children:  Andrew  W.,  residing  in  Girardville;  John,  deceased; 
Hannah,  wife  of  William  Abrams,  of  Girardville ;  Charles,  Philip  and  Henry, 
deceased;  Frederick  L. ;  Ellen,  of  Girardville;  and  Bertha,  wife  of  Daniel 
Reese,  of  Girardville. 

Frederick  L.  Grumm  was  educated  in  the  schools  oiF  Girardville,  and  at 
the  age  of  eight  began  to  work  in  the  mines,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  being  a  coal 
cutter.  On  April  7,  1909,  he  succeeded  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
made  vacant  by  the  death  of  his  brother  Henry,  and  in  1910  he  was  elected  to 
the  office,  which  he  has  held  ever  since.  On  April  4,  1890,  he  was  married  to 
Anna  L.  Wagner,  daughter  of  Elias  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Landeman)  Wagner, 
the  former  deceased,  the  latter  still  living  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Grumm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gmmm  have  had  five  children :  Charles,  who  lives  at 
Girardville;  Freda,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen;  Vera  Lorena,  who  died 


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886  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

in  childhood ;  Blanche ;  and  Bertha.  Mr.  Grumm  served  as  constable  of  Girard- 
ville  for  six  years  in  all,  from  1890  to  1893,  and  again  when  reappointed  in 
1895.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Americans,  of  the  United 
Mine  Workers  of  America,  and  of  the  Zion  Lutheran  Church  at  Girardville. 
His  son  Charles  is  a  member  of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America,  and  of 
Girardville  Hose  Company  No.  i. 

Elias  B.  Wagner,  father  of  Mrs.  Grumm,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war, 
having  enlisted  from  Schuylkill  county.  Previous  to  the  war  he  was  a  soldier 
in  the  regular  army,  and  after  the  end  of  the  conflict  he  became  a  prominent 
labor  leader  in  this  county,  in  the  days  of  the  Workingmen's  Benevolent  Asso- 
ciation.   The  family  were  then  living  at  Shenandoah. 

Daniel  Grumm,  father  of  Frederick,  had  four  brothers :  Louis ;  Henry, 
who  was  killed  in  the  Civil  war  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg;  and  Charles  and 
Frederick,  both  of  whom  served  in  the  Civil  war.  Mrs.  Grumm  also  had  two 
brothers,  William  and  Michael  Moll,  who  served  in  the  Civil  war.  All  of  these 
soldiers  enlisted  from  Schuylkill  county. 

PETER  KRIPPLEBAUR,  late  of  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county,  was  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  His  parents,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Kripplebaur, 
brought  their  family  tQ  America  from  Germany  in  the  year  1852.  They  landed 
at  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  forty-eight  days,  and  coming  then  to  Schuyl- 
kill county,  Pa.,  located  at  St.  Clair,  where  the  mother  died,  some  forty-seven 
years  ago,  the  rest  of  the  family  moving  to  Ashland,  where  the  father  died 
at  the  home  of  his  son  Peter.  They  were  the  parehts  of  two  children,  Peter 
and  one  daughter,  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Hasel,  now  living  at  Girardville,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Peter  Kripplebaur  was  bom  Dec.  25,  1843,  ^n  Bavaria,  Germany.  He 
worked  in  the  mines  of  Schuylkill  county  from  early  boyhood  until  his  retire- 
ment. On  Feb.  15,  1864,  he  enlisted  at  Philadelphia  for  service  in  the  Civil 
war,  joining  Company  H,  17th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  remained  in  the 
army  to  the  close  of  the  conflict,  taking  part  in  a  number  of  battles  and  skir- 
mishes. He  was  wounded  in  battle,  and  was  present  when  Jefferson  Davis, 
president  of  the  Confederacy,  was  taken  prisoner.  The  war  over,  Mr.  Krip- 
plebaur was  mustered  out  at  Macon,  Ga.,  receiving  his  honorable  discharge 
at  Harrisburg,  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  Kripple- 
baur was  a  much  respected  citizen  of  Ashland,  where  his  industrious  and  hon- 
orable life  gained  him  many  friends  and  well-wishers.  He  was  living  in 
retirement  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  191 5. 

On  Oct.  3,  1865,  Mr.  Kripplebaur  was  married  to  Margaret  Husler,  of  St. 
Clair,  Pa.,  who  was  bom  in  Germany,  and  was  brought  to  America  when  five 
years  old.  Her  parents  were  early  residents  of  St.  Clair.  Two  sons  were 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kripplebaur,  Peter,  Jr.,  and  John,  both  of  whom  reside 
at  Ashland.  Mr.  Kripplebaur  was  a  member  of  St.  Mauritius'  German  Cath- 
olic Church. 

HENRY  MOLL,  who  is  now  spending  his  days  in  well  eamed  retirement 
at  Pottsville,  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  a  citizen  who  has  demon- 
strated his  public  spirit  in  his  private  life  as  well  as  he  did  in  the  discharge  of 
his  military  duties,  when  the  country  needed  his  services.  He  is  a  native  of 
Pmssia,  Germany,  bom  Oct.  i,  1842,  and  his  father,  Henry  Moll,  was  also 
bom  in  that  kingdom.    The  latter  was  a  stonemason  by  trade.    He  brought  his 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  887 

family  to  America  in  1851,  the  voyage,  which  was  made  in  a  sailing  vessel, 
taking  two  months.  The  Molls  located  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Fa.,  and 
after  a  year's  residence  there  moved  to  Minersville,  this  county,  the  father 
later  returning  to  Pottsville,  where  he  died. 

Henry  Moll  was  but  a  boy  when  he  accompanied  his  father  to  America. 
For  many  years  he  was  employed  at  the  mines,  beginning,  like  so  many  other 
mine  workers,  picking  slate  at  the  breaker,  for  John  Harper.  In  time  he 
worked  up  to  greater  responsibilities,  becoming  a  stationary  engineer.  A  few 
months  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted,  in  September,  1861, 
in  Minersville,  joining  the  Keystone  Zouaves,  76th  Pennsylvania  Regiment, 
and  he  served  his  full  term  of  three  years,  and  three  months  more.  He  took 
part  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged,  and  was  wounded  in 
the  right  breast  and  right  arm  at  the  battle  of  Weldon  Railroad,  May  7,  1864. 
After  the  war  he  returned  to  Minersville  for  a  short  time,  in  1865  settling 
at  Shenandoah,  this  county,  where  he  found  employment  at  the  collieries,  in 
the  capacity  of  engineer,  and  he  continued  to  hold  the  position  there  for  over 
twenty  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he,  came  to  Pottsville,  and  he  is  now 
leading  a  retired  life.  His  home  is  at  No.  911  West  Market  street,  Pottsville. 
The  Molly  Maguire  troubles  were  at  their  height  during  the  time  Mr.  Moll 
was  at  Shenandoah,  and  he  had  many  typical  experiences  of  the  day,  and  many 
close  calls  before  the  excitement  ended. 

Mr.  Moll  married  Emma  Ball,  of  Minersville,  and  they  have  had  three 
children,  namely :  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  T.  M.  Stout,  of  Shenandoah,  this 
coimty ;  Emma  is  married  to  Charles  Kear,  a  bank  clerk  at  ^inersville ;  George 
R.  is  proprietor  of  one  of  the  principal  meat  markets  at  Pottsville,  being  a 
leading  business  man  there  in  his  line,  and  is  also  a  clerk  in  the  Union  Safe 
Deposit  Bank. 

Mr.  Moll  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Potts- 
ville for  a  number  of  years,  having  served  several  years  as  elder,  and  he  was 
one  of  the  most  efficient  members  of  the  building  committee  at  the  time  of 
the  erection  of  the  new  church  on  West  Market  street.  He  has  never  given 
any  special  attention  to  public  affairs,  though  he  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his 
political  views.  He  and  his  family  are  among  the  most  respected  citizens  of 
the  borough. 

HARRY  KNEPPER,  owner  of  a  well  improved  farm  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship, was  bom  on  that  place  July  17,  1874,  and  has  spent  all  his  life  there. 
Its  excellent  condition  at  present  is  the  result  of  his  industry,  most  of  the  work 
of  development  having  been  done  under  his  hands,  and  his  career  has  been 
creditable  in  every  way.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Charles  Knepper  and  a  grand- 
son of  Timothy  Knepper,  the  latter  a  native  and  lifelong  resident  of  Lehigh 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  owned  a  good-sized  farm.  He  was  a  Democrat  on 
political  questions,  in  religion  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 
He  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  Lehigh  county.  They  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Solomon,  who  married  Susanna  Gerber;  Charles;  and  Matilda,  wife 
of  Alfred  Frederici. 

Gharles  Knepper,  son  of  Timothy,  was  bom  in  1837  in  Lehigh  county, 
and  was  reared  there,  working  on  the  farm  until  his  removal  in  i860  to  West 
Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county.  Buying  a  small  lot,  he  opened  a  wheel- 
wright shop  thereon,  the  location  being  near  the  property  now  owned  by  his 
son  Harry.    After  several  years'  residence  there  he  bought  part  of  the  place 


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88^  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

now  in  the  possession  of  his  son  Harry,  purchasing  twenty-five  acres  from 
Solomon  Guldner.  About  half  of  this  tract  was  in  timber.  He  cultivated  that 
place  for  a  number  of  years,  carrying  on  general  farmin|^,  and  later  entered 
the  undertaking  business.  He  retired  from  active  pursuits  five  or  six  years 
before  his  death.  His  son  Harry  operated  the  farm  for  him  when  he  turned 
from  agriculture  to  business.  He  had  erected  a  comfortable  dwelling  on  his 
land.  Mr.  Knepper  passed  away  in  November,  1900,  aged  sixty-three  years, 
and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church  in  West  Penn  township.  He  was  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of  that  church,  serving  as  elder 
and  deacon  of  the  church  and  as  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school.  Politically 
he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Knepper  married  Sarah  Ann  Gerber,  who  was  bom 
April  ID,  1838,  in  West  Penn  township,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Susanna 
(Zeigler)  Gerber,  and  who  lives  at  White  Bear,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Knepper  became  the  parents  of  nine  children,  these  besides  Harry :  Frank, 
who  married  Matilda  Eberts;  Lewis,  who  died  young;  Austin,  who  moved  to 
Ohio ;  Amandus,  who  married  Kate  Haum ;  Ida,  who  married  Sylvester  Swart- 
ley;  Sallie,  wife  of  Charles  Ruch;  Emma,  deceased  wife  of  Martin  Mantz; 
and  Alvina,  who  died  in  childhood. 

Harry  Knepper  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  West  Penn 
township  and  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm,  which  he  bought  after  his 
father's  death.  He  has  added  to  the  original  area,  now  having  sixty  acres, 
thirty- four  of  which  are  cleared  and  under  cultivation.  Besides  enhancing 
the  value  of  the  ground  by  careful  tillage,  he  has  improved  all  the  buildings 
on  the  place,  having  remodeled  the  dwelling,  and  the  farm  is  one  of  the  nicest 
in  the  township,  presenting  a  very  attractive  appearance  which  makes  it  a 
credit  to  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Knepper  follows  general  farming,  and  mar- 
kets his  products  at  Tamaqua.  He  is  as  active  and  zealous  in  the  welfare  of 
St.  Peter's  Reformed  congregation  as  his  father  was,  being  a  deacon  at  present, 
and  in  politics  he  also  follows  his  ancestors,  being  a  faithful  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party.  When  twenty-eight  years  old  Mr.  Knepper  married  Cora 
Billman,  who  was  bom  Feb.  6,  1881,  in  Hazleton,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Matina  (Shoemaker)  Billman.  She  was  but  eight  years  old 
when  her  mother  died,  and  she  came  to  live  with  Joel  Shoemaker  in  West 
Penn  township,  remaining  in  his  home  until  her  marriage.  She  is  a  Lutheran 
member  of  St.  Peter's  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knepper  have  had  one  child, 
Charlotte,  who  died  in  childhood. 

Mrs.  .Knepper's  parents  were  natives  of  West  Penn  township.  Her 
grandfather,  Reuben  Billman,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  died 
when  about  seventy-seven  years  old.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  on  coming  to 
West  Penn  township  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  Wallace  Hoppes,  remain- 
ing there  until  his  death.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Hartranft,  lived 
to  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  and  they  are  buried  at  Zion's  Church  in  West 
Penn  township.  Mr.  Billman  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  that  church,  and  a 
Republican  on  political  questions.  He  was  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Salome,  wife  of  Casper  Cropp,  of  Hazleton,  Pa.;  Harriet,  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Shellhammer;  Mary,  Mrs.  Henry  Holler;  Reuben,  who  married  Mesina 
Oswald;  Thomas,  who  married  Lavma  Adams,  both  being  deceased;  Solo- 
mon, who  went  West;  and  Jacob. 

Jacob  Billman,  father  of  Mrs.  Knepper,  was  reared  and  educated  in  West 
Penn  township,  attending  the  pay  schools  in  vogue  during  his  boyhood.  After 
assisting  his  father  with  the  work  on  the  home  place  tmtil  he  reached  his 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  889 

majority,  he  worked  among  the  neighboring  farmers  for  a  time,  and  then 
bought  a  farm  which  he  operated  on  his  own  account.  Moving  to  Hazleton, 
Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  he  became  a  mine  worker,  following  that  occupation  for 
twenty-seven  years,  and  he  also  worked  at  carpentry  while  a  resident  of  that 
place.  Thence  he  removed  to  Tamaqua,  and  he  lived  retired  for  some  time 
before  his  death,  which  occurred' there  when  he  was  seventy-seven  years  old. 
He  was  a  respected  and  active  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church  at  Tamaqua. 
By  his  first  marriage,  to  Matina  Shoemaker,  daughter  of  Jonas  Shoemaker, 
Mr.  Billman  had  the  following  children:  Frank  married  Sophia  Holler; 
Tilghman  married  Mary  Shugart;  Solomon  married  Sarah  Hayman;  Charles 
married  Mary  Linse;  Jacob  married  Sula  Heisler;  Jane  married  Carl  Krinte 
and  after  his  death  (second)  Jacob  McNamara;  Emma  married  Jacob  Rein- 
hart;  Ida  died  young;  Alice  married  Brinton  Brobst;  Cora  is  the  wife  of 
Harry  Knepper;  Lillie  married  Sylvester  Oswald.  The  mother  died  when 
about  forty  years  old.  By  his  second  marriage  to  Mrs.  Carolina  Depew,  Mr. 
Billman  had  no  children.    He  and  both  his  wives  are  buried  at  Hazleton. 

EDWIN  FORD  has  been  engaged  with  the  Pine  Hill  Coal  Company  ever 
since  he  settled  at  Minersville  and  is  one  of  the  competent  and  trusted  em- 
ployees of  that  large  concern,  which  has  played  so  important  a  part  in  the 
industrial  welfare  of  this  locality.  He  is  highly  respected  at  Minersville, 
where  he  has  various  connections  which  bring  him  much  into  contact  with 
his  fellow  citizens,  and  he  is  particularly  well  known  in  Masonic  circles. 

Mr.  Ford  is  a  native  of  England,  bom  in  1867,  and  grew  to  maturity  in 
that  country,  coming  to  America  in  the  year  1888.  During  the  first  eight 
years  of  his  'residence  in  the  United  States  he  lived  at  Mount  Carmel,  North- 
umberland Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  he  removed 
thence  to  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.  He  has 
since  been  a  resident  of  Minersville.  For  some  time  after  coming  here  he 
did  carpenter  work  for  the  Pine  Hill  Coal  Company,  and  then  for  a  time 
held  the  position  of  assistant  outside  foreman  at  its  large  colliery,  in  191 1 
being  promoted  to  general  outside  foreman,  which  position  he  has  since  held. 
His  excellent  work  has  brought  him  to  the  favorable  notice  of  his  employers, 
who  have  shown  their  appreciation  of  his  high  character.  The  residents  of 
Minersville  have  registered  their  faith  in  his  integrity  by  electing  him  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  and  he  also  served  as  treasurer  of  that  body. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  He  belongs  to  Mount  Carmel  Lodge,  No.  378, 
F.  &  A.  M. ;  to  Schuylkill  Chapter,  No.  159,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Minersville;  to 
Constantine  Commandery,  No.  41,  K.  T.,  of  Pottsville;  and  to  Rajah  Temple, 
A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Reading,  Pa.  While  a  resident  of  Mount  Carmel  he 
was  a  prominent  member  of  Lodge  No.  630,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  is 
a'  past  grand. 

In  1891  Mr.  Ford  made  a  return  trip  to  England,  and  when  he  returned 
to  America  brought  his  sweetheart  with  him.  They  were  married  at  Wilkes 
Barre,  Pa.,  in  November  of  the  same  year.  Mrs.  Ford's  maiden  name  was 
Frances  Jane  Lugg,  and  like  her  husband,  she  is  a  native  of  Cornwall,  Eng- 
land. They  have  had  a  family  of  four  children,  namely :  Bessie  May,  bom 
in  1892,  who  is  now  attending  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  at  Kutz- 
town,  Pa.;  Thomas  Henry,  born  in  1894,  who  graduated  from  Dickinson 
College,  Carlisle,  Pa.,'  with  the  class  of  1914,  and  who  is  at  present  head  of 
the  science  department  in  the  high  school  of  Minersville,  Pa. ;  Ethel  Frances, 


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890  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

forn  in  1897,  a  graduate  of  Minersville  high  school,  1915;  and  Clarence  Ed- 
win, bom  in  1903,  now  attending  school.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

HENRY  MANHART  has  a  number  of  substantial  structures  in  Ashland 
as  evidences  of  his  workmanship,  having  been  a  builder  and  contractor 
of  this  borough  during  most  of  his  mature  life.  He  was  bom  Jan.  15,  1851, 
son  of  John  M.  and  Harriet  (Metz)  Manhart. 

In  both  paternal  and  maternal  lines  Mr.  Manhart  is  of  German  descent. 
His  father  was  bom  in  Prussia,  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  with  the 
family  in  1828,  for  a  number  of  years  living  at  Roaring  Creek,  Coliunbia  Co., 
Pa.  Later  he  came  to  Ashland,  Schuylkul  county,  where  he  continued  to 
make  his  home  until  his  death,  in  Febmary,  1910,  at  the  age  of  over  eighty 
years.  He  had  learned  the  trades  of  wheelwright  and  carpenter,  which  he 
always  followed  after  coming  to  Ashland,  where  he  built  up  an  extensive 
business  as  a  contractor.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligent  and  substantial  quali- 
ties and  character,  and  commanded  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  men  in  all  the 
relations  of  life.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church.  At  Roaring 
Creek,  Coltunbia  county,  Mr.  Manhart  married  Harriet  Metz,  who  was  bora 
there,  of  German  ancestry,  and  her  death  occurred  there  many  years  previous 
to  his,  in  1879.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manhart  are  buried  in  the  Freewill  cemetery 
at  Roaring  Creek,  Columbia  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  fam- 
ily, of  whom  Henry  is  the  eldest;  Tillie  is  the  wife  of  John  Hampton,  and 
lives  at  Roaring  Creek;  George  is  a  resident  of  Mifflinville,  Pa.;  Clara  is 
the  wife  of  William  Longerberger ;  Elmer  is  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  county. 
The  rest  are  deceased. 

Henry  Manhart  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Ashland,  and  was 
only  a  boy  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  from  his  father, 
under  whose  able  tuition  he  became  a  skillful  workman.  Remaining  with 
him  until  twenty  years  old,  he  afterwards  traveled  for  a  time  workup  on 
his  own  account,  and  during  this  period  was  located  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
retuming  to  Ashland,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  at  his  trade,  and  in 
the  course  of  his  long  and  bus^  career  has  erected  numerous  stores  and  resi- 
dences in  the  borough  and  vicinity.  Mr.  Manhart  has  made  an  excellent 
reputation  in  business,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known  personally.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Americans. 

In  1^2  Mr.  Manhart  was  married,  at  Roaring  Creek,  Pa.,  to  Alice  Knittle, 
a  native  of  Coltunbia  county,  where  her  father,  Jacob  Knittle,  was  a  farmer. 
He  and  his  wife,  Angeline  (Derr),  were  both  born  in  Columbia  cotmty,  the 
latter  at  Rohrsburg,  and  she  still  survives,  now  (1914)  eighty-four  years  old, 
making  her  home  at  Catawissa,  Columbia  county.  Mr.  Knittle  died  in  1904. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  as  follows :  Alice,  Mrs.  Heniy  Man- 
hart ;  Kersey,  who  lives  at  Roaring  Creek ;  Qara,  the  wife  of  Henry  Shayne, 
of  Catawissa;  Hattie,  who  lives  with  her  mother  in  Catawissa;  Anna,  the 
wife  of  Christ  Hartman,  of  Milton,  Pa.;  Kate,  married  to  Elmer  Laban,  of 
Roaring  Creek ;  William,  also  living  with  his  mother  at  Catawissa ;  and  three 
deceased. 

Thirteen  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manhart.  We  have 
record  of :  Charles,  living  at  Locustdale,  Schuylkill  county ;  Hattie,  the  wife 
of  John  Reese,  of  Ashland,  Pa.;  Ella,  wife  of  Jacob  Raber,  of  Ashland; 
William;  Clara,  wife  of  Frederick  Yaeger,  of  Ashland;  Anna,  married  to 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  891 

Oscar  Lindlemood,  of  Shenandoah,  Pa.;  Raymond,  living  at  home;  John, 
located  at  Lavelle,  Schuylkill  county ;  Lillie,  wife  of  John  Muenker,  of  Ash- 
land; Catherine  and  Ruth,  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manhart  are  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

WILLIAM  GEIGER,  late  of  Mahanoy  City,  was  the  first  florist  there, 
founding  the  establishment  continued  until  recently  by  his  family,  and  was 
a  substantial  business  man  of  the  thrifty  type  well  recognized  in  our  citizens 
of  German  origin.  He  was  a  native  of  the  Fatherland,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated,  coming  to  America  when  seventeen  years  old.  After  a  short 
residence  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  he  came  to  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  for  several 
years  living  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he  had  a  pottery,  building  up  a 
profitable  business  in  that  line.  In  1870  he  settled  at  Mahanoy  City,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  where  he  also  followed  the  manufacture  of  pottery,  and  in  time 
he  started  the  nursery  business,  continuing  both  lines  successfully  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1900.  He  was  the  pioneer  nurseryman  and  florist 
in  the  borough,  and  by  good  management  developed  a  thriving  trade,  taking 
his  place  among  the  prosperous  business  men  of  the  community.  After  his 
death  his  widow  ran  the  business  until  she  passed  away,  and  she  was  suc- 
ceeded by  her  daughter,  Miss  Augusta  Geiger,  the  other  daughter,  Clara, 
assisting  her.  Miss  Geiger  gave  up  the  business  in  1914,  after  a  period  of 
excellent  management  which  indicated  that  she  had  inherited  the  ability  of 
her  parents,  for  the  trade  flourished  as  usual  while  in  her  hands. 

The  Geigers  have  all  borne  an  excellent  reputation  for  capability  and  use- 
fulness in  the  community.  William  Geiger  had  been  carefully  educated,  and 
he  became  well  read  in  both  English  and  German ;  he  was  a  fine  penman,  and 
precise  in  keeping  account  of  all  his  interests.  During  his  residence  in  Maha- 
noy City  he  made  many  friends,  and  all  of  his  family  have  continued  to  enjoy 
high  standing.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Joanna  Hammer,  was  like 
himself  a  native  of  Germany,  and  lived  in  America  from  the  time  she  was 
thirteen  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geiger  are  buried  at  Mahanoy  City,  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Clara;  William,  who  has  pros- 
pected successfully  for  ^old  in  the  Northwest;  John,  a  potter  by  trade,  now 
settled  at  Liverpool,  Ohio;  and  Augusta.  In  religion  the  Geigers  unite  with 
the  Reformed  Church. 

ALBERT  GEORGE  KOCH  has  a  fine  farm  property  in  East  Brunswick 
township,  and  is  particularly  well  known  for  his  success  as  a  fruit  grower, 
his  thrifty  orchards  giving  evidence  of  the  most  intelligent  care  and  the  appli- 
cation of  up-to-date  methods.  Mr.  Koch  represents  one  of  the  early  families 
in  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  his  great-grandfather  having  farmed  the 
old  homestead  now  owned  by  Charles  Koch.  It  is  presumed  he  was  the 
William  Koch  who  is  buried  with  his  wife,  Maria  May,  at  Christ  Church, 
McKeansburg.  He  was  born  April  i,  1747,  near  Philadelphia,  and  died  May 
3,  1832;  she  was  bom  April  27,  1766,  and  died  Feb.  14,  1837. 

John  Koch,  the  grandfather  of  Albert  George  Koch,  was  bom  April  7, 
1806,  and  died  Oct.  4,  1868.  His  early  ambition  was  to  be  a  physician,  but 
after  obtaining  his  degree  he  followed  the  profession  only  one  year,  not  liking 
it  as  much  as  he  had  anticipated.  So  he  tumed  to  farming,  and  became  the 
owner  of  two  tracts  of  land  in  Schuylkill  county,  one  in  Walker  township, 
and  the  other  in  East  Brunswick  township,  200  acres  in  all.    He  continued  to 


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892  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

farm  the  rest  of  his  days.  Dr.  Koch  was  a  leading  force  in  local  affairs,  his 
intelligence  and  public  spirit  making  him  a  most  useful  citizen,  and  he  held 
the  township  offices  of  school  director  and  tax  collector,  and  the  county 
office  of  poor  director.  On  poHtical  issues  he  stood  with  the  Republicans. 
He  was  one  of  the  active  members  of  Christ  Lutheran  Church  at  McKeans- 
burg,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  that  church.  Mrs. 
Koch,  whose  maiden  name  was  Salome  Fusselman,  was  bom  Dec.  6,  1808, 
daughter  of  John  Fusselman,  and  died  Sept.  30,  1889.  They  had  a  large 
family:  Mary,  Mrs.  Charles  Banker;  Morgan  W.;  Lucian,  who  married 
Sarah  Hettinger;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Lewis  Schoener;  Kate,  Mrs.  Joseph  Kramer; 
Villetta;  Amelia,  Mrs.  Mandon  Kramer;  Hiram,  a  Union  soldier,  who  died 
of  starvation  while  in  the  army,  and  is  buried  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Francis, 
bom  May  12,  184^,  who  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  April  7,  1863,  while 
servin^^  in  the  Union  army,  and  is  buried  at  McKeansburg,  Pa. ;  Edward,  who 
also  died  while  in  the  army;  Henry,  who  married  Mary  Seltzer;  and  Will- 
minia. 

Morgan  W.  Koch,  son  of  John,  was  bom  in  East  Bmnswick  township 
Dec.  2,  1833,  and  educated  there.  In  his  youth  he  assisted  his  father  on  the 
home  farm  and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade.  .  He  settled  on  a  tract  of 
twenty-two  acres  in  West  Brunswick  township  which  he  purchased,  had  a 
shop  there,  and  conducted  the  farm  in  connection  with  work  at  his  trade  for 
twenty-two  years.  When  his  son  Albert  was  one  year  old  he  removed  to  the 
old  homestead  farm  in  East  Brunswick  township,  the  tract  of  100  acres 
which  he  had  bought  from  his  father,  and  had  a  blacksmith  shop  there  for 
two  years.  After  that  he  devoted  all  his  time  to  general  farming  there  until 
a  few  years  ago,  when  he  sold  his  farm  to  his  son  Charles  and  removed  to 
McKeansburg,  at  which  place  he  has  since  lived  retired.  In  his  earlier  years 
he  was  associated  with  township  affairs  to  some  extent,  serving  as  school 
director,  and  in  politics  he  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a 
member  of  Christ  Lutheran  Church  at  McKeansburg. 

Mr.  Koch  married  Caroline  Schoener,  who  was  bom  Nov.  18,  1839, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Christina  (Sheipe)  Schoener,  and  died  Oct.  25,  1910. 
She  is  buried  at  Christ  Church.*  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koch  were  bom  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Josephine,  bom  Dec.  16,  1858,  married  Elmer  Koch;  Ellen, 
bom  Feb.  10,  i860,  married  Samuel  Dreher;  Francis  C,  born  Aug.  4,  1863, 
married  Mary  FoUweiler;  Albert  G.  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Katie,  bom 
Jan.  8,  1868,  died  July  5,  1879;  Agnes,  bom  Aug.  15,  1876,  married  Harvey 
Kindt;  Carrie  Valeria,  bom  Nov.  20,  1871,  is  deceased;  Charles  married 
Cora  Kershner;  Harry  married  Agnes  Ktmkle;  Theodore,  bom  Jan.  5,  1886, 
married  Sadie  Moyer;  Walter  M.,  bom  April  10,  1880,  married  Fannie  May 
Moyer;  one  child  died  in  infancy. 

Albert  George  Koch  was  bom  June  24,  1865,  in  West  Brunswick  township, 
and  was  reared  and  educated  in  East  Brunswick  township.  He  was  trained 
to  agricultural  work,  and  helped  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  about 
twenty-one  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Weatherly,  Pa.,  and  found  employ- 
ment with  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company,  in  the  foundry  at  that 
place.  After  fotu"  years'  experience  there  he  retumed  to  East  Bmnswick 
township,  where  he  tenanted  his  present  farm  (at  that  time  the  property  of 
Charles  Bowen)  for  one  year.  Then  he  moved  to  Red  Dale  valley.  West 
Bmnswick  township,  and  tenanted  Peter  Albright's  farm  for  three  years, 
following  with  a  year's  occupation  on  the  Joseph  Mengle  farm,  in  East  Bmns- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  893 

wick  township.  Then  he  bought  from  Charles  Bowen  the  farm  he  now 
operates,  originally  the  Henry  Koch  place,  which  contains  126  acres,  of 
which  thirty  acres  are  in  timber.  Though  he  follows  general  farming  he 
makes  a  specialty  of  trucking  and  fruit  growing,  having  a  very  fine  orchard, 
and  he  markets  his  products  to  Pottsville,  finding  a  steady  demand  for  all  he 
can  grow.  His  fruits  and  vegetables  have  a  reputation  which  keeps  the 
demand  ahead  of  the  supply. 

Mr.  Koch  was  married  to  Lizzie  Albright,  who  was  born  Feb.  8,  1867,  in 
West  Brunswick  township,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Rebecca  (Fegley) 
Albright,  and  they  have  had  seven  children:  Ercula  Minerva,  bom  Dec. 
10,  1887,  married  Allen  Plummer;  Howard  Albert,  bom  Nov.  21,  1891,  is  a 
graduate  of  Gaults  Student  School,  Cincinnati,  Taylor  University;  Helen 
Rebecca,  bom  June  24,  1894,  is  attending  the  Cincinnati  Bible  School;  John 
Peter,  bom  Dec.  i,  1897,  is  on  the  home  farm;  Nora  Elizabeth,  bom  Dec. 
19,  1899,  Ada  May,  bom  Aug.  5,  1902,  and  Edward  James,  bom  May  15, 
1906,  are  at  home. 

As  a  Republitan  Mr.  Koch  has  taken  considerable  interest  in  politics,  and 
though  not  an  office  seeker  he  has  served  as  school  director;  he  was  treasurer 
of  the  board  for  a  few  years.  Outside  of  business,  however,  his  prin- 
cipal activity  has  been  along  the  line  of  religious  work.  He  is  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Church  of  God  at  Steigerwalt,  which  he  is  serving  at  present 
in  the  offices  of  treasurer  and  trustee.  He  is  also  treasurer  of  the  German 
Eldership  of  the  Church  of  God,  comprising  the  five  churches  of  Aubum, 
Frackville,  Summit,  West  Penn  and  Steigerwalt,  and  is  thoroughly  alive  to  the 
responsibilities  which  have  come  with  those  honors.  Mr.  Koch  was  formerly 
a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school. 

DAVlf)  K.  HILL  is  farming  in  West  township,  where  his  father  and  grand- 
father before  him  followed  the  same  occupation  during  long  and  useful  lives. 
The  Hills  have  long  been  ranked  amon^  the  most  estimable  citizens  of  the  lo- 
cality, whose  characteristic  industry,  enterprise  and  general  worth  have  had 
a  recognized  influence  upon  the  advancement  of  this  region.  Jonas  Hill,  the 
grandfather  of  David  K.  Hill,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  settled  in  the 
township  at  an  early  day.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  owning  a  tract  of  about 
one  hundred  acres  (now  the  property  of  Elmer  Woomer),  and  died  there  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Koenig),  passed 
away  May  2,  1898,  aged  seventy-five  years,  and  they  are  buried  at  Zion's 
Church  in  West  Penn  township.  They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation of  that  church,  and  Mr.  Hill  supported  the  Democratic  party.  His 
children  were :    Daniel,  Frank,  Mary  ^nd  David. 

David  Hill,  son  of  Jonas,  was  born  in  West  Penn  township,  June  25,  1814, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  in  his  youth  such  advantages  as  the 
local  schools  afforded.  He  worked  on  the  home  farm  for  his  father  up  to  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  and  eventually  inherited  that  place,  also  acquiring  the 
ownership  of  two  other  tracts,  one  now  owned  by  his  son  David  and  the 
property  now  owned  by  Ellsworth  Zehner — ^all  in  West  Penn  township. 
He  also  owned  the  hotel  known  as  the  "Mansion  House,"  which  he  rented 
out.  He  was  the  executor  of  his  father's  estate.  He  was  a  man 
of  good  business  capacity,  and  was  chosen  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  the 
offices  of  school  director  and  tax  collector.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat 
and  much  interested  in  local  public  affairs,  and  he  was  an  active  member 


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894  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  the  Reformed  congregation  of  Zion's  Church  in  his  township,  where  he  and 
his  wife  are  buried.  His  death  occurred  March  i,  1893,  on  the  place  now 
owned  by  Ellsworth  Zehner,  and  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Koenig,  and  she  was  bom  in  Heidelberg 
township,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Daniel  Koenig.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill 
had  children  as  follows:  Mary  Ann;  Jonas,  who  married  Rebecca  Billman; 
Levi,  who  married  Lydia  A.  Dengler;  Carolina,  who  married  Nathan  G.  Rex; 
Polly,  wife  of  Charles  A.  Frantz;  Amanda,  Mrs.  Solomon  Hoppes;  Sarah, 
Mrs.  John  Rex;  Emma,  Mrs.  Albert  Kleckner;  Wesley,  who  married  Emma 
Houser;  David  K. ;  Elmira;  Herman;  and  Tilghman,  who  married  Kate  Hill. 

David  K.  Hill  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township,  April  11,  i860,  and  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  public  schools  there.  Farming  has  been  his  life 
work.  He  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  the  latter's  death,  and  meantime 
had  married  and  bought  a  farm  from  his  father,  the  tract  which  he  is  still 
operating.  His  parents  lived  there  with  him  for  some  time.  The  property  is 
a  ninety-acre  tract,  all  cleared  but  seven  acres,  and  he  follows  general  farm- 
ing, though  the  place  has  a  special  reputation  for  the  fine  fruit  raised  there, 
strawberries,  plums,  peaches,  etc.,  of  high  quality,  as  well  as  excellent  pota- 
toes. Mr.  Hill  finds  a  ready  market  for  all  his  produce,  which  he  takes  to 
•  Tamaqua,  Coaldale  and  Lansford.  For  five  years  he  also  did  a  considerable 
business  selling  sand  for  plastering  purposes,  which  he  took  from  his  land, 
and  he  did  much  of  the  hauling  himself;  he  gave  up  this  line  a  short  time  ago. 
All  the  work  about  his  place  is  conducted  in  the  most  business-like  manner, 
and  he  aims  to  have  everything  first-class,  as  he  feels  that  the  truest  economy 
consists  in  getting  the  best  and  taking  care  of  it,  rather  than  putting  up  with 
inferior  things  for  the  sake  of  cheapness.  He  takes  particular  pride  in  his 
horses,  which  are  of  fine  stock.  At  one  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  Farm- 
er's Alliance,  and  also  of  Washington  Camp  No^  132,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at 
Schwartz's,  in  West  Penn  township.  In  politics  he  upholds  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  Reformed  member  of  Zion's  Church  in  West 
Penn  township. 

Mr.  Hill  married  Amelia  Peter,  who  was  bom  July  3,  1863,  in  Heidelberg 
township,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  was  reared  and  educated  there,  and  came  to  Schuyl- 
kill county  when  twenty  years  old,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  The  follow- 
ing children  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage:  Elizabeth  Elenora,  bom  Oct. 
21,  1883,  is  the  wife  of  Edwin  Wagner,  a  carpenter  at  Colliery  No.  10,  Tama- 
qua; they  have  had  five  children,  Charles  Eldwin,  William  David  (deceased), 
Catherine  Elizabeth,  Russell  Edward  and  Lee  Oliver.  Daisy  Catherine,  bom 
April  4,  1889,  died  in  1904.  Carrie  Louise,  bom  May  21,  1891,  is  married  to 
Irwin  G.  Koch,  a  salesman  for  Seligman  &  Co.,  of  Tamaqua;  their  children 
are  Edgar  Irwin  and  David  John.  Amelia  Jane,  the  next  in  the  family,  was 
bom  Oct.  23,  1892.  Hattie  May,  bom  July  7,  189-,  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Houser, 
an  employee  at  the  Atlas  Powder  Works,  Ringgold,  Pa. ;  they  have  had  three 
children,  Robert  Charles  (bom  Jan.  21,  1912),  Dorothy  Arline  Amelia  (bom 
Feb.  15,  1913),  and  Carrie  Alice  May  (bom  March  15,  1914). 

Mrs.  Hill's  paternal  grandfather  had  the  following  family:  Gideon,  Aaron, 
Nathan  and  Eliza.  His  widow  remarried  and  by  that  union  had  one  child, 
Flora.  The  grandparents  belonged  to  the  Heidelberg  German  Reformed  Church 
in  Lehigh  county,  and  both  are  turied  there. 

Gideon  Peter,  Mrs.  Hill's  father,  was  born  in  Heidelberg  township,  Le- 
high county,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  that  county,  learning  the  trade 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  895 

of  stonemason,  which  he  followed  all  his  life.  He  also  farmed  in  a  small 
way,  owning  a  tract  of  thirteen  acres.  His  death  occurred  when  he  was  sixty- 
five  years  old,  and  his  wife,  Catherine  (Krumm),  born  Sept.  30,  1824,  died 
Dec.  6,  1898.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  Krumm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely:  Wilson,  Noah,  Ellanora  and  Jane 
are  all  deceased;  Saraneh  is  married  to  Amandus  Cellner,  of  Schnecksville, 
Lehigh  county ;  Amelia  is  the  wife  of  David  K.  Hill.  The  parents  are  buried  at 
the  Heidelberg  Reformed  Church,  of  which  they  were  consistent  members. 
Mr.  Peter  was  a  Republican  in  political  faith. 

NATHAN  MENGEL,  a  most  respected  resident  of  ^ Auburn,  now  leading 
a  retired  life,  was  an  agriculturist  for  many  years  of  his  active  career.  Since 
his  settlement  in  the  borough  he  has  taken  a  good  citizen's  part  in  its  govern- 
ment and  advancement.  The  Mengels  are  of  German  origin,  evidently 
descended  from  one  Nicholas  Mengel,  w\}o  has  a  numerous  posterity  in  Berks 
county.    A  number  of  the  name  settled  in  southern  Schuylkill  county. 

Nicholas  Men^l,  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  America,  was  bom  in 
Germany,  and  with  three  other  young  men  of  his  country  came  across  the 
Atlantic  in  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He  was  a  redemptioner,  and 
was  bound  out  until  the  cost  of  his  passage  was  paid  to  a  Mr.  Gemard,  a 
farmer  in  Maiden-creek  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.  After  his  freedom  was 
obtained,  he  remained  with  his  employer  for  three  or  more  years.  By  fru- 
gality, industry  and  economy  he  earned  sufficient  means  to  purchase  a  tract 
of  300  acres  of  land  in  Maiden-creek  township,  and  from  that  time  tmtil  his 
death  he  engaged  in  its  cultivation.  He  had  a  number  of  children,  among 
whom  were :   Frederick,  Peter  and  Jacob. 

Adam  Mengel,  grandfather  of  Nathan  Mengel,  of  Auburn,  lived  about 
two  and  a  half  miles  from  Port  Clinton,  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  a  farmer 
by  calling,  and  one  of  the  large  landowners  of  his  vicinity.  He  died  on  the 
old  homestead.  His  children  were:  Conrad,  died  in  West  Brunswick  town- 
ship; George,  died  in  West  Brunswick  township;  Peter,  died  in  South  Man- 
heim  township ;  John,  died  on  his  father's  old  homestead ;  Adam,  died  in  West 
Brunswick  township;  Philip,  died  in  West  Brunswick  township;  Jacob  was 
the  father  of  Nathan  Mengel ;  Kate,  married  a  Mr.  Rishel. 

Jacob  Mengel,  son  of  Adam,  was  bom  on  the  old  homestead,  and  obtained 
part  of  the  property,  following  farming  all  his  life.  He  died  upon  the  farm 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  seven  months,  and  is  buried  at  Auburn.  To 
his  marriage  with  Sallie  Laymaster  were  bom  the  following  children:  Zeth, 
died  at  home;  Sybilla,  married  Joseph  Fahl;  Nathan,  married  Sarah  Faust; 
Kate,  married  John  Becker ;  Susan,  married  Anthony  Faust ;  Amanda,  married 
Benjamin  Fink;  Ellen,  married  Reuben  Mengel;  Sarah,  married  Israel  Nagle. 

Nathan  Mengel  was  bom  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  June  12,  1835. 
He  was  reared  to  farming,  and  after  attaining  manhood  farmed  for  twenty- 
two  years  in  South  Manheim  township.  After  some  employment  in  the  boat- 
yard of  Joseph  Fahl  he  was  with  Benjamin  Koch  for  a  time,  and  then  for  two 
and  a  half  years  was  engaged  at  bridge  building  and  repair  work,  from  Rock- 
ville  to  Pottsville,  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company.  His 
next  work  was  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  he  lived  at  Auburn  while  so  occu- 
pied, following  this  all  told  two  and  a  half  years,  after  which  he  went  to  rail- 
roading, at  which  he  continued  for  twenty  years.  Resuming  farming  in  1882, 
in  Wayne  township,  he  remained  there  fifteen  years,  in  1897  removing  to 


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896  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Auburn,  where  he  is  now  living  retired.  He  purchased  his  farm  in  Wa)me 
township  from  William  Mengel,  a  cousin.  It  is  located  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  township,  against  the  Blue  mountain,  and  contains  132  acres  of  land, 
which  his  son,  Reuben  H.,  is  now  cultivating.  Since  coming  to  Auburn  he  has 
been  devoting  his  time  to  looking  after  his  property  here.  He  has  been  elected 
to  the  offices  of  councilman  and  school  director,  and  has  given  his  fellow  citi- 
zens faithful  service  in  both  connections. 

Mr.  Mengel  married  Sarah  Faust,  daughter  of  Dewalt  and  Molly  (Heim) 
Faust.  Dewalt  Faust  lived  in  South  Manheim  township  and  died  at  Auburn, 
Pa.  Children  as  follows  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nathan  Mengel: 
Sarah  married  David  Schaeffer;  Louisa  is  unmarried  and  living  at  home, 
looking  after  her  aged  parents ;  Reuben  H.,  living  in  Wayne  township  on  his 
father's  farm  of  132  acres;  Lewis  A.  is  living  at  Hamburg,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
engaged  as  a  telegraph  operator  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company ;  Jere- 
miah M.  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Rock,  Schuylkill  county,  a  merchant,  post- 
master and  ticket  agent ;  Jacob  was  a  telegraph  operator  at  Humm^lstown  and 
is  now  brakeman  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company. 

The  Mengels  are  members  of  the  Church  of  God  and  haye  always  taken 
an  active  part  in  its  work.  Mr.  Mengel  has  served  as  deacon,  elder  and  trus- 
tee of  the  church,  and  Miss  Louisa  Mengel  has  also  held  the  position  of  elder, 
at  Summit.  She  has  always  been  interested  in  the  Sunday  school,  and  has 
taught  Sunday  school  at  both  Summit  and  Auburn,  being  a  valued  worker. 

PROF.  JONATHAN  W.  COOPER,  of  Shenandoah,  had  the  direction 
of  the  public  schools  of  that  place  committed  to  his  care  over  eighteen  years 
ago.  Having  been  under  his  sole  management  for  so  long,  it  is  reasonable  to 
attribute  the  admirable  system  now  in  force  to  the  working  out  of  his  theories, 
and  it  is  certain  that  he  has  been  animated  by  a  keen  sense  of  responsibility 
in  all  his  endeavors.  Professor  Cooper  is  a  man  of  liberal  attainments,  to 
which  he  has  been  adding  continually  in  his  long  experience  in  educational 
work  His  standing  among  the  people  of  Shenandoah  is  the  most  reliable 
indication  of  the  estimate  which  they  place  on  the  value  of  his  work. 

Professor  Cooper  was  bom  July  5,  1857,  at  Rising  Sun,  Md.,  son  of 
Samuel  Atkinson  Cooper  and  grandson  of  Jacob  L.  and  Mary  (Atkinson) 
Cooper.  The  Coopers  are  of  Welsh  ancestry  and  Quaker  stock,  and  came 
to  Upland,  Delaware  Co.,  Pa.,  about  1767.  The  Atkinsons,  who  were  English, 
also  settled  in  Delaware  county  before  the  Revolutionary  war.  Jacob  L. 
Cooper  was  a  cooper  and  farmer.  He  died  when  about  eighty  years  old,  and 
is  buried  with  his  wife  in  the  Quaker  cemetery  at  Calvert,  Md.  He  took 
an  active  interest  in  politics,  in  which  he  supported  the  Democratic  party. 
His  children  were:  Jacob  L.,  David  H.,  Samuel  A.,  Anne  (Mrs.  Lewis  Gil- 
bert), Rachel  (Mrs.  Israel  Kimble),  Sarah  (Mrs.  John  Marsh)  and  Eliza- 
beth (Mrs.  Larew  Kimble). 

Samuel  Atkinson  Cooper  was  bom  in  181 1  in  Upland.  Delaware  county, 
and  was  baptized  in  the  Friends'  Church,  but  became  a  Methodist  after  his 
second  marriage.  He  died  June  23,  1866,  at  Nottingham,  Chester  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  buried  with  his  second  wife  at  Houses  Church,  Chester  county. 
Politically  he  was  an  active  Democrat.  By  trade  he  was  a  cooper,  and  he 
did  a  large  real  estate  and  farming  business.  He  was  married  twice,  and 
was  the  father  of  thirteen  children,  four  by  his  first  wife,  Jane  (Taylor),  of 
Media,  Delaware  Co.,  Pa.,  who  died  in  1845,  and  is  buried  in  the  Quaker 


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.,■.•!   iM-anl^'in  of    lava>l>  L.  and  Marv   \  ;:kn  -<  :~  ■ 

'    ,1  a    .  *    \   t  .  L  a!ua-try  and  Quaker  stock,  and  rauic 

■•A  .fj   i'o.  i'-..,  a'.'  ut  ir^'^J.    Tho  Atkinsons,  who  were  ;''.:e^';^r. 

.         '    j-.i    lU'lavvarc   county  h-.^f.)ro   th'"   Revolutionary   war.      Jai'.b    1  . 

c*  O'-MTier  and  fanner,     lie  tiicd  wli-'ii  about  eig-hty  vears  obi.  \i:.! 

:     .'lb   bis   v.io'   in   the  Onakrr  ccnieler\^  at  C'alvert,   Md      lie   t^ok 

i:»:t!t>t   in   ].i"it.'S,   in    which    he   supported   the  DetncxTatic   v^-^r    . 

■    ;    :.M!  v.*'re:   Ja- '  b  L..   i'a\i(l  11.,  Samuel  A.,  Anne  (Mrs.  l.^wis  (   ;:- 

't-lul    (M15'   Isiael   Knnbie),   Sarah    (Mt.s.  John   Mar.sh )    and   Fh"-a- 

-     barcxv   Kiniblep 

].;•  .  Atkinson  (..(.!>.'   was  born  in   iXu   in  Upland,  Delaware  vO!u.t\. 

..  I     I'M'tlzed  ill  die  I  nerivls'  (^hiirch.  but  became  a  Methodist  after  b*- 

n.a.ri.f.^e.     lie  died  June  2,^.    j8'>6,  at  Xottin^ham.  Chester  Co..  i  .1, 

'ei'r'i    with    h)s    s(\nr.fi    wiff"    at    T louses    Church.    Chester    coiui!y 

be  was  an  acti\'e  bciuocrat.     \W  trade  he  was  a  cooixr,  and   lu 

,    .   -,.  •   ripl   eslnU'   and    farn^ini:  bu<ine>>      lie   w;;s   married   tw'ce,   a*^d 

^   b.r  r.f  thirteen  cbiMrcn.  four  by  his  tVst  wife,  Jane  ( Taylor .».  \  f 

1-..    .are  Co..   Ta.,   who  died  in    1S45,  and  is  buricil  in  the  Qaa\«  r 


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.;i:.KARY 


ASIOH     LENOX 
IILJji-.^    i-    'i'r;L,AriONS 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA     ^  897 

cemetery  at  Calvert,  Md.  Of  their  family,  John  Thomas  died  young.  Sarah, 
wife  of  George  Haines,  of  Rising  Sun,  Md.,  died  in  1887.  Jacob  L.  was  a 
large  |^in  dealer  in  Chester  county.  Pa.,  retired  to  Wilmington,  and  died 
there  m  1902.  Amos  G.  entered  the  Civib  war  when  but  fifteen  years  old, 
serving  from  1862  to  1865,  and  afterwards  entered  business  in  the  North; 
later  he  went  to  Florida,  where  he  was  in  the  orange  business,  and  he  died 
there  in  the  early  nineties.  For  his  second  wife  Samuel  A.  Cooper  married 
Mary  Wilkinson,  on  June  23,  1853.  She  was  bom  at  Nottingham,  Chester  Co., 
Pa.,  and  died  in  1910,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Her  father,  Jona- 
than Wilkinson,  of  English  ancestry,  died  in  1864,  when  about  sixty-five 
years  old;  her  mother,  Elizabeth  Morris,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  died  in 
1876,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  They  were  early  settlers  of  Bucks  county. 
Pa.  Nine  children  were  bom  to  Samuel  A.  and  Mary  (Wilkinson)  Cooper, 
of  whom  but  three  grew  ta  maturity:  Martha  A.,  wife  of  Thompson  Hudson, 
justice  of  the  peace,  o^  Oxford,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.;  Jonathan  W.;  and  David 
H.,  who  is  now  in  tlae  employ  of  the  Traction  Company  in  Philadelphia. 

The  family  having  settled  in  Nottingham  in  1865,  when  he  was  quite 
young,  Jonathan  W.  Cooper  spent  most  of  his  boyhood  near  Oxford,  in 
Chester  county.  He  attended  the  common  schools  in  Chester  and  Lancaster 
counties,  and  later  the  academy  at  Oxford.  All  his  active  years  have  been 
devoted  to  the  profession  of  which  he  made  early  choice,  having  begun  to 
teach  when  but  eighteen  years  old,  in  Chester  county,  where  he  was  engaged 
for  seven  years.  Having  decided  to  prepare  himself  for  higher  work  he 
entered  the  State  Normal  School  at  Millersville  in  the  fall  of  1882,  com- 
pleted the  elementary  course  in  1883,  and  the  next  year  was  graduated  in 
the  scientific  course.  Soon  afterwards,  the  same  year,  he  was  appointed 
principal  of  public  schools  at  Tremont,  Schuylkill  county,  and  his  field  of 
labor  has  been  in  this  county  continuously  since.  He  remained  at  Tremont 
for  nine  years,  until  the  fall  of  1893,  when  he  resigned  to  come  to  Shenan- 
doah, having  accepted  the  principalship  of  the  high  school.  He  held  that 
position  from  August,  1893,  until  January,  1897,  giving  such  entire  satisfac- 
tion that  when  he  resigned  it  was  to  take  up  the  duties  of  superintendent  of 
the  borough  schools,  which  he  assumed  Jan.  5th,  as  acting  superintendent. 
On  April  5th  of  the  same  year  he  became  the  regular  incumbent  of  the  posi- 
tion, which  he  has  filled  without  interruption  since.  No  more  flattering  com- 
ment could  be  made  regarding  his  conscientious  performance  of  the  impor- 
tant work  of  training  the  young.  Professor  Cooper  has  prided  himself  upon 
keeping  in  touch  with  the  advances  made  by  others  in  his  profession,  but 
he  has  been  no  less  zealous  in  aiding  in  that  progress  by  his  own  exertions, 
and  he  is  regarded  as  an  authority  on  school  management  among  educators 
all  over  the  State.  He  has  been  twice  a  candidate  for  the  county  sup^rin- 
tendency,  but  was  defeated  both  times,  though  by  small  majorities. 

Local  affairs  have  always  been  interesting  to  Professor  Cooper,  who  has 
allied  himself  with  the  social  and  religious  organizations  of  the  communities 
where  his  work  has  called  him,  and  supported  worthy  enterprises  of  all  kinds. 
He  continues  to  hold  membership  in  three  fraternal  bodies  at  Tremont,  P.  O.  S. 
of  A.  Camp  No.  76,  I.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge  No.  245  and  Swatara  Lodge,  No.  267, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  having  been  secretary  of  the  latter  when  he  left  Tremont. 
Formerly  he  belonged  to  Tremont  Castle,  No.  107,  K.  G.  E.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  Trinity  Reformed  Church  at  Shenandoah,  of  which  he  was 
an  elder  for  six  years,  and  he  was  formerly  treasurer  of  the  Sunday  school. 

Vol.  n— 19 


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898  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Politically  he  has  always  been  associated  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  he 
served  at  one  time  as  chairman  of  the  county  convention. 

On  Feb.  9,  1881,  Professor  Cooper  married  Ida  May  Jackson,  who  was 
bom  in  1861  in  southern  Lancaster  county,  daughter  of  Joel  Morris  and 
Margaret  (Wright)  Jackson,  of  Fulton  township,  Lancaster  county.  Mrs. 
Cooper  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  Millersville  State 
Normal  School,  and  taught  for  a  short  time  before  Her  marriage.  She  died 
Feb.  20,  1898.    There  were  no  children  by  this  marriage. 

Joel  Morris  Jackson  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Hannah  Carter, 
sister  of  Henry  Carter,  foi;  several  years  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  To 
them  were  bom  the  following  children:  Alice,  wife  of  'Thomas  Gregg; 
Hannah,  wife  of  Isaac  Haines;  Joel,  who  entered  the  Union  service  during 
the  Civil  war  and  was  confined  in  Libby  prison  for  four  months,  dying  five 
days  after  his  release;  William,  also  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  who  spent 
six  months  and  three  days  as  a  prisoner  at  Jacksonville,  now  in  business  at 
Belmar,  N.  J.,  of  which  city  he  was  one  time  mayor;  and  John,  a  merchant 
in  Fulton  township,  Lancaster  county.  By  his  second  wife,  Margaret  (Wright) 
Mr.  Jackson  had  three  children:  Henry,  who  is  a  farmer  in  southern  Lan- 
caster county;  Ida  May;  and  Eva,  wife  of  Andrew  Charles. 

On  June  7,  1900,  Professor  Cooper  married  (second)  Ella  May  Clauser, 
who  was  bom  Feb.  25,  1870,  at  Tremont,  Pa.,  received  her  education  in  the 
public  schools  at  Llewellyn  and  at  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  Kutz- 
town.  Pa.,  graduating  from  the  latter  in  1888,  and  was  a  public  school  teacher 
at  Shenandoah  for  twelve  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  have  had  four  chil- 
dren, bom  as  follows :  Jonathan  Wendell,  April  7,  1901 ;  Anna  May,  Sept. 
19,  1904;  Sarah  Ruth,  May  15,  1908;  Myrton  Thompson,  Nov.  28,  1910. 

Philip  A.  Qauser,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Jonathan  W.  Cooper,  was  a 
native  of  Branch  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  spent  all  his  life  in  the 
same  house  on  the  farm  where  he  was  bom.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land 
and  considerable  timber.  He  died  about  1887,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years, 
his  wife  Rosanna  living  to  be  over  eighty,  and  they  are  buried  at  what  is 
known  as  Clauser's  Church,  the  Frieden's  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Clauser  was 
a  Reformed  member.  His  father  donated  the  organization  twelve  acres  of 
land  for  church  and  cemetery  purposes,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
church,  and  assisted  in  building  the  original  house  of  worship.  Philip  A. 
Qauser  was  a  Republican  and  took  an  active  part  in  local  politics.  His 
family  consisted  of  seven  sons:  Jacob,  who  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war; 
Simon  H. ;  PhiHp,  who  married  Susan  Bush ;  David,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  who  married  Ellen  Freimoyer,  of  Llewellyn,  Schuylkill  county;  Frank- 
lin, who  married  Sarah  Zimmerman;  Edward,  and  Milton. 

Simon  H.  Clauser,  Mrs.  Cooper's  father,  was  bom  in  the  same  house  as 
his  father,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  Branch  township.  He  did 
farm  work  until  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  serving  during  that  struggle  under 
three  enlistments,  the  first  for  three  months  in  Company  A,  129th  Penn- 
sylvania Regiment,  under  Capt.  Harry  Chance.  He  was  discharged  in  July, 
1861,  and  on  Aug.  9,  1862,  became  a  member  of  Company  A,  129th  Regi- 
ment, under  Capt.  William  W.  Clement,  for  nine  months.  At  the  end  of 
this  time  he  was  discharged  at  Harrisburg,  in  May,  1863,  and  on  Feb.  25, 
1864,  reenlisted,  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  becoming  quartermaster 
sergeant  of  the  50th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  Veteran  Volunteers,  under  Col. 
William  Telford.    He  was  discharged  July  30,  1865,  near  Georgetown,  D.  C. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANLA^  899 

Upon  his  return  from  the  army  Mr.  Clauser  became  one  of  the  Reading 
Coal  &  Iron  police,  and  was  in  1873  promoted  to  the  position  of  chief  of  the 
Coal  &  Iron  police  at  Hazleton,  Pa.,  where  he  died  Sept.  5,  1874,  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty-one  years.'  He  was  a  versatile  man,  able  to  turn  his  hand  suc- 
cessfully to  almost  any  kind  of  occupation.  His  ability  was  recognized,  for 
he  was  chosen  to  several. positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  places  where  He 
resided,  serving  as  tax  receiver  in  Foster  township.  Politically  he  was  a 
Republican.  He  was  a  Mason,  holding  membership  in  Swatara  Lodge,  No. 
267,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Tremont,  and  his  religious  connection  was  with  Clauser's 
Reformed  Church.     He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  that  church. 

Mr.  Clauser  married  Sarah  J.  Faust,  who  was  bom  Oct.  18,  1843,  in 
Branch  township,  near  Llewellyn,  and  taught  school  at  Donaldson,  Pa., 
before  her  marriage.  She  died  Feb.  19,  191 3.  Four  children  were  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clauser,  viz. :  Gurden  G.  married  Cordelia  Bowman,  of  Millers- 
burg,  and  one  child,  Agnes  May,  blessed  this  union;  Ella  M.  is  Mrs.  Cooper; 
Anna  W.  became  the  wife  of  Elmer  J.  Wasley,  superintendent  of  the  Citi- 
zens' Water  Works,  of  Shenandoah,  and  to  them  three  children  have  been 
bom,  Stuart  C,  Douglas  C.  and  Marian  C. ;  Harry  S.  studied  medicine  at 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  settled  at  Kingston,  Pa.,  and  died  Dec.  31,  1900, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  is  buried  in  Hanover  Green  cemetery, 
Wilkes-Barre  (he  married  Mary  Luke,  and  they  had  one  child,  Mill  Luke). 

Jacob  F.  Faust,  Mrs.  Clauser's  father,  was  a  farmer,  and  made  many 
improvements  on  the  large  property  he  owned,  building  a  substantial  house 
and  carrying  on  his  work  in  progressive  fashion.  He  served  as  supervisor 
and  in  other  offices  in  Branch  township,  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
held  membership  in  Clauser's  Reformed  Church,  taking  an  active  part  in 
church  work.  His  wife,  Magdalena  (Kutz),  was  bom  Jan.  20,  1825.  He 
died  in  Shenandoah  in  1889,  and  is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  cemetery 
there.  They  had  a  large  family,  namely:  Edward  G.  married  Mary  Jane 
Cockill,  and  they  reside  at  Pottsville;  David  P.,  who  is  land  agent  for  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company  at  Shamokin,  Pa.,  married  Mary  E.  Cockill ; 
William  married  Ida  Bamhart,  and  their  home  is  at  Llewellyn,  Pa.;  Daniel, 
also  of  Llewellyn,  married  Jennie  Garland;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Henry 
Gabert,  of  Mahanoy  City,  this  county;  Mary,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
John  Dovey;  Sarah  J.  was  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Cooper;  Elizabeth  lives  with 
her  mother  in  Scranton,  Pa. ;  Carrie,  deceased,  was  a.  very  successful  teacher 
in  Scranton  for  fifteen  years,  and  opened  the  department  of  the  International 
Correspondence  Schools  of  that  city  in  which  the  common  branches  are 
taught  (the  school  was  founded  by  T.  J.  Foster). 

GEORGE  W.  BERRETT,  now  living  retired  at  Minersville,  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  carried  on  the  butcher  business  at  that  place,  now  conducted  by 
his  son,  on  South  Delaware  avenue.  He  is  of  English  birth  and  extraction, 
born  April  7,  1839,  at  Corsham,  Wiltshire,  son  of  Samuel  Berrett.  The  father, 
who  was  a  tanner,  lived  and  died  in  England.  His  children  were:  Martha, 
William,  Mary,  Sarah,  Edward,  Samuel,  George  W.,  Annie,  Eliza  and  James, 
who  served  in  the  African  war  and  was  lost  track  of  during  the  service. 

When  a  boy  fourteen  years  old  George  W.  Berrett  commenced  to  learn  the 
butcher's  trade  in  Wales,  where  he  remained  for  the  next  ten  years.  In  1863 
he  came  to  America,  landing  at  New  York,  Aug.  3d,  after  a  voyage  of  seven 
weeks  and  two  days  in  the  sailing  vessel  "Benjamin  Adams,"  commanded  by 


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900  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Captain  Chase.  His  stay  in  New  York  was  very  brief,  only  one  day  and  one 
night,  and  he  came  thence  to  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
first  employed  at  mining.  Then  he  resumed  his  former  occupation,  engaging 
in  the  butcher  business  on  South  Delaware  avenue,  where  he  catered  to  a 
profitable  trade  imtil  his  retirement  in  1903.  At  that  time  he  turned  the  busi- 
ness over  to  his  son,  George,  who  has  since  continued  it.  Upon  giving  up 
active  work  Mr.  Berrett,  in  June,  1903,  left  for  the  old  home  in  England  and 
spent  three  months  visiting  there.  His  industrious  life  and  honorable  dealings 
with  all  have  made  him  one  of  the  most  esteemed  citizens  at  Minersville, 
where  he  and  his  family  are  held  in  the  highest  respect. 

On  Dec.  2,  1857,  Mr.  Barrett  married  Ellen  Mitchel,  daughter  of  William 
Mitchel,  the  latter  a  native  of  England  and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Mr. 
Mitchel  lived  in  Wales  for  many  years,  finally  coming  to  America,  where  he 
died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Berrett;  he  is  buried  at  Minersville. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eliza  Sheaferd,  died  in  Wales,  and  is  buried 
there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berrett  had  a  large  family,  three  children  dying  in  in- 
fancy, unnamed.  Of  the  others  William  married  Margaret  Jenkins,  and  is  liv- 
ing at  Frackville,  Pa.;  Samuel,  also  of  Frackville,  married  Alice  Jenkins; 
Eliza,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  William  Edmunds  (these  three  were  bom  in 
Wales)  ;  George,  the  first  child  bom  in  America,  is  married  to  Lottie  Wilt; 
Mary,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  William  Hold,  and  her  daughter,  Helen,  is 
married  to  Thomas  KauflFman;  John  Joseph,  John  (2),  Albert  and  Joseph  (2) 
all  died  youngs;  James,  of  Minersville,  married  Lizzie  Jenkins;  Albert  (2), 
Joseph  (3),  Charles  and  Ella  died  young.  The  family  has  the  distinction  of 
being  the  largest  at  Minersville.  They  are  associated  with  the  Methodist 
Church  in  religion  and  all  have  been  creditable  citizens.  Mr.  Berrett  was  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  his  native  land. 

GEORGE  W.  BOLTON,  a  prosperous  merchant  of  Schuylkill  Haven, 
was  bom  in  that  borough  Dec.  16,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  George  W.  Bolton, 
the  family  being  one  of  prominence  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  Many  members 
reside  in  Harrisburg. 

George  W.  Bolton,  the  father,  resided  for  a  time  at  Lebanon,  Pa.  He 
was  reared  to  farm  work,  but  afterwards  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker. 
Being  among  the  pioneers  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  he  opened  a  shop  there  and 
plied  his  trade  for  a  time,  later  working  on  fine  custom  trade  for  William 
Rudy,  with  whom  he  remained  for  twenty-two  years.  After  a  lifetime  of 
useful  labor  he  was  called  to  rest  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  and  he  is 
buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  He  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  Lavina  Boot,  and  to  this  union  were  bom  several  children 
who  died  in  childhood,  a  son  James,  who  is  deceased,  and  George  W.,  men- 
tioned below,  who  is  the  only  living  member  of  this  family.  Mr.  Bolton  was 
married  second  to  Louisa  Aman,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children,  as  follows: 
Elvestes,  Elmer,  Reuben,  James,  Sallie,  Joseph,  Sevilla,  Francis,  Lewis,  and 
one  child  that  died  in  infancy. 

George  W.  Bolton,  Jr.,  obtained  a  limited  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  began  to  work  as  boatman  on 
the  old  Schuylkill  canal,  where  he  was  employed  until  his  twenty-sixth  year. 
He  then  transferred  his  energies  to  the  railroad,  being  connected  with  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  for  thirty-five  years.  In  1004  he 
withdrew  from  that  work  and  built  an  establishment  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANL\  901 

on  Liberty  street,  where  he  opened  a  small  store,  afterwards  adding  the  busi- 
ness of  hotelkeeper  to  his  other  occupations.  He  continued  the  hotel  business 
for  four  years  and  then  sold  out,  purchasing  the  property  on  Canal  street  where 
he  opened  the  general  store  which  he  now  conducts.  He  has  a  fine  trade, 
and  is  building  up  the  business  as  rapidly  as  the  demands  of  this  growing  town 
will  warrant. 

Mr.  Bolton  was  married  to  Sofiah  Theresa,  daughter  of  George  and  Kate 
(Lloyd)  Bausman.  Mr.  Bausman  was  a  boatbuilder  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 
later  going  to  Reading,  where  he  died.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bolton  have  been 
bom  twelve  children,  namely :  .  Samuel,  deceased ;  Charles,  at  home ;  William, 
a  conductor  on  the  Reading  railroad;  Lottie,  wife  of  Samuel  Trout;  Mamie; 
Kate,  at  home;  Harry  (twin  of  Kate),  deceased;  Oscar,  residing  in  Schuyl- 
kill Haven;  Gussie,  married  to  Samuel  Sleeper  and  residing  in  Schuylkill 
Haven ;  Hattie,  married  to  William  Reed ;  George,  living  at  home ;  and  one 
child  that  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Bolton  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  an  attendant  of  the  Evangelical  Church.  He  has 
gained  a  lai^e  circle  of  friends  through  his  connection  with  the  Reading  road 
and  his  business  activities,  and  few  are  more  respected  or  popular  among  the 
residents  of  Schuylkill  Haven  than  George  W.  Bolton. 

JOEL  S.  DEGLER,  of  West  Brunswick  township,  is  looked  upon  as  one 
of  the  most  intelligent  citizens  of  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  is  a 
farmer  of  progressive  tendencies  and  excellent  business  ability,  has  served 
capably  in  more  than  one  official  position,  and  in  all  the  other  relations  of  life 
has  proved  his  reliability  and  worth. 

Mr.  Degler  is  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  bom  July  21,  1863,  at  Strauss- 
town,  in  Upper  Tulpehocken  township,  where  the  family  has  farmed  for 
several  generations.  He  is  a  great-great-grandson  of  Frederick  De^^ler,  who 
came  to  this  country  from  Germany,  and  a  great-grandson  of  Fredenck  Jacob 
Degler^  They  lived  near  Fort  Nortbkill,  which  was  built  in  the  early  part  of 
the  year  1754,  as  a  protection  for  the  settlers  against  the  Indians,  and  stood 
about  two  miles  east  of  Strausstown,  in  Upper  Tulpehocken  township,  on 
the  Northkill,  a  small  stream  which  emptied  into  the  Tulpehocken  creek  at 
Bemville.  Frederick  Degler  made  his  home  in  the  locality  before  the  French 
and  Indian  war,  and  his  farm  has  been  occupied  since  by  his  son,  grandson 
and  great-grandson,  John  W.  Degler  (father  of  Joel  S.  Degler),  the  tatter's 
son,  Jacob,  now  having  a  portion  of  it.  An  old  chest  owned  by  John  W. 
Degler  until  his  death  had  an  interesting  history.  It  was  brought  from  the 
old  country  by  Frederick  Degler,  and  upon  his  death  came,  with  the  home 
property,  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  Frederick  Jacob  Degler,  and  in  turn  into 
the  possession  of  the  latter's  son  John,  and  his  son  John  W.,  the  family  in- 
tending to  preserve  it  carefully  as  a  memento  of  the  days  of  fearful  conflict 
endured  by  their  forefathers  during  the  pioneer  period,  in  guarding  their  lives 
and  homes  against  the  hostile  Indians.  The  emigrant  ancestor  possessed  the 
virtues  common  to  many  of  the  old  settlers,  being  honest,  kindly,  generous 
and  hospitable,  and  he  always  fumished  food  and  other  necessaries  to  the 
Indians  who  frequented  his  home.  They  never  disturbed  anything  on  the 
premises  or  molested  him  in  any  way  to  excite  his  distrust,  but  when  the 
savages  murdered  the  white  people  only  a  short  distance  away,  he  feared  they 
might  become  treacherous,  and  moved  his  family  close  to  the  fort  so  that 


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902  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

they  would  be  under  the  protection  of  the  g^ard  stationed  there.  The  In- 
dians were  lurking  in  the  dense  woods  adjacent,  and  seeing  him  near  the 
fort,  became  convinced  that  he  had  turned  against  them.  Acting  on  this  belief 
they  proceeded  to  his  house,  and  finding  neither  him  nor  his  family  there 
ransacked  the  dwelling.  The  old  chest  previously  mentioned,  made  of  un- 
painted  cedar  and  protected  on  the  edges  with  iron  trimmings,  was  in  the 
house,  and  when  they  demolished  the  furniture  the  Indians  split  the  chest 
completely  through  the  middle ;  small  iron  bands  were  afterward  used  on  the 
ends  to  hold  the  parts  together,  though  the  lid  was  still  in  two  pieces  when 
John  W.  Degler  owned  it.  The  chest  bears  the  date  1757,  and  it  is  presumed 
this  is  the  year  in  which  the  Indians  smashed  it.  Two  stood  guard  at  some 
distance  from  the  fort  while  the  others  plundered  the  house,  and  the  guards 
were  captured  but  subsequently  released.  The  above  account  appears  in  at 
work  entitled  **Indians  of  Berks  County/*  by  D.  B.  Brumer,  A.  M.,  published 
in  1 88 1.  The  author  visited  the  spot  where  the  fort  stood  Nov.  26,  1879,  ^it 
which  time  John  W.  Degler  was  alive  and  had  the  chest. 

John  Degler,  grandfather  of  Joel  S.  Degler,  also  farmed  near  Straussto\vn, 
in  Upper  Tulpehocken  township,  having  168  acres  of  land,  a  great  part  of 
which  he  cleared.  He  remained  there  all  his  life.  His  children  were:  John 
W. ;  Daniel,  who  married  a  Moyer ;  and  Lydia,  who  married  John  Moyer.  The 
father  was  a  Democrat  and  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  Zion's  Church  at  Strauss- 
town,  where  he  and  the  mother  are  buried. 

John  W.  Degler,  father  of  Joel  S.  Degler,  was  bom  at  Strausstown,  Berks 
county,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  He  obtained  his  education  in 
the  pay  schools  conducted  in  the  home  vicinity,  and  during  his  youth  and 
early  manhood  worked  for  his  father,  who  was  a  weaver  as  well  as  farmer, 
making  linen  cloth.  He  also  fashioned  baskets.  After  his  father's  death 
John  W.  Degler  bought  the  home  farm  from  George  Degler,  who  had  pur- 
chased it  from  the  estate,  and  thereafter  he  lived  on  and  operated  the  place 
until  his  death,  doing  general  farming  and  also  conducting  the  grist  and  saw 
mill  which  stood  upon  his  property.  He  was  a  highly  respected  man,  a  promi- 
nent member  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church,  near  the  Blue  mountain,  which  he 
served  officially  as  elder  and  deacon.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr. 
Degler  married  Elizabeth  Smith,  who  was  bom  at  Rehrersburg,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  and  died,  aged  seventy-two  years,  and  they  are  buried  at  Zion's  Church. 
Children  as  follows  were  bom  to  this  union :  Sarah,  married  William  Noecker, 
of  West  Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill  county;  Malinda,  married  Alfred 
McAllister,  of  Strausstown,  Berks  county;  Enoch,  married  Ida  Naftsinger, 
who  survives  him  and  lives  in  Missouri ;  Monroe,  married  Rachel  Huyer,  and 
they  live  in  Texas  county,  Mo.;  Susan,  married  Oliver  Engleman  (deceased) 
and  (second)  Fred  Leonhardt,  of  Ohio;  Rebecca  (deceased)  was  the  first 
wife  of  Fred  Leonhardt;  Emma  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  David  McAllis- 
ter, of  Strausstown,  Berks  county,;  Kate,  married  Mot-ris  Strauss,  of  Orwigs- 
burg,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.;  Jacob,  married  Kate  Bauscher,  who  is  deceased, 
and  he  lives  on  part  of  the  old  homestead  farm  at  Strausstown;  John,  who 
married  Susan  Wagner,  lives  near  Strausstown ;  Joel  S.,  completes  the  family. 

Joel  S.  Degler  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  near  Strauss- 
town, where  he  was  reared.  Farming  was  his  early  occupation,  and  he  worked 
on  the  home  place  for  his  father  until  he  reached  his  majority,  afterwards 
farming  there  for  another  four  years.  When  his  father  died  he  bought  the 
property,  which  he  occupied  for  four  years  thereafter,  at  the  end  of  that  time 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  903 

removing  to  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  farmed 
Jacob  Weible's  land  for  one  year.  He  then  moved  to  his  present  home  in 
West  Brunswick  township,  buying  the  property,  which  comprises  seventy- 
four  acres,  fifty-two  acres  of  which  are  cleared.  Here  he  followed  general 
farming  for  seven  years,  until  he  sold  the  place  to  Mary  Alspach,  and  for 
the  next  several  yeaVs  he  was  variously  engaged,  for  three  years  operating  a 
coal  washery  at  Landingville,  which  he  owned.  In  the  spring  of  191 5  Mr. 
Degler  bought  back  his  farm,  from  Frank  Kershner,  and  he  has  erected  a 
new  dwelling  house  and  made  various  other  improvements  since  it  came  back 
into  his  possession.  He  is  now  devoting  his  energies  to  general  farming,  and 
he  bids  fair  to  make  his  place  one  of  the  notably  successful  tracts  in  the  lo- 
cality, if  good  management  and  judicious  cultivation  count  for  anything.  Mr. 
Degler  has  always  been  public-spirited  in  looking  after  local  interests,  and  he 
has  served  faithfully  as  school  director  in  West  Brunswick  township.  While 
at  Landingville  he  was  also  called  into  the  public  service,  as  member  of  the 
borough  council,  where  he  gave  ample  evidence  of  the  solid  qualities  which 
have  commended  him  to  official  preferment.  Politically  he  supports  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  In  religious  connection  he  is  a  Lutheran,  at  present  belonging 
to  St.  Paul's  Church  at  Orwigsburg,  and  while  at  Landingville  he  was  promi- 
nent in  the  congregation  there,  which  he  served  as  deacon.  Fraternally  he 
is  an  Odd  Fellow,  holding  membership  in  Strausstown  Lodge,  No.  yy,  of  which 
he  is  a  past  grand,  and  he  served  at  one  time  as  assistant  secretary. 

Mr.  Degler  married  Mary  E.  Gerhard,  who  was  bom  Aug.  2,  1862,  and 
six  children  have  been  bom  to  them,  as  follows:  Lizzie  Ann,  born  April  11, 
1885,  in  Upper  Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county,  was  educated  in  that* 
county  and  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Robert 
Lindermuth,  a  shoemaker,  of  Orwigsburg;  they  have  had  three  children, 
George  (deceased),  Earl  and  Mary.  Emma  Rebecca,  born  Dec.  27,  1886,  at- 
tended school  in  West  Brunswick  and  North  Manheim  townships,  and  at 
Landingville,  and  is  now  living  at  home.  Mary  Etta,  born  Dec.  31,  1889, 
was  educated  in  West  Brunswick  and  North  Manheim  townships,  and  at 
Landingville.  Elsie  May,  bom  March  4,  1892,, was  also  educated  at  those 
schools,  and  is  now  living  at  home.  Dora  Dianna,  bom  March  31,  1895,  at- 
tended school  at  Landingville,  and  also  at  Orwigsburg,  graduating  from  the 
high  school  at  the  latter  borough  in  1914.  Arthur  Dewey,  bom  Oct.  7,  1898, 
has  also  received  his  education  at  Landingville  and  at  tfie  Orwigsburg  high 
school,  which  he  is  still  attending,  and  is  no^y  assisting  his  father  on  the  farrti. 

Mrs.  Degler  is  a  great-granddaughter  of  Jacob  Gerhard,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  settled  in  Berks  county  upon  coming  to  this  country.  Her  grand- 
father, Heinrich  (Henry)  Gerhard,  bom  May  i,  1798,  at  Rehrersburg,  that 
county,  died  Nov.  22,  1871.  He  moved  to  West  Bmnswick  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  in  1828,  and  is  buried  in  the  Reformed  cemetery  at  Orwigsburg. 
His  wife,  Marie  Salome  (Hoy),  bom  in  1800,  died  in  1863.  They  had  six 
children,  namely:  Maria  (Mrs.  Daniel  Alspach),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Samuel  Yost), 
Henry,  Priscilla  (who  married  James  Anderson  and  Edward  Mengel),  Wil- 
liam and  Edward,  the  last  named  dying  young.  / 

Henry  Gerhard,  father  of  Mrs.  Degler,  was  bom  Aug.  25,  1829,  in  West 
Brunswick  township,  in  the  house  where  he  still  resides.  He  farmed  through- 
out his  active  years,  and  has  been  living  retired  since  1912.  His  first  wife, 
Dianna  (Mengd),  died  Jan.  3,  1857,  the  mother  of  three  children:  Charles, 
deceased  in  childhood;  William  Francis;  and  Dianna,  deceased  in  infancy. 


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904  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

By  his  second  marriage,  to  Eliza  Yost,  he  has  had  eleven  children:  Elwood 
P.,  bom  May  31,  i860,  is  living  at  Port  Carbon;  Mary  E.,  bom  Aug.  2,  1862, 
is  married  to  Joel  S.  Degler ;  Henry  Y.,  bom  Oct.  5,  1864,  is  a  shoe  manu- 
facturer of  Orwigsburg;  Samuel,  bom  April  6,  1867,  died  aged  nine  years; 
Frank,  bom  Feb.  5,  1869,  is  a  farmer  of  West  Brunswick  township;  Emma 
M.,  bom  Feb.  22,  1871,  married  Jacob  Zuber,  and  is  living  at  Allentown,  Pa.; 
George  A.,  bom  April  11,  1873,  is  a  shoemaker  at  Orwigsburg,  with  his 
brother;  John,  bom  March  11,  1875,  is  a  farmer  in  Orwigsburg;  Calvin  L., 
bora  July  2,  1876,  is  farming  in  the  borough  of  Orwigsburg;  Hannah  S.,  bora 
Jime  20,  1881,  married  George  Seltzer  and  is  living  at  McKeansburg,  Schuyl- 
kill coimty;  Edwin  R.,  bora  Oct.  20,  1884,  is  farming  the  homestead  place  in 
West  Brunswick  township. 

SAMUEL  B.  BEHLER  is  farming  in  East  Brunswick  township,  follow- 
ing  the  occupation  in  which  his  immediate  ancestors  have  been  engaged  for 
over  a  century  in  that  part  of  Schuylkill  county. 

The  Behler  family  has  been  in  America  from  Colonial  days,  and  Samuel 
B.  Behler  belongs  to  the  fourth  generation  of  the  branch  which  has  contributed 
so  much  to  the  improvement  of  West  Penn  and  East  Brunswick  townships. 
Its  members  have  done  their  share  in  clearing  the  land  and  developing  the 
agricuhural  possibilities  of  the  region  in  the  pursuit  of  a  living  and  the  acqui- 
sition of  property;  and  they  have  been  equally  useful  in  the  introduction  and 
maintenance  of  desirable  social  conditions,  themselves  leading  exemplary 
lives  and  assisting  in  the  establishment  of  church  and  schools,  with  their 
accompanying  benefits. 

Anthony  Behler,  founder  of  the  family  in  Schuylkill  cotmty,  was  a  native 
of  Georgia.  When  he  settled  in  what  is  now  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  he  bought  a  tract  of  167  acres,  known  as  the  Bankes  tract,  much  of 
which  he  cleared.  He  built  a  log  house  and  bam,  and  worked  the  place 
throughout  his  active  years.  He  lived  to  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety-six.  He 
married  a  Miss  Bankes,  and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Jacob,  who  mar- 
ried Rosie  Donert;  George;  Gideon,  who  married  Leah  Warner;  John,  who 
married  Betsy  Moyer;  Mrs.  Paul;  Mrs.  Wilhelm;  Mrs.  Donert;  Mrs.  Houser, 
and  Mrs.  Raber.  The  parents  are  buried  in  Zion's  Church  yard  in  West  Penn 
township.    Mr.  Behler  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

George  Behler,  grandfather  of  Samuel  B.  Behler,  was  bom  in  1800  in 
West  Penn  township,  was  educated  there,  and  worked  for  his  father  in  young 
manhood.  He  leamed  the  shoemaker's  trade.  His  first  property  was  a  tract 
•  of  190  acres,  a  great  part  of  which  he  and  his  family  cleared.  Selling  this 
farm  to  his  son-m-law,  Elijah  Moyer,  he  bought  a  tract  of  200  acres  which 
he  operated  for  a  while,  and  remained  on  that  place  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  when  he  was  sixty-two  years  old.  He  followed  his  trade  of  shoe- 
maker all  his  life,  was  an  industrious  worker  and  an  intelligent  citizen,  active 
in  public  and  church  affairs.  He  was  a  strong  Democrat  and  lent  all  his 
influence  to  the  success  of  the  party.  As  a  member  of  Zion's  German  Luth- 
eran Church  in  West  Penn  township  he  was  zealous  in  the  promotion  of  its 
interests  and  assisted  in  its  building  of  the  stone  church.  He  and  his  wife, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years,  are  buried  at  that  church.  Her 
maiden  n^me  was  Judith  Donert,  and  she  was  bora  in  1801.  They  had  the 
following  children :  George  married  Eliza  Sassaman ;  Louisa  married  Elijah 
Moyer;  Samuel  is  mentioned  below;  Rebecca  married  Jonathan  Lechleitner; 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  905 

Mary  Ann  died  young;  Judith  married  Charies  Sassaman;  Catherine  married 
John  Nester;  Diana  married  Wallace  Frederici. 

Samuel  Behler,  son  of  George,  was  bom  Sept.  lo,  1825,  near  Steinsville, 
Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  educated  there  and  in  West  Penn  township.  He 
helped  his  father  on  the  farm  until  his  marriage,  when  he  was  about  twenty- 
five  years  old,  at  that  time  leaving  the  parental  home  and  buying  a  farm  near 
Re3molds,  containing  twenty-five  acres.  Learning  the  shoemaker's  trade  with 
his  father,  he  carried  it  on  along  with  his  farming,  and  was  also  handy  at 
other  mechanical  work,  understanding  the  use  of  many  tools.  After  operating 
his  twenty-five-acre  tract  for  a  time  he  sold  it,  and  bought  a  farm  in  East 
Brunswick  township,  fifty-four  acres,  much  of  which  he  cleared.  This  farm 
today  is  owned  by  Henry  Grube.  Mr.  Behler  bought  another  farm,  of  ninety- 
nine  acres,  but  finding  he  could  not  handle  both  places  he  sold  the  fifty-four 
acres  to  John  Stibitz,  and  stayed  on  the  other  farm  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  March,  191 2,  when  he  was  aged  eighty-six  years.  Most  of  his  time 
was  devoted  to  farming,  and  he  also  became  quite  prominent  as  a  local  official, 
holding  the  positions  of  supervisor,  school  director  and  tax  collector.  Politically 
he  was  a  Democrat.  > 

Mr.  Behler  married  Matilda  Buchner,  who  was  bom  May  16,  183 1,  in 
Rush  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  died  Dec.  4,  1892.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Aarcwi  and  Annie  (Brause)  Buchner.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Behler  had  these 
children:  Jeremiah  married  Amanda  Haas,  who  is  now  deceased;  Samuel 
B.  is  next  in  the  family;  Judith  resides  in  East  Brunswick  township;  Moses 
married  Sarah  Mantz;  Aaron,  twin  of  Moses,  married  Elizabeth  Hendricks, 
who  is  deceased;  Harvey  is  unmarried.  Mr.  Behler  was  a  member  of  the 
Frieden's  Lutheran  Church  at  New  Ringgold,  where  he  and  his  wife  are 
buried. 

Samuel  B.  Behler  was  bom  Oct.  17,  1856,  in  East  Bmnswick  township, 
where  he  obtained  his  education.  He  worked  with  his  father  until  twenty- 
one  years  old,  when  he  went  to  leam  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  also  continued 
to  work  among  farmers  for  about  four  years.  Then  he  went  into  the  lumber 
woods  at  Slate  Run,  in  Brown  township,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  as  driver  and 
manager,  shipped  timber,  etc.,  being  so  engaged  for  four  years.  Going  to 
Packer  township.  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  he  managed  the  Harry  Mellington  farm 
for  three  years,  and  then  returning  to  his  trade  worked  for  J.  C.  Hayden  & 
Q).,  at  their  mines  in  Mahahoy  City,  for  one  year.  He  married  while  in 
that  employ.  Entering  the  employ  of  the  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  as 
carpenter  with  the  chain  gang,  building  breakers,  etc.,  he  remained  for  eleven 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  went  into  North  Union  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  bought  a  farm  of  forty-two  acres  from  Wesley  Pettit.  He 
cultivated  thirty  acres  of  this  place,  on  which  he  lived  for  eleven  years,  and 
(Ml  selling  it  came  to  East  Bmnswick  township  and  bought  his  present  place, 
from  Benjamin  F.  Sassaman.  It  contains  about  eighty  acres,  seventy  of  which 
he  cultivates,  carrying  on  general  farming.  He  markets  to  New  Philadelphia, 
St.  Clair  and  Port  Carbon,  making  two  trips  a  week  in  the  summer  time, 
mostly  to  New  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Behler  ^ves  practically  all  his  time  to  his 
farm,  taking  little  active  part  in  public  affairs,  though  he  does  a  good  citizen's 
part  in  furthering  movements  intended  to  stimulate  improvements  in  the  com- 
munity. He  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  of  Frieden's 
Church  at  New  Ringgold,  and  serving  at  present  as  deacon.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican. 


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906  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr.  Behler  is  married  to  Ida  Amelia  Bittner,  who  was  bom  July  15,  1870, 
in  Packer  township,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  received  her  education  there  and  lived 
at  home  until  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Behler  have  two  children:  Joseph 
Walter,  bom  Dec.  10,  1893,  who  married  Mamie  Eliza  Baer,  bom  Aug.  3, 
1898;  and  Samuel  Edgar,  bom  Feb.  28,  1899.  Mrs.  Behler  is  a  member  of 
the  Frieden's  Lutheran  Church  at  New  Ringgold.  Before  her  marriage  she 
was  a  Sunday  school  teacher  at  St.  Matthew's  Lutheran  Church,  in  Packer 
township.  Carbon  county. 

Martin  Bittner,  her  grandfather,  was  a  miller,  and  followed  that  trade 
in  West  Bmnswick  township.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  Zion*s  Old  Red 
Church  in  West  Brunswick  township.  They  had  two  children,  Mary  and  John. 

John  Bittner,  father  of  Mrs.  Behler,  was  bom  in  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  near 
Mainville,  Feb.  24,  1836,  and  died  in  Packer  township.  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov. 
€,  1914.  He  lost  his  father  when  he  was  nine  years  old,  and  was  put  out  to 
work  with  Daniel  Hummel,  a  farmer,  of  West  Brunswick  township,  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  worked  at 
it  in  Tamaqua  and  then  in  Audenried,  and  assisted  in  the  laying  out  of  the 
Lehigh  Valley  railroad  through  the  Quakake  valley.  After  he  was  married 
he  started  housekeeping  in  Mahanoy  City,  and  followed  his  trade.  It  was 
from  Mahanoy  City  that  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  Company  F,  187th 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  to  serve  three  years,  during  which  time 
he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  siege  of  Richmond  and  the  bat- 
tles along  the  Weldon  railroad.  After  retuming  from  the  army  he  located 
in  Packer  township,  Carix^n  county,  and  bought  the  Dietrich  gristmill.  Later 
he  purchased  the  farm  of  his  father-in-law,  John  Faust,  sold  the  mill  and 
moved  to  his  farm,  retaining  the  ownership  tmtil  a  short  time  before  his  death. 
On  April  7,  i860,  Mr.  Bittner  married  Caroline  Faust,  a  native  of  Packer 
township,  bom  Sept.  9,  1841,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Bachert) 
Faust.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bittner  had  a  large  family:  Charles  Edward  died  in 
infancy;  William  Henry,  bom  Sept.  27,  1863,  married  Myrtle  Tracy,  and 
they  reside  at  Louisville,  Colo.;  Allen  David,  bom  June  i,  1866,  married 
Nellie  Piper,  who  is  deceased ;  Mary  Abaliile,  born  Jan.  10,  i8(58,  married  Joel 
Leininger;  Elvin  Daniel,  bom  April  10,  1869,  married  Clara  Fritz;  Mrs.  Sam- 
uel B.  Behler  is  next  in  the  family;  Clara  Elizabeth,  bom  Oct.  15,  1871,  died 
when  nearly  eleven  years  of  age;  Jeremiah  Franklin,  bom  March  2^^  1873, 
died  aged  twenty-two  years;  Samuel  Edgar,  bom  June  5,  1874,  married  Ida 
Newcomb;  George  Washington,  bom  Feb.  9,  1876,  died  in  infancy;  Harriet 
Agnes,  born  Sept.  12,  1877,  married  Allen  Gerhard;  Alexander  Milton,  bom 
Jan.  29,  1879,  married  Anna  Jane  Eweing;  Arthur  Roy,  bom  Sept.  i,  1880, 
married  Dora  Muzzelman;  Martha  Jane,  bom  Dec.  31,  1881,  married  Wal- 
lace Gerhard;  Laura  May,  bom  Jan.  26,  1885,  married  Tmman  Muzzelman. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bittner  were  members  of  St.  Matthew's  Lutheran  and  Reformed 
Church  and  Sunday  school,  which  is  situated  on  the  ground  which  originally 
belonged  to  the  Faust  homestead.  He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  qualities, 
and  unselfish  in  his  devotion  to  whatever  he  believed  to  be  right.  The  high 
opinion  his  associates  held  regarding  his  integrity  and  ability  was  shown  by 
his  selection  for  numerous  positions  of  tmst;  he  held  all  the  offices  in  his 
church,  and  most  of  the  township  offices. 

CHARLES  D.  THOMPSON,  of  Port  Carbon,  has  been  storekeeper  for 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company  at  Mahanoy  Plane  for  over  a  quarter 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  907 

of  a  century.  He  is  a  substantial,  respected  citizen  of  Port  Carbon,  iand  a 
member  of  an  old  Pennsylvania  family  of  Irish  origin,  settled  in  the  eariy 
days  at  Maidep-creek,  Berks  county.  There  John  Thompson,  his  great-grand- 
father, was  a  landowner  and  farmer.  At  an  early  day  he  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  in  Northumberland  county,  between  Shamokin  and  Mount  Carmel, 
which  remained  in  the  family  for  many  years.  John  Thompson  died  there. 
Among  his  children  were:  David,  who  died  in  Shamokin;  John,  who  died 
in  Shamokin;  Michael,  who  died  in  Gordon,  Pa.;  Isaac;  Benjamin,  who  died 
at  Schuylkill  Haven;  and  Jonathan,  who  died  in  Exeter  township,  Berks 
Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

Isaac  Thompson,  grandfather  of  Charles  D.  Thompson,  lived  in  Schuyl- 
kill county  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was  engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  busi- 
ness at  Pottsville.  He  also  ran  a  stage  to  Northumberland  coimty.  Later  he 
went  to  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  became  a  boatman  on  the  Schuylkill  canal,  and 
he  died  on  his  first  trip  up  the  canal  to  Pottsvillo:  His  wife,  Caroline  (Stone), 
was  bom  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Their  children  were:  David,  Amanda,  Alba, 
Angela  and  Susan. 

David  Thompson,  son  of  Isaac,  was  the  father  of  Charles  D.  Thompson. 
For  years  he  carried  on  a  restaurant  business  in  Pottsville,  was  afterwards  in 
the  bottling  business  at  Mauch  Chunk,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  and  eventually  re- 
turned to  Pottsville,  where  he  was  in  the  business  until  his  death.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Musselman,  daughter  of  Jesse  Musselman,  of  Carbon  county,  Pa., 
and  they  had  a  family  of  five  children,  namely:  Sarah  E.,  Charles  D.,  Caro- 
line A.,  Harry  J.  and  George  C. 

Charles  D.  Thompson  was  bom  Jan.  6,  1857,  at  Mauch  Chunk,  Carix)n 
county,  and  was  reared  in  Pottsville,  this  county,  where  he  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  has  followed  clerical  work  all  his  life.  His 
first  position  was  in  a  book  store  at  Pottsville,  and  he  afterwards  worked  for 
his  father.  For  some  time  he  held  the  position  of  timekeeper  for  H.  K.  Nich- 
ols, was  subsequently  clerk  at  Pine  Grove  four  years  for  W.  G.  Johnson, 
division  engineer  for  the  Reading  Company,  and  then  for  three  and  a  half 
years  was  chief  clerk  to  Superintendent  H.  W.  Tracy.  He  has  since  been  at 
Mahanoy  Plane  as  storekeeper  for  the  Reading  Company,  having  held  that 
position  continuously  for  the  last  twenty-six  years.  Mr.  Thompson  makes 
his  home  at  Port  Carbon,  where  his  excellent  business  qualities  and  high 
personal  character  have  gained  favorable  recognition.  His  principal  con- 
nection with  public  affairs  has  been  as  a  member  of  the  Port  Carbon  school 
board,  to  which  he  was  elected  six  years  ago,  and  he  is  now  servin^^  as  presi- 
dent of  that  body,  an  honor  he  well  deserves  because  of  his  untinng  efforts 
in  behalf  of  the  public  schools.  He  is  well  known  in  local  f ratemal  bodies, 
belonging  to  Pulaski  Lodge,  No.  216,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Mountain  City  Chapter. 
No.  196,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Constantine  Commandery,  No.  41,  K.  T.,  all  of  Potts- 
ville, Pa.  He  also  holds  membership  in  Miners'  Lodge,  No.  20,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
of  Pottsville,  and  in  the  Three  Links  Club  of  Port  Carbon. 

In  1883  Mr.  Thompson  was  married  to  Annie  M.  Knittle,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Knittle,  and  they  have  two  children,  Claude  K.  and  Erie  R. 

DONAHOE  BROTHERS,  proprietors  of  a  prosperous  general  store 
at  Ashland,  are  representatives  of  a  family  whose  members  have  been  noted 
for  business  thrift  and  sound  character  throughout  the  half  century  and  more 
that  the  family  has  been  located  in  the  borough.    They  are  sons  of  John  J. 


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908  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Donahoe,  and  their  great-grandfather,  Michael  Donahoe,  established  the 
family  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  he  and  his  wife  Mary  coming  to  the  United 
States  in  1846  and  settling  near  Pottsville. 

Thomas  and  Margaret  (McCormac)  Donahoe,  the  grandparents,  were 
both  natives  of  the  parish  of  Boyle,  County  Roscommon,  Ireland,  where  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Michael  Donahoe  lived  until  their  emigration  to  America.  Thomas 
Donahoe  followed  mining  in  the  vicinity  of  Pottsville  until  1855.  He  tihen 
removed  to  Ashland,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  continuing  to 
work  as  a  miner.  He  died  in  June,  1864,  when  forty-six  years  old.  Of  the 
six  children  who  survived  him,  John  J.  is  mentioned  below;  Mary,  the  eldest 
daughter,  is  the  widow  of  Anthony  Murphy,  of  Salem,  Ohio,  where  she  is 
still  residing;  Margaret,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Terence  O'Brien,  of  Deca- 
tur, 111.;  Hubert  lives  in  Salem,  Ohio;  Bridget,  deceased,  was  a  resident  of 
Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Michael  T.,  of  Ashland,  is  associated  in  business  with  his 
son  J.  Wilfred,  and  both  are  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

John  J.  Dbnahoe,  eldest  son  of  Thomas  Donahoe,  was  bom  in  Roscom- 
mon, Ireland,  and  was  a  young  child  when  the  family  settled  in  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.  At  an  early  age  he  htgan  to  work  as  an  employee  at  the  mines, 
and  he  was  thus  employed  at  the  time  of  his  accidental  death,  having  been 
killed  in  the  Bast  colliery  near  Ashland  July  20,  1887.  A  man  of  energetic 
and  enterprising  nature,  he  had  numerous  other  interests.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  was  engaged  in  business,  conducting  the  store  now  owned  by  his 
brother,  Michael  T.  Donahoe,  with  whom  he  was  in  partnership  for  some 
time,  dealing  in  books,  music,  etc.  He  "found  his  greatest  enjoyment  in  music, 
for  which  he  had  considerable  talent,  particularly  as  a  vocalist,  and  he  worked 
hard  to  perfect  himself  in  that  art.  He  was  very  successful  as  a  music  teacher 
and  did  much  to  establish  high  standards  and  promote  interest  in  music  in 
his  community.  Mr.  Donahoe  married  Margaret  A.  Thornton,  a  native  of 
Wilmington,  Del.,  and  like  himself  of  Irish  extraction.  Her  father,  Richard 
Thornton,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  coming  to  America  and  settling  at  Wilming- 
ton, Del.,  the  family  subsequently  removing  to  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  county. 
Pa.,  where'  they  remained  for  some  time.  Thence  they  removed  to  Dark 
Comer,  near  Ashland,  and  later  into  the  borough,  where  Mr.  Thornton 
became  a  prominent  man.  He  died  there  in  1875.  His  first  wife,  Mary 
(Dougherty),  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  died  while  the  family  was  residing  at  that 
place.  She  was  the  mother  of  four  children,  all  now  deceased,  namely: 
Mary  Ellen,  Mrs.  Thomas  Burke;  John;  Gerald;  and  Margaret  A.,  Mrs. 
Donahoe.  By  his  second  marriage,  to  Miss  Annie  McCusker,  of  Wilmington, 
Del.,  Mr.  Thornton  had  six  children :  Richard,  deceased ;  Isabella ;  two  named 
Elizabeth,  who  died  in  infancy;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  William  Donavan,  of 
Wilmington,  Del;  and  James  I.,  of  New  Orleans.  To  Mr.  Thornton's  third 
marriage,  with  Mrs.  Annie  Curry,  were  bom  three  children:  Daniel,  of 
Wilmington,  Del.;  Michael,  known  on  the  stage  as  Richard,  of  New  York 
City;  and  John,  deceased.  Mrs.  Thornton  had  two  sons  by  her  first  hus- 
band :   Patrick  Curry,  deceased ;  and  Dr.  Thomas  Curry,  of  Philadelphia. 

Five  children  were  bom  to  the  marriage  of  John  J.  and  Margaret  A. 

(Thomton)   Donahoe,  viz.:    Thomas  C,  who  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 

'Donahoe  Brothers;  Mary  E.,  married  to  James  Hunt,  of  Ashland;  Richard 

A.,  another  member  of  the  firm  of  Donahoe  Brothers;  Margaret  B.,  and 

Cecelia  M.    The  mother  passed  away  Feb.  24,  1914,  and  is  buri^  at  Ashland. 

Thomas  C.  Donahoe  was  bom  at  Ashland  and  grew  to  manhood  there. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  909 

in  his  boyhood  enjoying  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools.  He  first  found 
employment  at  the  mines  in  Ashland,  and  later  began  to  work  for  Spayd 
Brothers,  who  had  a  large  general  store  in  the  borough.  Still  later  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  W.  H.  Spaide,  with  whom  he  continued  until  he  became 
associated  with  his  brother  Richard  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Donahoe 
Brothers,  opening  the  general  store  which  they  have  since  conducted.  Their 
establishment  is  known  as  the  Acme  Store,  and  by  honorable  dealing  and  their 
accommodating  policy  the  brothers  have  had  a  steady  increase  of  trade  dur- 
ing the  ten  years  of  their  business  career  together.  ' 

Richard  A.  Donahoe  was  also  reared  and  educated  at  Ashland,  and 
after  leaving  school  entered  the  employ  of  Spayd  Brothers,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  1895.  That  year  he  took  a  position  in  the  establishment  of 
William  Strohmeier,  grocer  and  dry  goods  merchant  of  Ashland,  and  after 
five  years  with  him  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  for  about 
one  year  in  the  store  of  Kuhn  &  Brother.  Returning  to  Ashland,  he  was  with 
the  Mahanoy  Grocery  Company  for  a  time,  until  h^  changed  to  the  employ  of 
John  E.  Haas,  a  leading  merchant  of  Girardville,  this  county,  with  whom  he 
continued  until  he  formed  the  present  partnership  with  his  brother  on  Sept. 
3,  1904.  His  long  experience  in  the  various  lines  of  merchandising  has  been 
very  valuable  to  the  building  up  of  the  business  in  which  he  is  now  interested, 
and  he  has  done  his  full  share  toward  establishing  and  maintaining  the  high 
reputation  of  the  firm. 

The  Donahoe  brothers  are  typical  representatives  of  their  family,  whose 
high  character,  thrift  and  reliability  have  made  all  of  the  name  much  respected 
in  the  community.  Like  the  rest  of  the  family  they  are  Roman  Catholics  in 
religion,  belonging  to  St.  Joseph's  Church,  and  they  are  also  members  of 
Sarto  Council,  Knights  of  Columbus. 

JACOB  LAUDEMAN  has  a  valuable  farm  in  Branch  township,  adjoin- 
ing the  borough  of  Minersville,  the  old  home  place  of  his  father,  Philip 
Laudeman.  Besides  looking  after  its  cultivation  he  operates  a  milk  route  in 
and  around  the  borough,  and  as  farmer  and  business  man  he  has  shown  good 
judgment  and  ability  in  the  care  of  all  his  interests.  His  grandfather,  Paul 
Laudeman,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  died  at.  Minersville,  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Pa.  He  came  to  America  with  his  family,  and  after  a  short  stay  at 
Philadelphia,  they  settled  at  Minersville,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  days. 
By  trade  he  was  a  tailor,  but  he  retired  when  he  settled  there. 

Philip  Laudeman,  son  of  Paul,  was  bom  and  reared  in  Germany,  where 
he  learned  the  tailor's  trade,  following  it  uqtil  he  came  to  this  country  with 
his  father.  He  worked  by  the  day  at  Mine  Hill  Gap,  being  employed  as  a 
stonemason,  and  continued  at  that  kind  of  work  almost  twenty  years.  Then 
he  bought  the  Samuel  Heffner  farm  in  Branch  township,  consisting  of  about 
twelve  acres,  and  thereafter,  followed  farming  until  a  few  years  before  his 
death,  spending;  his  last  days  in  leisure.  He  passed  away  when  sixty-six  years 
old.  He  marned  Elizabeth  Meyers,  and  they  had  children  as  follows :  Philip, 
who  is  now  living  in  Philadelphia ;  Godf  ried,  a  resident  of  Pottsville,  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Pa. ;  Jacob ;  and  Elizabeth,  who  died  unmarried. 

Jacob  Laudeman  was  bom  May  7,  1854,  at  Philadelphia,  and  was  reared 
at  Minersville.  When  a  mere  boy  he  entered  the  employ  of  Thomas  Shellen- 
berger,  with  whom  he  remained  for  thirty-five  years,  doing  gardening,  after 
which  he  began  to  farm  the  home  place  in  Branch  township,  the  tract  adjoin- 


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910  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ing  Minersville,  which  he  still  owns  and  occupies.  Upon  his  father's  death 
he  took  full  charge  of  the  place,  which  he  has  notably  improved  under  careful 
management.  The  location  is  admirably  suited  for  residence  sites,  and  gives 
every  promise  of  increasing  steadily  in  value.  For  the  last  twelve  years  Mr. 
Laudeman  has  had  a  milk  route  which  has  added  considerably  to  his  agri- 
cultural profits,  his  dairy  products  being  in  regular  demand.  He  is  thoroughly 
respected  in  the  borough  and  vicinity,  and  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  of  Minersville. 

Mr.  Laudeman  is  married  to  Rosa  Bell  Wenrich,  daughter  of  Cornelius 
Wenrich,  and  they  have  had  four  children :  Paul,  Elizabeth,  Philip  and  Carrie. 

JOHN  SHOENER,  farmer  and  fruit  grower,  of  East  Brunswick  town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  expert  agriculturists  of  Schuylkill  county  whose  conspicu- 
ous achievements  have  brought  reputation  to  this  part  of  Pennsylvania.  Aside 
from  his  personal  successes,  which  have  been  sufficient  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  his  neighbors  and  stimulate  their  emulation  in  various  lines,  his  work 
in  the  Grange  and  on  the  State  board  of  agriculture  has  been  especially  pro- 
ductive, an  influence  for  the  adoption  of  enlightened  ideas  and  up-to-date 
methods  which  has  many  good  results  to  its  credit.  He  is  known  personally 
to  leading  farmers  of  the  county,  and  consulted  as  an  authority  by  many. 
The  record  of  his  busy  life  is  one  of  constant  progress.  He  is  a  member  of 
a  family  which  has  been  prominent  in  the  southern  part  of  Schuylkill  county 
for  many  years,  many  of  the  name  having  attained  good  standing. 

John  Shoener,  the  great-grandfather  of  John  Shoener,  was  a  farmer  in  what 
is  now  West  Brunwsick  township,  at  that  time  a  part  of  Berks  county,  Pa.  He 
was  bom  about  1767,  settled  on  a  large  farm,  built  a  log  house  and  bam,  and 
carried  on  farming  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  was  a  highly  respected 
man  in  his  neighborhood,  died  upon  his  farm,  and  is  buried  with  his  wife 
in  the  Reformed  cemetery  at  Orwigsburg.  He  had  a  family  of  about  twelve 
children,  and  we  have  record  of  George,  Henry,  John,  Daniel,  Solomon,  Wil- 
liam, Jacob,  Anna  and  Susanna.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  his  re- 
ligious connection  was  with  the  Reformed  Church. 

Henry  Shoener,  son  of  John,  above,  was  bom  in  West  Brunswick  town- 
ship June  23,  1813,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  township,  and  stayed 
on  his  father's  farm  until  he  moved  to  Orwigsburg,  about  1874.  He  had  a 
farm  of  over  two  hundred  acres,  part  of  which  he  cleared,  and  was  a  well- 
known  man  in  his  day.  His  wife,  Christiana  Sheip,  was  born  Dec.  31,  1818, 
and  died  Oct.  6,  1891.  Her  father,  Abraham  Sheip,  died  in  May,  1^7.  Mr. 
Shoener  died  Jan.  20,  1890,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  Reformed 
cemetery  at  Orwigsburg.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church  and 
a  Democrat  in  politics.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoener  had  the  following  children: 
Lewis,  married  Sarah  Koch,  and  both  are  deceased;  Joseph  is  mentioned  be- 
low; Caroline,  decease^,  married  Morgan  Koch,  who  resides  in  McKeans- 
burg.  Pa.;  Edward  is  a  resident  of  Orwigsburg;  William,  married  Diana 
Sheip;  John,  died  young;  Charles,  deceased,  married  Anna  Hummel,  who' 
resides  at  Orwigsburg;  Clara,  married  Charles  Cook;  Mary,  married  James 
Dreher;  Daniel,  married  Alice  Dieffenderf er ;  Albert,  lives  at  Orwigsburg; 
Thomas,  married  Emma  Faust. 

Joseph  Shoener,  son  of  Henry,  was  bom  Jan.  14,  1842,  in  West  Bruns- 
wick township,  and  was  educated  there,  and  worked  on  the  homestead  farm 
until  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  service  during  the  Rebellion.    He  served  under 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  911 

two  enlistments,  as  a  member  of  Company  A,  173d  Pennsylvania  Regiment, 
for  nine  months,  the  second  as  a  member  of  Company  I,  48th  Pennsylvania 
Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry,  from  Schuylkill  Haven,  which  he  entered  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Harrisburg.  Return- 
ing from  the  army  he  worked  in  the  coal  mines  for  a  short  time,  and  in  1867 
bought  the  farm  of  130  acres  in  East  Brunswick  township  which  his  son,  John, 
now  occupies.  He  made  many  improvements  on  the  place,  putting  up  new  - 
buildings,  etc.,  and  continued  to  operate  this  farm  until  1898,  when  he  located 
on  SLTiOther  tract,  of  forty  acres,  which  he  had  bought.  There  he  remained  about 
five  years,  meantime  making  many  improvements  on  the  property,  and  in 
1903  moved  to  McKeansburg,  where  he  now  lives  retired.  He  retains  his  own- 
ership of  timber  and  other  valuable  property.  Mr.  Shoener  served  his  town- 
ship well  in  the  offices  of  school  director  and  supervisor,  and  has  always  kept 
in  touch  with  local  interests.  In  his  earlier  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.  In  politics  he  lines  up  with  the  Republican  party,  and  his 
religious  connection  is  with  the  Chufch  of  God  at  Steigerwalt. 

Mr.  Shoener  married  Mary  Paul,  who  was  bom  in  February,  1845, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Yeager)  Paul,  and  they  had  the  following 
children:  George,  Robert,  Maggie  and  Lizzie  died  in  infancy;  John  is  next 
in  the  family;  Charles,  married  Cora  Bachman,  and  they  are  living  on  the 
forty-acre  farm  previously  mentioned;  Fred,  who  is  engaged  as  a  general 
merchant  at  Orwigsburg,  married  Katie  Wagner.  Mrs.  Shoener  died  June  13, 
1901,  and  is  buried  in  Steigerwalts  cemetery.  For  his  second  wife  Joseph 
Shoener  married  Emma  Kunkel,  by  whom  he  has  three  children,  Mary  C, 
Naomi  Pearl  and  Joseph  Edward. 

John  Shoener  was  bom  June  25,  1873,  on  the  farm  in  East  Brunswick 
township  where  he  is  now  living.  His  early  education  was  acquired  in  the 
East  Brunswick  schools,  and  for  two  years  he  was  a  student  at  the  Keystone 
State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  Pa.  He  taught  school  two  years  in  East 
Brunswick  township.  When  his  father  moved  to  the  forty-acre  farm,  in 
1898,  he  took  the  larger  property,  and  has  been  conducting  it  ever  since,  carry- 
ing on  general  farming.  He  has  ten  acres  in  fruit  trees,  apples,  peaches, 
pears  and  plums,  and  has  made  some  valuable  demonstrations  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  these  under  local  conditions. 

Mr.  Shoener  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  Grangers  in  Schuylkill  county. 
He  is  a  member  of  McKeansburg  Grange,  No.  1256,  P.  O.  H.,  a  past  master 
of  that  organization,  which  he  has  served  also  as  secretary  and  purchasing 
agent,  and  has  been  State  deputy  since  1906.  He  has  been  an  influential 
worker  in  the  broader  activities  of  the  State  and  National  organizations  of 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  has  been  honored  in  their  councils.  He  is 
the  only  seventh  degree  member  of  the  Grange  in  his  county,  having  had 
that  degree  conferred  upon  him  at  the  forty-eighth  annual  meeting  of  the 
National  Grange,  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  Nov.  12,  1914.  For  four  years  he  was 
lecturer  in  the  Schuylkill  county  Pomona  Grange.  Mr.  Shoener's  membership 
in  the  Schuylkill  County  Agricultural  Society  has  not  been  a  passive  association. 
In  recognition  of  his  live  interest  therein  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  board  of  agriculture,  into  which  body  he  has  been  well  received,  and 
his  services  have  been  so  highly  esteemed  that  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
executive  committee  for  two  terms.  Meantime  he  has  not  neglected  general 
public  affairs  in  the  county.  In  1Q06  he  was  elected  a  school  director,  and 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  almost  continuously  since,  at  present  serv- 


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912  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ing  as  president;  he  was  treasurer  three  years.  For  one  term  he  filled  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  1902  to  1907.  His  political  allegiance  is  given 
to  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Shoener  is  a  valued  member  of  various  social 
bodies.  C5n  June  8,  1893,  he  joined  Protective  Council,  No.  935,  Independent 
Order  of  Americans,  then  Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics,  is  a 
past  councilor,  and  served  as  recording:  secretary  for  five  years;  he  served 
several  terms  as  trustee,  and  twice  as  deleg^ate  to  the  State  convention.  He  is 
also  an  Odd  Fellow,  affiliated  with  Grace  Lodge,  No.  157,  of  Orwigsburg. 

Mr.  Shoener  married  Bessie  M.  Acker,  who  was  bom  July  29,  1881,  in 
East  Brunswick  township,  and  they  have  had  four  children,  bom  as  follows: 
Elmer  Ellsworth,  Jan.  31,  1904;  Miriam  Edith,  July  21,  1906;  John  Robert, 
May  24,  1912;  Harold,  June  6,  191 5. 

TERENCE  JOSEPH  QUINN  is  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family  of  Miners- 
ville,  and  is  following  the  line  of  business  in  which  his  father  was  also  en- 
gaged, the  latter  having  been  a  meat  dealer  there  for  a  number  of  years,  at 
the  stand  where  his  son  is  now  located.  He  is  a  son  of  James  Quinn  and 
the  family  is  of  Irish  extraction,  the  grandfather  having  lived  and  died  in 
Ireland.  The  grandmother  came  to  America  after  his  death  and  made  her  home 
at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  she  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty  years. 

James  Quinn  was  bom  in  Ireland,  and  was  a  young  man  when  he  came 
to  America  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania  among  the  early  residents  at  Miners- 
ville, Schuylkill  county.  He  embarked  in  the  meat  business,  which  he  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  all  his  active  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Christopher,  was  also  a  native 
of  Ireland,  and  lived  to  the  great  age  of  ninety-six  years,  being  one  of  the, 
best  known  of  the  earlier  residents  of  the  borough.  They  were  the  parents 
of  a  large  family,  viz.:  John,  Bridget,  Margaret,  Henry,  Annie,  Terence 
Joseph,  Mary,  Thomas  and  James  (twins),  and  Patrick. 

Terence  Joseph  Quinn  was  bom  July  7,  1843,  at  Minersville,  where  he  was 
reared,  in  his  boyhood  attending  the  public  schools.  After  commencing  work 
he  was  employed  at  the  mines  for  seventeen  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  engaged  in  the  meat  business,  now  having  his  father's  old  stand  and  home- 
stead on  Sunbury  street.  Mr.  Quinn  has  been  thrifty  and  successful  in  busi- 
ness, and  he  has  also  become  well  known  in  the  borough  in  other  associa- 
tions, having  always  taken  an  interest  in  local  affairs  generally.  At  one  time 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the  town  council.  As  an  athlete  he  was  well  known 
in  the  county  in  his  younger  manhood,  having  been  one  of  the  fastest  run- 
ners of  his  day,  and  his  activities  in  all  kinds  of  clean  sports,  such  as  hand- 
ball, etc.,  have  brought  him  considerable  prominence  in  such  circles.  He  was 
one  of  the  winners  in  the  big  meet  at  Cressona  in  1874.  He  has  always  been 
especially  interested  in  good  horses  and  has  driven  in  many  races.  His  friends 
throughout  this  section  are  many.  Mr.  Quinn  is  a  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church. 

By  his  first  marriage,  to  Ellen  Bensman.  Mr.  Quinn  had  a  family  of  four 
children :  J.  Frank,  Ella,  Elwood  and  John.  The  mother  dying,  Mr.  Quinn 
married  Sallie  Frances  Weaver,  daughter  of  the  late  Michael  Weaver,  of 
Minersville.    There  are  no  children  by  this  union. 

The  Weaver  family  is  an  old  one  in  Northumberland  county,  having  been 
founded  here  by  Mrs.  Quinn's  grandfather,  Michael  Weaver  (the  name  was 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  918 

originally  spelled  Weber),  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  who  came  to 
America  about  1769.  He  first  located  in  Brecknock  township,  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  later  in  Berks  county,  and  in  1770,  in  Northumberland  county,  near  Lib- 
erty Pole,  Rush  township,  upon  land  subsequently  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
Peter  Hughawaut.  There  he  died  in  1834  and  was  buried  upon  the  farm. 
He  was  a  taxable  in  Shamokin  township  in  1788.  He  joined  the  American 
amiy  during  the  Revolution,  in  which  ht  served  seven  years  under  Washing- 
ton! He  married  before  coming  to  this  country,  and  was  the  father  of  thir- 
teen children.  We  have  record  of  nine,  namely:  Michael,  Martin,  Joseph, 
John,  Mrs.  Catherine  Hass^,  Mrs.  Susan  Neal,  Mrs.  Harriet  Gibson,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Shindel,  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Beck.  \ 

Michael  Weaver,  son  of  Michael,  above,  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Quinn. 
He  was  bom  at  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county,  and  during  his  early  man- 
hood drove  stage  between  Sunbury  and  Philadelphia,  following  this  occupation 
for  some  time.  Afterwards  with  his  uncle  he  was  engaged  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness at  Branch  Dale,  Schuylkill  county,  and  also  had  the  contract  for  hauling 
the  mails  between  Minersville  and  Pottsville  and  Tremont  and  Centralia.  He 
served  his  fellow  citizens  in  this  capacity  for  almost  forty  years,  was  also 
postmaster  at  Minersville,  and  represented  his  district  in  the  State  Legislature 
for  three  terms,  1858,  1864  and  1865.  He  was  a  well  known  figure  in  the 
State  Assembly,  regarded  as  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his  district  and  noted 
for  his  public  spirit,  which  made  him  higfhly  trusted.  He  died  in  1886  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years.  Mr.  Weaver  married  Charlotte  Borda,  who  was 
a  daughter  of  Nicholas  Borda  and  was  reared  at  Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  county. 
They  had  the  following  children :  Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Thomas,  Alice,  Martha, 
Charles,  William,  Martin,  Sallie  Frances  (Mrs.  Quinn)  and  Isabella. 

JAMES  A.  SHOEMAKER  is  a  wide-awake  farmer  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship, where  he  has  been  identified  with  the  various  activities  of  the  community 
to  a  helpful  degree,  doing  his  share  towards  the  establishment  of  desirable  social 
conditions  as  well  as  in  the  material  improvement  of  his  section.  He  belongs  to 
a  family  of  German  origin  well  known  in  this  county.  His  great-grandfather, 
Johannes  Shoemaker,  who  founded  the  family  in  this  section,  came  from 
Germany,  and  settled  in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  where  he  followed  farming.  He 
is  buried  there. 

Jonas  Shoemaker,  son  of  Johannes,  was  bom  in  Lehigh  county,  in  the 
township  of  Lehigh,  and  settled  in  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  became  a 
very  prosperous  farmer  and  landowner.  His  holdings  included  five  very 
good  farms,  comprising  between  500  and  600  acres  of  land,  and  he  lived  on 
a  200-acre  tract,  most  of  which  he  cleared.  When  he  retired  he  went  to  live 
with  his  son  Joel,  giving  up  active  work  about  eleven  years  before  his  death. 
He  was  a  man  of  energetic  nature,  and  interested  in  all  things  which  con- 
cerned the  community,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Democratic 
party  in  his  locality.  He  was  a  Lutheran  member  of  Zion's  Church  in  West 
renn  township,  where  he  and  his  wife  are  buried.  He  lived  to  the  age  of 
ninety-one  years.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Bachert,  had  the  following  children:  Polly,  bom  Nov.  3,  1819; 
Prisdlla,  bora  Jan.  4,  1822;  a  child,  bom  Feb.  22,  1824,  that  died  unnamed; 
Joel,  bom. Nov.  8,  1825;  Sallie,  born  Jan.  8,  1827,  who  died  unmarried;  M^ry 
Ann,  twin  of  Sallie,  who  married  Ephraim  Snyder  and  (second)  William 
SchaflFer;  Johannes,  bora  Jan.  24,  1830;  Barbara,  bom  Sept.  13,  1833;  Gideon, 
Vol.  n— 20 


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9J4  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

bom  March  28,  1836,  who  married  Levina  Neifert;  Samuel,  bom  Aug.  26, 
1838,  who  married  Mary  Moyer;  a  child,  bom  July  21,  1841,  that  died  un- 
named; Leah,  bora  April  14,  1843,  widow  of  Noah  Houser,  and  Elavina, 
bom  Jan.  15,  1847,  who  married  Nathan  Miller.  For  his  second  wife  Jonas 
Shoemaker  married  Mrs.  Lavina  (Kistler)  Kemp,  widow  of  Isaac  Kemp, 
and  to  this  union  came  one  child,  Adam,  bora  Oct.  16,  1870,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years. 

Joel  Shoemaker,  son  of  Jonas,  was  bom  Nov.  8,  1825,  in  Lehigh  town- 
ship, and  received  his  education  in  his  native  county.  He  worked  for  his 
father  until  after  his  marriage,  and  his  father  then  gave  him  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  Gottfried  Knodler,  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  which  he  improved 
greatly  during  the  seven  years  he  resided  there.  He  cleared  most  of  the  land, 
put  up  a  number  of  outbuildings  and  a  new  house,  and  by  his  thrifty  manage- 
ment increased  the  value  of  the  place  very  materially.  Then  he  removed  to 
the  place  in  West  Penn  township  now  occupied  by  his  son  John^  the  old 
Christian  Crouse  farm,  comprising  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land^  all  of  which 
was  cleared  and  under  cultivation.  He  followed  general  farming  until  his 
death.  Mr.  Shoemaker  took  some  part  in  the  administration  of  local  affairs, 
serving  as  school  director  and  collector  of  school  tax.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
political  opinion  and  a  Lutheran  in  -religion,  belonging  to  Zion*s  Church, 
where  he  and  his  wife  are  buried.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Neifert,  who  was 
bom  June  4,  1835,  daughter  of  Peter  Neifert,  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven  years.  We  have  the  followin^^  record  of  their  children:  Amanda 
Matilda,  bom  May  13,  1857,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Johnson;  James  A.  was 
bom  Oct.  15,  1858;  Lavina  Rebecca,  born  Oct.  8,  1860,  died  July  22,  1873; 
George  McClellan,  bom  Dec.  9,  1862,  is  now  living  in  Kansas;  John  Henry, 
bom  Nov.  10,  1869,  married  Caroline  Zehner;  Rosie  Cecilia,  bom  Sept.  7, 
1871,  died  Sept.  22,  1877;  Clara  Mary,  bom  Aug.  12,  1878,  married  Daniel 
Gerber  and  (second)  Frank  Boyer. 

James  A.  Shoemaker  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township  Oct.  15,  1858, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  received  his  education.  He  worked  for  his 
father  up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage.  After  that  he  was  employed  bv  the 
Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company  for  a  time,  meanwhile  residing  at  Weath- 
erly,  Carbon  county,  for  two  years.  He  then  bought  a  farm  of  about  one 
hundred  acres,  situated  about  eleven  and  a  half  miles  from  Tamaqua,  this 
county,  and  remained  there  for  a  period  of  five  years,  when  he  purchased 
and  moved  to  a  thirty-two-acre  property  above  the  present  place,  upon  which 
he  made  his  home  for  seventeen  years.  He  built  a  house  and  bam  there  and 
improved  the  property  in  many  other  ways.  His  next  purchase  was  the 
place  where  he  now  resides,  a  tract  of  112  acres,  about  seventy  of  which  are 
cleared.  When  the  Lehigh  &  New  England  railroad  was  built  through  the 
township  he  sold  his  upper  farm  to  the  railroad  company,  and  he  has  since 
lived  on  the  112-acre  tract,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farming,  making 
a  specialty  of  tmcking.  He  attends  the  markets  at  Tamaqua,  Coaldale, 
Lansford,  Maryd  and  Middleport,  makin^^  two  or  three  trips  a  week  all  the 
year  round  and  generally  going  daily  dunng  the  summer  season.  Mr.  Shoe- 
maker has  not  only  been  enterprising  in  the  conduct  of  his  own  affairs,  but 
has  also  interested  himself  in  the  things  that  affect  the  community  generally. 
He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  taken  some  part  in  the  workings  of  the  party  in 
his  neighborhood,  serving  as  election  inspector,  and  he  has  held  the  township 
office  of  school  director.    Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  915 

132,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  Schwartz's,  in  West  Penn  township,  and  of  Pocahontas 
Council,  No.  406,  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  at  Chain,  Pa.  In  religion 
he  is  a  Lutheran,  holding  membership  in  Zion*s  Church,  West  Penn  township, 
which  he  has  served  faithfully  in  the  offices  of  deacon  and  elder. 

Mr.  Shoemaker  married  Alice  Mary  Fenkner,  who  was  born  May  17,  1870, 
in  West  Penn  township,  and  they  have  a  family  of  four  children:  Beulah 
Alice,  bom  Feb.  2,  1889,  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Schaeffer,  of  West  Penn 
township,  and  has  one  child,  Alverta  May ;  Grandora  M.,  bom  in  December,. 
1890,  married  Howard  F.  Mills,  who  is  assisting  Mr.  Shoemaker  on  the  farm ; 
James  A.  was  bom  Jan.  6,  1893 ;  Raymond  G.  was  bom  March  22,  1900. 

William  Fenkner,  father  of  Mrs.  Shoemaker,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
bom  Jan.  11,  1826,  and  died  in  West  Penn  township  March  18,  1903.  He 
farmed  for  many  years  and  after  his  retirement  from  active  work  made  his 
home  with  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Shoemaker,  on  the  thirty-two-acre  farm  pre- 
viously mentioned.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rebecca  Billman, 
died  March  10,  1889,  ^g^  forty-four  years,  and  they  are  buried  at  St.  Peter's 
Lutheran  Church  in  West  Penn  township.  They  had  the  following  children : 
Dillwyn  Willis,  Milton  William,  Susan  Augusta,  Alice  Maty,  Francis  Alvin 
(deceased),  Oscar  George  (deceased),  Priscilla,  Helen  Louisa,  Oliver  James 
(deceased),  Ann  Savilla  (deceased),  Edwin  and  Ella.  The  father  of  this 
family  was  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  Church  in  West  Ptnn  town- 
ship. He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment  and  took  an  active  part  in 
local  affairs,  serving  frequently  as  member  of  the  election  board. 

WILLIAM  F.  MOYER,  a  lifelong  resident  of  West  Bmnswick  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  has  been  an  influential  citizen  of  that  section  always 
on  the  side  of  good  govemment  and  progress,  and  though  now  practically 
retired  has  lost  no  interest  in  the  general  welfare.  He  was  bom  Jan.  28, 
1844,  on  the  farm  there  which  he  still  owns  and  occupies,  and  has  spent  all 
his  life  on  this  place,  which  was  originally  owned  by  Abraham  Albright,  his 
maternal  grandfather. 

Philip  Moyer,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Reformed 
denomination  and  preached  at  Zion's  Church  (the  old  Red  Church)  in  West 
Brunswick  township,  and  also  at  Summer  Hill,  this  county.  He  followed 
farming  in  connection  with  his  ministerial  work.  His  death  occurred  when 
he  was  seventy-seven  years  old.  His  wife  Esther  (Dieffenbach),  a  native 
of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  died  when  sixty-three  years  old.  They  had  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Lucian ;  Daniel  P. ;  Kittie,  Mrs.  Henry  Kern ;  Isabella,  Mrs. 
Gottfried  Zulick;  and  Diana,  Mrs.  George  Adams.  Philip  Moyer  was  a 
Republican  in  his  political  convictions. 

Daniel  P.  Moyer,  son  of  Philip,  was  bom  in  West  Brunswick  township, 
where  he  cultivated  the  farm  now  the  property  of  his  son  William.  It  was 
owned  by  his  wife  Sallie  (Albright),  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Maria  (Al- 
bright) Albright.  Mr.  Moyer  disappeared  when  his  children  were  small  and 
nothing  was  ever  afterwards  learned  of  his  whereabouts.  Mrs.  Moyer  died  , 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  and  is  buried  at  the  Reformed  Church  at 
Cressona,  Pa.  At  the  time  of  her  death  she  was  living  with  her  daughter 
Diana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moyer  had  two  children :  William  F.  and  Diana,  the 
latter  Mrs.  James  Marburger.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marburger  are  both  now 
deceased. 

William  F.  Moyer  now  owns  the  homestead,  as  previously  mentioned.    It 


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916  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

consists  of  io6  acres,  about  half  of  which  is  cleared.  Mr.  Moyer  has  con- 
tinued to  improve  the  place  throughout  the  period  of  his  ownership.  H« 
inherited  the  farm  upon  his  mother's  death.  He  built  the  house  there  in 
which  he  now  lives,  and  also  constructed  substantial  outbuildings,  all  of 
which  have  added  very  materially  to  the  value  of  the  property.  He*has  always 
been  devoted  to  general  farming,  and  the  farm  is  now  operated  by  his  son 
Benjamin,  Mr.  Moyer  having  given  up  arduous  work  although  he  is  still 
active.  The  farm  products  are  marketed  at  Pottsville  and  St.  Clair.  Mr. 
Moyer  has  a  fine  collection  of  arrowheads  and  tomahawks,  gathered  uf>on 
his  land,  strong  evidence  that  the  Indians  lived  here  in  the  early  days.  Mr. 
Moyer  has  always  had  strong  convictions  on  the  subject  of  public  educational 
facilities,  and  he  served  his  township  for  many  years  as  school  director.  He 
also  held  the  office  of  school  tax  collector  and  was  supervisor  for  a  long 
period.  Politically  he  believes  in  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  He 
belongs  to  Kimmel's  Church  (Church  of  God)  in  West  Brunswick  township, 
which  he  is  serving  at  present  as  elder,  and  he  has  always  been  active  in 
church  work,  having  several  times  been  delegate  to  church  conventions. 
He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Jr.  O.  U. 
A.  M. 

Mr.  Moyer  was  married  by  Rev.  Jacob  Kline  to  Caroline  Siegfried,  who 
was  bom  in  April,  1843,  ^^  West  Penn  township,  and  there  received  her  edu- 
cation, coming  to  West  Brunswick  township  with  her  parents  when  twelve 
years  old.  She  died  Dec.  31,  1909,  and  is  buried  at  Kimmel's  Church.  Ten 
children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moyer:  (i)  Rev.  William  Elmer,  bom 
Aug.  I,  1865,  is  now  located  near  Harnsburg,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.  He  mar- 
ried Cora  Kepfer,  and  they  have  two  children,  Esther  and  Wendel.  (2) 
Ellen  Adelia,  bom  July  7,  1867,  married  James  Sheipe,  of  Orwigsburg,  Pa., 
and  is  now  deceased.  She  was  the  mother  of  five  children:  John  Boyle, 
Norman,  Minnie,  Leon  and  Esther.  (3)  Caroline,  bom  March  8,  1869,  is  the 
^wife  of  George  Miller,  of  Orwigsburg,  and  they  have  had  four  children:  Stella, 
George,  Elwood  and  Norman  (the  last  named  deceased).  (4)  Oley  Winona, 
bom  April  8,  1871,  married  Oliver  Smith,  and  is  deceased.  (5)  Thomas,  bom 
Dec.  II,  1872,  died  when  ten  days  old.  (6)  Benjamin  Franklin,  bom  Jan. 
I,  1874,  is  now  operating  the  home  farm.  He  married  Lilly  Kauffman,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  Eva  May,  Ralph  John,  Allan  Otto  and  Charles  Frank- 
lin. (7)  Annie  Maria,  bom  Jan.  12,  1878,  is  married  to  Albert  Lebengood, 
of  Orwigsburg,  and  has  two  children,  Beatrice  and  John.  (8)  Fannie  May, 
born  July  15,  1881,  is  the  wife  of  Walter  M.  Koch,  a  farmer  of  West  Bruns- 
wick to\ynship,  and  they  have  four  children,  Raymond  E.,  Irwin  W.,  Edward 
M.  and  Mat^l  V.  (9)  Iva,  bom  March  8,  1884,  is  married  to  Winfield 
Clahr,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  and  has  three  children,  Walter,  Edna  and  Ellen.  ( 10) 
Sadie,  bom  June  25,  1886,  is  the  wife  of  Theodore  Koch,  of  McKeansburg, 
Pa.,  and  their  children  are  Ralph  and  Dorothy. 

Israel  Siegfried,  father  of  Mrs.  William  F.  Moyer,  was  a  farmer  in  West 
Bmnswick  township,  operating  the  place  now  owned  by  his  son  James.  The 
family  settled  there  when  Mrs.  Moyer  was  twelve  years  old.  The  property 
consists  of  sixty  acres,  cleared  and  well  improved.  Mr.  Siegfried  married 
Maria  Weaver,  daughter  of  Jacob  Weaver,  and  the  following  children  were 
bom  to  this  union:  Caroline,  Mrs.  William  F.  Mojrer;  Moms,  who  lives  at 
Orwigsburg,  Pa.;  Frank,  who  married  Diana  Bensinger  (she  is  deceased); 
James,  who  married  Emmaline  Smith;  and  Maria,  married  to  Albert  Smith, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  917 

of  West  Brunswick  township.  The  father  of  this  family  died  when  about 
seventy-three  years  old,  and  the  mother  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight,  and  they 
are  buried  at  St.  John's  Church,  Orwigsburg.  They  were  members  of  the 
Reformed  congregation  there. 

WALTER  M.  KOCH  is  a  prosperous  youpg  farmer  in  West  Brunswick 
township,  making  a  specialty  of  growing  garden  truck  and  fruit,  for  which 
he  finds  a  ready  market  at  Pottsville  and  St.  Clair,  this  county.  Thrifty  and 
enterprising,  doing  his  share  in  keeping  up  good  standards  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, h^  is  a  typical  member  of  a  family  whose  name  has  been  associated 
with  high  citizenship  for  several  generations  in  this  part  of  Schuylkill  county. 
His  great-grandfather  farmed  Ae  old  homestead  now  owned  by  Charles 
Koch.  It  is  presumed  he  was  the  William  Koch  who  is  buried  with  his  wife, 
Maria  May,  at  Christ  Church,  McKeansburg.  He  was  bom  April  i,  1747, 
near  Philadelphia,  and  died  May  3,  1832;  she  was  bom  April  27,  1766,  and 
-died  Feb.  14,  1837. 

John  Koch,  the  grandfather  of  Walter  M.  Koch,  was  bom  April  7,  1806, 
and  died  Oct.  4,  1^8.  His  early  ambition  was  to  be  a  physician,  but  after 
obtaining  his  degree  he  followed-  the  profession  only  one  year,  not  liking 
it  as  much  as  he  had  anticipated.  So  he  turned  to  farming,  and  became  the 
owner  of  two  tracts  of  land  in  Schuylkill  county,  one  in  Walker  township, 
and  the  other  in  East  Bmnswick  township,  200  acres. in  all.  He  continued  to 
farm  the  rest  of  his  days.  Dr.  Koch  was  a  leading  force  in  local  affairs,  his 
intelligence  and  public  spirit  making  him  a  most  useful  citizen,  and  he  held  the 
township  offices  of  school  director  and  tax  collector,  and  the  county  office 
of  poor  director.  On  political  issues  he  stood  with  the  Republicans.  He  was 
one  of  the  active  members  of  Christ  Lutheran  Church  at  McKeansburg,  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  that  church.  Mrs.  Koch,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Salome  Fusselman,  was  bom  Dec.  6,  1808,  daughter  of 
John  Fusselman,  and  died  Sept.  30,  1889.  They  had  a  large  family:  Mary, 
Mrs.  Charles  Banker;  Morgan  W.;  Lucian,  who  married  Sarah  Hettinger; 
Sarah,  Mrs.  Lewis  Schoener;  Kate,  Mrs.  Joseph  Kramer;  Villetta;  Amelia, 
Mrs.  Mandon  Kramer;  Hiram,  a  Union  soldier,  who  died  of  starvation  while 
in  the  army,  and  is  buried  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Francis,  bora  May  12,  1841, 
who  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  April  7,  1863,  while  serving  in  the  Union 
army,  and  is  buried  at  McKeansburg,  Pa.;  Edward,  who  also  died  while  in 
the  army;  Henry,  who  married  Mary  Seltzer;  and  Willminia. 

Morgan  W.  Koch,  son  of  John,  was  bom  in  East  Bmnswick  township 
Dec.  2,  1833,  and  educated  there.  In  his  youth  he  assisted  his  father  on  the 
home  farm  and  leamed  the  blacksmith's  trade.  He  settled  on  a  tract  of 
twenty-two  acres  in  West  Bmnswick  township  which  he  purchased,  had  a 
shop  there,  and  conducted  the  farm  in  connection  with  work  at  his  trade 
for  twenty-two  years.  When  his  son  Albert  was  one  year  old  he  removed  to 
the  old  homestead  farm  in  East  Bmnswick  township,  the  tract  of  100  acres 
which  he  bought  from  his  father,  and  had  a  blacksmith  shop  there  for  two 
years.  After  that  he  devoted  all  his  time  to  general  farming  there  until  a 
few  years  ago,  when  he  sold  his  farm  to  his  son  Charles  and  removed  to 
McKeansburg,  at  which  place  he  has  since  lived  retired.  In  his  earlier  years 
he  was  associated  with  township  affairs  to  some  extent,  serving  as  school 
director,  and  in  politics  he  was  identified  with  thfe  Republican  party.  He  is 
a  memlir  of  Christ  Lutheran  Church  at  McKeansburg. 


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918  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr.  Koch  married  Caroline  Schoener,  who  was  bom  Nov.  i8,  1839,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Christina  (Sheipe)  Schoener,  and  died  Oct.  25,  1910.  She 
is  buried  at  Christ  Church.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koch  were  born  the  following 
children:  Josephine,  bom  Dec.  16,  1858,  married  Elmer  Koch;  Ellen,  bom 
Feb.  10,  i860,  married  Samuel  Dreher;  Francis  C,  born  Aug.  4,  1863,  mar- 
ried Mary  FoUweiler;  Albert  G.,  bom  June  24,  1865,  married  Lizzie  Al- 
bright; Katie,  born  Jan.  8,  1868,  died  July  5,  1879;  Agnes,  born  Aug.  15, 
1876,  married  Harvey  Kindt;  Carrie  Valeria,  born  Nov.  20,  1871,  is  deceased; 
Charles  married  Cora  Kershner;  Harry  married  Agnes  Kunkle;  Theodore, 
bom  Jan.  5,  1886,  married  Sadie  Moyer;  Walter  M.  is  mentioned  below;  one 
child  died  in  infancy. 

Walter  M.  Koch  was  bom  April  10,  1880,  in  East  Brunswick  township, 
where  he  grew  up  and  received  his  education.  He  received  his  early  training 
on  the  home  farm,  where  he  worked  for  his  father  until  nineteen  years  old, 
after  which  he  was  employed  for  one  year  in  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  car 
shops  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  For  the  next  three  years  he  worked  with  a 
portable  steam  sawmill  for  Mahlon  Boyer,  at  different  points  in  Schuylkill 
county,  and  then  joined  his  brother  Charles  in  the  operation  of  the  homestead 
farm,  which  they  tenanted  for  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  came 
to  his  present  place  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  which  he  bought  from 
Mrs.  Eliza  Stein,  widow  of  George  Stein.  The  property  contains  119  acres, 
ninety  acres  of  which  are  cleared  and  devoted  to  general  farming,  in  which 
Mr.  Koch  has  been  highly  successful.  He  has  taken  a  public-spirited  interest 
in  local  affairs,  serving  very  efficiently  as  school  director.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  political  opinion,  and  attends  Kimmel's  Church  in  West  Bmnswick  town- 
ship. Fratemally  he  belongs  to  Grace  Lodge,  No.  157,  L  O.  O.  F.,  of  Orwigs- 
burg,  and  fro  Mayang  Tribe,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  of  Orwigsburg. 

Mr.  Koch  married  Fannie  May  Moyer,  who  was  bom  July  15,  1881,  in 
West  Brunswick  township,  daughter  of  William  F.  Moyer,  and  remained  at 
home  until  her  marriage.  She  is  a  member  of  KimmeFs  Church  (Church  of 
God)  in  West  Brunswick  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koch  have  had  four  chil- 
dren, bom  as  follows:  Mabel  V.,  Feb.  22,  1899;  Raymond  E.,  Sept.  22,  1902; 
Irwin  W.,  Sept.  13,  1904;  and  Edward  M.,  March  27,  1910. 

EDWIN  LUCAS,  of  Barry  township,  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of 
his  section  of  Schuylkill  county  and  an  official  of  proved  integrity,  bears  a 
name  which  has  long  been  associated  witlf  high  worth  in  this  locality.  Philip 
Lucas,  his  grandfather,  moved  into  the  county  at  an  early  day  and  settled 
down  to  agricultural  life  in  Barry  township,  where  he  owned  a  farm  about 
four  miles  from  the  town  of  Hegins.    He  died  on  that  property. 

Michael  Lucas,  father  of  Edwin  Lucas,  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  dying  in 
November,  1912.  He  married  Christina  Maurer,  who  was  bom  in  Mahan- 
tongo,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Daniel  Maurer,  a  farmer  in  the  Mahan- 
tongo  valley,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  Mrs.  Michael  Lucas  passed 
away  in  December,  1898,  the  mother  of  four  children:  Edwin,  the  eldest; 
Mary,  living  in  Girardville;  Fietta,  deceased;  and  William  H.,  who  lives  at 
Mount  Carmel,  Pennsylvania. 

Edwin  Lucas  was  bom  in  1854  in  Barry  township,  where  he  grew  up, 
meantime  taking  a  common  school  course  in  the  home  locality.  From  boy- 
hood he  has  followed  farming,  and  since  1905  he  has  occupied  his  present 
home  in  Barry  township,  which  he  purchased  that  year.     It  contains  eighty 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  919 

acres,  which  he  devotes  to  general  farming.  Mr.  Lucas  has  had  very  satis- 
factory results  in  his  agricultural  operations.  His  success  in  his  personal 
ventures  accounts  for  the  confidence  his  fellow  citizens  feel  in  his  ability  and 
honesty,  and  they  have  not  been  disappointed  in  the  quality  of  his  services 
in  the  public  positions  to  which  he  has  been  chosen.  He  has  been  township 
auditor  and  is  at  present  serving  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  with 
several  years  of  efficient  service  on  the  board  to  his  credit. 

In  1881  Mr.  Lucas  married  Elmira  Kessler,  who  was  bom  in  Barry  town- 
ship, daughter  of  Joseph  and  Caroline  (Gehres)  Kessler,  both  of  whom  sur- 
vive ;  Mr.  Kessler  was  formerly  a  farmer  in  Barry  township.  Seven  children 
have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lucas :  Charles,  the  eldest,  is  on  a  farm  in 
Barry  township;  Cora  is  the  wife  of  Clarence  Maurer,  a  merchant  of  Weis- 
hample,  Schuylkill  county;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Moser,  who  lives 
near  Frackville,  this  county;  Gertie  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Shuey,  of  Barry 
township;  H.  Clarence,  Earl  and  Pearl  are  at  home.  Mrs.  Lucas  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  United  Brethren  Church.^ 

FRANK  REPPERT  STERNER,  of  West  Penn  township,  is  now  devot- 
ing  most  of  his  time  to  farming.  A  blacksmith  by  trade,  he  followed  that  call- 
ing for  a  number  of  years  after  locating  on  hi^  present  property,  but  has 
given  it  up  except  for  the  work  necessary  about  his  home. 

Mr.  Sterner  is  descended  from  an  old  family  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and 
was  bom  there,  in  District  township,  Nov.  27,  1848.  His  great-grandfather, 
Henry  Sterner,  was  a  farmer  on  the  Henry  Zell  place  in  Maxatawny  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  which  he  rented  for  twenty  years.  He  di^d  there  when 
about  seventy-eight  years  old,  and  is  buried  with  his  wife  at  the  Mertz  Church, 
in  Rockland  township,  Berks  county.  He  was  married  three  times,  first  to 
a  Leiby,  second  to  a  Foulk  and  third  to  Catherine  Shantz,  and  his  children 
were :  John,  Jesse,  Henry,  Jacob,  Samuel,  David,  Nathan,  Peter,  Polly,  Eliza- 
beth, Lydia,  Hettie  and  Sallie. 

Henry  Sterner,  son  of  Henry,  above,  by  the  second  marriage,  was  bom 
in  November,  1795,  in  Maxatawny  township,  Berks  county,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  In  early  life  he  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm.  He 
learned  the  weaver's  trade,  but  followed  general  farming  principally,  acquiring 
a  farm  of  100  acres  in  District  township,  Berks  county,  much  of  which  he 
cleared.  He  made  many  improvements  there,  put  up  buildings,  rebuilt  the 
dwelling  house,  and  had  a  thrifty  career.  When  he  retired  he  lived  with  his 
daughter  Lydia  (Mrs.  David  Hess)  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Dis- 
trict township  in  June,  1874.  Mr.  Sterner  was  married  in  Rockland  township 
to  Mary  Magdalena  Keller,  a  daughter  of  Christopher  Keller  (whose  wife  was 
a  Delp),  and  she  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  in  District  township. 
He  is  buried  at  Long  s  Church  in  Rockland  township,  Berks  county.  Mr. 
Sterner  was  a  very  active  worker  in  the  Reformed  denomination,  belonging  to 
Huff's  Church,  in  Hereford  township,  and  he  also  took  great  interest  in 
public  affairs,  first  as  a  Democratic  Republican,  later  as  a  Democrat,  and 
finally  as  a  Republican.  His  children  were :  Joel  married  Susan  Felthoff,  and 
they  died  in  the  West ;  Polly  married  David  Seip,  and  both  are  deceased ;  David 
K.  is  the  father  of  Frank  R.  Sterner;  William,  deceased,  married  Elizabeth 
Frederick,  of  Huff's  Church,  Berks  county;  Lydia  is  the  widow  of  David 
Hess;  George,  deceased,  married  Maria  Merkel;  Peter  K.,  unmarried,  lives 
in  District  township,  Berks  county. 


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920  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

David  K.  Sterner  was  born  in  Rockland  township  July  14,  1829,  and  lived 
in  District  township  from  the  time  he  was  about  ten  years  old,  receiving  his 
education  there.  He  worked  for  his  father  until  his  marriage  and  then  for 
other  farmers,  and  also  burned  charcoal.  Later  he  owned  a  patch  of  twelve 
acres  which  he  operated  until  his  retirement,  when  he  sold  it,  and  for  nine 
years  lived  with  his  son  Frank.  For  the  last  two  years  he  has  been  living  at 
Reading,  Pa.,  with  his  son  Alfred.  He  has*  lost  his  sight.  Like  his  father  he 
belongs  to  Huff's  Reformed  Church,  though  he  has  never  been  active  in  the 
congregation,  and  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion.  Mr. 
Sterner  has  been  married  three  times.  His  first  wife,  Susanna  (Reppert), 
bom  Oct.  22,  1826,  died  in  May,  1861,  and  is  buried  at  Huff's  Church.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Melchor  and  Susanna  (Schrading)  Reppert.  Six  children 
were  bom  to  this  union :  Frank  R.  is  mentioned  below ;  Hettie  married  James 
Schneck  and  (second)  Samuel  Bush,  and  now  resides  at  Henningsville,  Pa. ; 
Beimeville,  of  Catasauqua,  Pa.,  married  Amanda  Beidler,  who  is  deceased; 
Henry  married  Louisa  Hyle,  and  they  live  in  Milford  township,  Lehigh  Co., 
Pa. ;  Anne  Maria  died  when  three  years  old ;  William  died  in  infancy.  For  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Sterner  married  Susanna  Herbst,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  (Reidenour)  Herbst,  and  she  had  three  children:  Sarah;  Jcwiathan, 
who  died  aged  twenty-two  years;  and  Aaron,  unmarried,  who  lives  at  Hen- 
ningsville, Longs wamp  township,  Berics  county.  Mrs.  Sterner  died  when 
forty  years  old,  and  is  buried  at  Huff's  Church.  Mr.  Stemer's  third  union 
was  to  Lavina  Miller,  daughter  of  William  and  Kate  (Reppert)  Miller,  both 
natives  of  District  township,  Berks  county.  She  died  when  thirty-five  years 
old  and  is  buried  at  Huff's  Church.  There  were  four  children  by  this  mar- 
riage: Alfred  M.,  now  of  Reading,  who  married  Ida  Weidner;  Catherine, 
who  died  when  three  years  old;  David,  who  died  when  five  years  old;  and 
Fianna,  who  died  when  one  year  old. 

Frank  R.  Sterner  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  District  township, 
Berks  county,  and  remained  at  home  until  1866,  working  for  his  father.  He 
then  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  blacksmith's  trade  at  Hensingerville, 
LcJiigh  county,  with  Henry  Merkel,  with  whom  he  continued  two  and  a  half 
years,  after  which  he  was  with  Daniel  Everhart,  in  Salisbury  township,  Lehigh 
county,  for  three  years.  He  married  and  moved  to  the  vicinity  of  Sabers- 
ville,  Lehieh  county,  where  he  was  employed  by  Ephraim  Saeger,  sharpening 
tools  for  the  curbstone  quarries.  He  was  so  engaged  for  one  year,  and  then 
went  to  work  in  the  stone  quarries  at  Jordan  Bridge,  Lehigh  county,  for 
Edward  Marto,  for  about  seven  months.  He  then  removed  to  Hensingerville 
and  sharpened  tools  around  the  rock  mines  for  nine  years,  thence  moving  to 
Slateville,  Lehigh  county.  He  was  there  three  years,  sharpening  tools  for 
the  slate  quarries  in  the  vicinity,  and  meantime  remarried,  his  first  wife  having 
died  at  Hensingerville.  After  that  he  removed  to  his  present  place  in  West 
Penn  township,  having  bought  the  property  from  Hezekiah  Turner,  father  of 
his  second  wife.  It  originally  consisted  of  143  acres,  part  of  which  he  has 
sold  off,  retaining  seventy-three  acres,  118  rods.  Sixty-four  acres  are  under 
cultivation,  and  Mr.  Sterner  is  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming.  Occa- 
sionally he  markets  his  produce  to  Tamaqua.  He  has  made  valuable  improve- 
ments on  the  home  place,  built  the  present  substantial  dwelling  there,  and 
also  a  blacksmith  shop,  following  his  trade  quite  steadily  when  he  first  settled 
here.  However,  he  has  given  up  doing  work  for  outsiders,  but  continues  to 
do  most  of  his  own  blacksmithing. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANLV  921 

In  the  summer  of  191 1  Mr.  Sterner  built  a  fine  pool  for  raising  trout, 
layin£^  a  large  cement  wall,  and  there  are  two  compartments,  properly  arranged, 
and  led  by  a  very  fine  spring  which  runs  through  his  place.  He  bought  his 
trout  at  the  fishery  near  Weissport,  Pa.  The  trout  pond  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful and  has  well  repaid  the  time  and  effort  Mr.  Sterner  has  expended  on 
its  development.  It  is  a  feature  in  the  neighborhood  and  attracts  considerable 
attention.  Mr.  Sterner  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of  Zion's 
Church  in  West  Penn  township.  On  political  issues  he  supports  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 

Mr.  Sterner  married  Lucianna  Sherry,  a  native  of  Lowhill  township,  Le- 
high county,  bom  Dec.  30,  1848,  daughter  of  Solomon  Sherry,  who  died  when 
she  was  seven  years  old.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Wieand.  Mrs. 
Sterner  was  educated  in  Lowhill  township.  She  died  Sept.  25,,  1882,  and  is 
buried  at  Huff's  Church.  She  left  three  children:  (i)  William  Henry,  bom 
Sept.  25,  1871,  resides  near  Klinesville,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.  He  married  Sarah 
Moser,  and  they  have  had  children  as  follows:  Carrie  (Mrs.  Milton  Tyson, 
has  three  children),  Stella  (Mrs.  Kershner,  has  two  children),  Lizzie,  Henry, 
Granville,  Oscar,  Edith,  William,  Mahlon  and  Esther.  (2)  Annie  Louisa, 
bom  Feb.  15,  1874,  married  Fred  Turner,  of  West  Penn  township.  They  have 
children,  Oscar,  Dora,  Stella  and  Ralph.  (3)  Frank  Harvey,  bora  Jan.  21, 
1882,  lived  in  Mahanoy  City,  and  is  now  deceased.  He  married  Carrie-  Wil- 
liams, and  they  had  one  child,  Wilbert  David. 

Mr.  Sterner  married  for  his  second  wife  Susanna  Turner,  who  was  bom 
in  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county.  May  15,  1864,  a  daughter  of 
Hezekiah  and  Lucy  (Hill)  Tumer,  the  latter  dying  when  her  daughter 
Susanna  was  nine  years  old.  Mrs.  Sterner  was  reared  and  educated  in  her 
native  township,  and  belongs  to  Zion's  Reformed  Church  there.  She  is  the 
mother  of  the  following  children :  Clara  Elamanda,  now  the  widow  of  Wal- 
ter Lee;  David,  bom  Oct.  11,  1885,  who  is  employed  in  Royer's  Mill  at  Tama- 
qua;  Calvin  Oscar,  bom  Oct.  6,  1889,  employed  as  a  wood  chopper  and  resid- 
ing at  home;  Celesta,  bom  March  4,  1891,  of  Tamaqua;  Lewis  Abraham,  bom 
June  4,  1892,  a  section  hand  on  the  Lehigh  railroad,  residing  at  home;  Charles 
Ryan,  bom  Feb.  22,  1895,  at  home;  Levi  Milton,  bom  Aug.  21,  1897;  Mary 
Susanna,  bora  Jan.  8,  1901,  and  Eli  Hezekiah,  bom  Feb.  26,  1905. 

Solomon  Sherry,  father  of  Mrs.  Lucianna  (Sherry)  Stemer,  was  a  tailor 
by  trade.  He  lived  in  Lowhill  township,  near  Guthsville,  and  owned  a  small 
tract  of  land,  but  he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  all  his  life.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  and  is  buried  with  his  wife  at  Lowhill  Church. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Wieand,  and  she  died  when  seventy  years  old.  They 
had  children  as  follows :  Eli ;  Jonas ;  Abbie,  Mrs.  Koch ;  David,  who  married 
Hannah  Focht;  Lucianna,  Mrs.  Stemer;  and  Clara,  who  died  yoimg.  The 
father  was  a  Republican. 

Abraham  Tumer,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Susanna  (Tumer)  Sterner,  was  a 
lifelong  farmer  and  also  followed  butchering  in  West  Penn  township.  He 
was  highly  prosperous,  and  owned  three  farms.  To  his  marriage  with  Susanna 
Miller,  daughter  of  Henrich  Miller  (the  builder  of  Staudt's  mill  in  West 
Penn  township),  children  as  follows  were  bom:  Elizabeth  married  Giddeon 
Hill;  Ambrissa  married  Elijah  Ziegler;  one  daughter  died  unmarried ;. four 
children  died  in  infancy;  Abraham  married  a  Hetler;  Hezekiah  completes  the 
family.  The  father  was  a  Democrat,  and  held  the  office  of  constable  for  a 
number  of  years.    He  belonged  to  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township,  and 


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922  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

he  and  his  son  Hezekiah  assisted  with  the  construction  of  the  present  church 
building.  He  and  his  Wife  are  buried  there.  Mr.  Turner  hved  to  be  about 
seventy  years  old. 

Hezekiah  Turner,  son  of  Abraham,  born  in  West  Penn  township  April  i, 
1820,  died  Oct.  2,  1890,  and  is  buried  with  his  wife  at  Zion's  Church.  He 
was  educated  in  West  Penn  township  and  spent  his  life  there,  following  gen- 
eral farming.  He  owned  the  place  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son-in-law, 
Frank  R.  Sterner.  Mr.  Turner  retired  after  the  death  of  his  wife.  He  mar- 
ried Lucy  Hill,  daughter  of  Jonas  Hill,  both  natives  of  West  Penn  township, 
and  she  passed  away  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years,  the  mother  of  twelve  chil- 
dren :  James,  deceased,  married  Ella  Baer,  who  now  lives  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship; William,  of  Albany  township,  Berks  county,  married  Kittie  Geiger  (de- 
ceased) and  (second)  Lizzie  Wagner;  Abraham  died  yoimg;  Kittie  is  mar- 
ried to  Samuel  Geiger,  of  West  Penn  township;  Emma,  widow  of  Wilson 
Eck,  lives  at  Macungie,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.;  Lizzie  married  Lewis  Freby,  of 
Henningsville,  Berks  county;  Abraham  (2)  is  deceased;  Noah,  who  married 
Sarah  Ashey,  lives  at  Ashfield,  Carbon  county;  David,  who  is  living  in  East 
Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  married  Rosie  Berk;  Susanna,  twin 
of  David,  is  the  wife  of  Frank  R.  Sterner;  KiUian,  who  married  Katie  Schrer, 
is  a  resident  of  Lowhill  township,  Lehigh  county;  Clara  is  deceased.  The 
father  was  a  Reformed  member  of  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township,  and 
in  political  principle  a  Democrat. 

SALEM  BENJAMIN  NESTER,  carpenter,  now  established  in  business 
at  McKeansburg,  followed  his  trade  at  various  other  points  in  Schuylkill 
county  before  coming  to  his  present  location,  and  the  excellent  reputation 
that  preceded  him  was  a  favorable  start  there.  Reliable  and  skijlful  work- 
manship has  brought  him  a  trade  which  keeps  him  constantly  busy.  Mr.  Nester 
has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  East  Brunswick  township,  where  he  was  bom 
June  17,  1873,  son  of  Daniel  Nester  and  grandson  of  Daniel  Nester. 

The  great-grandfather,  also  named  Daniel  Nester,  was  a  native  of  Here- 
ford township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. He  was  a  Democrat  and  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  the  Hill  Church  in 
Hereford  township,  where  he  and  his  wife,  Esther  (Moyer),  are  buried.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:     Elijah;  Daniel;  Henry,  who 

married  Hannah  Zimmerly  and   (second)   Sarah  ;  Aaron;  Sallie;  Mrs. 

Joseph  Shirey;  Esther,  Mrs.  Samuel  Seiple;  and  Lydia. 

Daniel  Nester,  the  grandfather,  was  born  Jan.  10,  1804,  in  Hereford  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  and  when  eig^hteen  years  old  went  to  Greenwich,  Pa., 
where  he  worked  at  the  forge  for  a  time.  Coming  to  Schuylkill  county  he 
settled  at  Rauschs,'in  East  Brunswick  township,  and  being  an  iron  worker  was 
employed  in  the  rolling  mills  then  operated  at  Rauschs  by  Bertolet  Bros. 
(Mayberry  and  Samuel).  He  was  employed  there  for  twelve  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Bacherts  valley,  in  East  Brunswick  township,  where  he  bought 
land  to  which  he  added  to  from  time  to  time  until  he  had  a  large  farm.  TTiis 
he  partially  cleared  and  there  he  carried  on  general  farming  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  died  March  28,  i8q7.  He  married  Priscilla  Kepner,  who  was 
born  Sept.  24,  1818,  daughter  of  Samuel  Kepner,  a  native  of  West  Penn 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Harrison  J., 
married  Sarah  Hartman;  Daniel  was  the  father  of  Salem  B.  Nester;  Esther 
Ann,  married    William   S.  Acker;    Kate,  married   Samuel    Marburger  and 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  923 

(second)  Amos  Gerber,  both  of  whom  are  deceased;  John,  died  unmarried; 
Frank,  married  Lizzie  Beck,  and  both  are  deceased;  Henry,  died  in  infancy; 
Samuel  is  deceased.  The  father  died  in  his  eighty-fourth  year,  the  mother  at 
the  age  of  eighty-nine,  April  29,  1897,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  cemetery 
at  Fneden's  Church;  they  were  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion there.    Politically  Mr.  Nester  was  a  Republican. 

Daniel  Nester,  son  of  Daniel,  was  bom  in  the  year  1845,  i"  East  Bruns- 
wick township,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In  early  life  he  assisted 
his  father  on  the  old  homestead  farm,  which  his  father  divided  later,  about 
twenty  years  before  his  death  retiring  and  giving  a  farm  to  each  of  his  sons. 
Daniel  got  the  old  homestead  and  Harrison  J.  the  other  part.  Daniel  Nester 
was  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming,  improved  his  property  greatly, 
rebuilt  all  the  old  buildings,  and  made  many  other  desirable  changes.  One  year 
before  his  death  he  removed  to  New  Ringgold  and  bought  the  W.  H.' Miller 
place,  where  he  lived  retired.  A  man  of  active  temperament,  he  looked  well 
after  his  own  affairs  and  also  did  his  share  in  the  administration  of  the  local 
government,  serving  as  school  director  and  auditor.  He  was  a  Republican 
and  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  the  Frieden's  Church  and  taking  a  leading  part 
in  its  work;  he  filled  all  the  church  offices,  and  was  elder  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A., 
of  New  Ringgold. 

Mr.  Nester  married  Mary  Dewalt,  daughter  of  John  Dewalt,  and  she  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years,  the  mother  of  children  as  follows :  Frank  Daniel 
died  young;  Emma  Priscilla  died  when  twenty-one  years  old;  Ida  Hannah 
married  Edward  Mimm,  and  they  reside  in  East  Brunswick  township ;  Carrie 
Elizabeth  died  young;  Salem  Benjamin  is  next  in  the  family;  David  Joseph 
married  Hattie  Keef er,  and  they  live  at  Reading,  Pa. ;  Frederick  Samuel  died 
young;  Irvin  Henry  married  Laura  Miller,  and  their  home  is  in  Camden,  N.  J. ; 
George  William  is  unmarried;  Laura  Helen  died  in  infancy.  The  parents 
are  buried  at  the  Frieden's  Church. 

Salem  B.  Nester  obtained  his  early  education  in  East  Brunswick  township 
and  attended  one  term  at  the  MillersviUe  State  Normal  School.  After  work- 
ing on  his  father's  farm  until  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  spent  six  years  at 
Auburn,  engaged  in  public  work,  and  then  for  two  years  was  a  motorman 
for  the  Philadelphia  Transit  Company,  in  Philadelphia.  His  next  location 
was  at  Pinedale,  where  he  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the  carpenter's  trade 
with  Joseph  Fritz.  Then  he  went  to  Middleport,  where  he  worked  with  I^vi 
Ruch,  and  spent  four  years  in  completing  his  preparation  for  the  carpenter's 
trade  after  which  he  took  employment  at  Mahanoy  City  with  Thomas  Koch, 
contractor  and  builder.  There  he  remained  two  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time 
returning  to  McKeansburg  and  commencing  business  for  himself.  He  does 
general  carpenter  work,  and  contracting  occasionally,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  most  trustworthy  men  in  his  line  in  this  section  of  the  county.  He 
has  been  a  valued  worker  in  local  political  circles,  as  a  member  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  has  acted  as  judge  of  election.  His  fellow  citizens  have  also 
called  upon  him  for  other  public  service,  and  he  has  filled  the  positions  of 
school  director  (one  term)  and  auditor  very  efficiently.  Church  work  has  also 
had  an  important  place  in  his  activities.  He  is  a  member  of  Christ  Lutheran 
Church,  at  McKeansburg,  has  been  deacon  for  seven  years,  and  is  a  teacher 
in  the  Sunday  school.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No. 
100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  New  Ringgold;  of  East  Brunswick  Lodge,  No.  802, 


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924  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  New  Ringgold,  of  which  he  is  a  past  grand ;  and  of  Protection 
Council,  No.  935,  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  McKeansburg,  of  which 
body  he  is  a  trustee  at  present. 

Mr.  Nester  married  Emma  Follweiler,  who  was  bom  May  17,  1877,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Mary  (Kleckner)  Follweiler,  natives  of  Berks  county, 
and  they  had  two  children:  Ezra  Franklin,  bom  June  9,  1898,  and  Kermit 
Norman,  bom  May  17,  1910.  Mrs.  Nester  died  May  17,  1910,  and  is  buried 
in  Christ  Church  cemetery  at  McKeansburg.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Nester 
married  Mary  Yost,  daughter  of  Israel  and  Sarah  (Gerber)  Yost.  They  have 
no  children. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Yost)  Nester  was  bom  Aug.  23,  1879,  and  received  her  edu- 
cation in  East  Bmnswick  township.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Israel  Yost  and 
granddaughter  of  Jonathan  Yost,  a  farmer  and  large  landowner  in  East  Bmns- 
wick township.  He  married  Mary  Kleckner,  by  whom  he  had  the  following 
children:  Israel  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Nester;  Daniel  married  Lydia  Bret- 
ney,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Charles,  deceased,  married  Catherine  Sheip ;  Ben- 
jamin is  deceased;  Joshua,  deceased,  married  Susanna  Bankers,  who  is  de- 
ceased ;  Sarah  is  the  widow  of  Daniel  Kimmel ; .  Catherine  is  the  widow  of 
Edward  Ringer;  Lizzie  married  Jonas  Daubert;  Caroline  married  John  Selt- 
zer, and  both  are  deceased ;  Elmira  died  young ;  Jonathan  is  still  living,  aged 
ninety-two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yost  are  buried  at  Christ  Church,  McKeans- 
burg. He  was  an  active  member  of  that  church  and  one  of  its  valued  workers, 
and  he  also  took  an  active  part, in  local  politics,  as  a  membet  of  the  Republi- 
can party. 

Israel  Yost,  father  of  Mrs.  Nester.  was  bom  Sept.  19,  1835,  in  East  Bnms- 
wick  township,  and  there  received  his  education.  When  young  he  worked  on 
his  father's  farm,  afterwards  leamed  milling  with  Daniel  Yost,  and  later 
bought  a  farm  of  over  100  acres,  of  which  about  hkli  was  cleared  ground. 
Besides  cultivating  his  land  he  conducted  a  hotel  in  East  Brunswick  town- 
ship for  a  number  of  years,  huckstered  to  Mahanoy  City,  and  was  interested 
with  his  son  Salem  in  a  creamery  at  Myerstown,  Pa.,  which  they  operated 
for  about  ten  years.  He  was  also  the  owner  of  a  large  block  of  stock  in  the 
Mahanoy  City  National  Bank.  Mr.  Yost  was  still  on  the  farm  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  May  27,  1905.  He  married  Sarah  Gerber,  who  was 
bom  March  31,  1844,  in  East  Bmnswick  township,  and  survived  him,  dying 
May  29,  1914.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Schaeffer)  Gerber, 
natives  of  North  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county.  Ten  children  were 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yost:  Hannah,  who  died  young;  Priscilla,  deceased, 
who  was  the  wife  of  William  C.  Hartman,  of  East  Bmnswick  township;  John, 
who  died  young ;  Francis,  who  died  young ;  Salem,  who  married  Maggie  Sieg- 
fried and  lives  at  Myerstown,  Pa.;  Sarah,  wife  of  Allen  Moyer;  Israel,  de- 
ceased, who  married  Gertmde  Housberger;  Mrs.  S.  B.  Nester;  Ammon,  who 
married  Lillie  Sassaman ;  and  Walter,  who  married  Carrie  Teter.  The  parents 
are  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  Christ  Church  at  McKeansburg.  Mr.  Yost 
was  a  prominent  man  of  his  day,  serving  as  treasurer  of  the  East  Bmnswick 
township  school  board  for  a  number  of  years,  and  also  in  the  offices  of  tax 
collector  and  auditor.  Politically  he  was  a  stanch  Republican.  He  belonged 
to  Christ  Church  at  McKeansburg,  was  an  elder  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and 
had  also  served  as  deacon.  Fratemally  he  was  an  Odd  Fellow,  holding  mem- 
bership in  East  Bmnswick  Lodge,  No.  802,  of  New  Ringgold,  and  was  a  past 
grand  of  that  organization ;  he  Was  also  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA     .  925 

loo,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  New  Rinffgfold,  a  past  president,  and  treasurer  for  many 
years. 

THOMAS  GARIS,  a  lifetime  resident  of  Port  Carbon,  Schuylkill  county, 
now  spending  his  days  in  retirement  there,  was  in  his  earlier  years  active  in  pro- 
moting the  best  interests  of  that  borough.  As  an  official  he  gave  public-spirited 
service  in  every  office  with  which  his  townsmen  honored  him,  and  he  was 
always  an  industrious  worker  and  reliable  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow 
men.  He  was  born  at  Port  Carbon,  Nov.  i8,  1842,  son  of  Philip  Garis,  a  native 
of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  who  settled  at  Port  Carbon  many  years  ago,  and  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  there.  He  worked  by  the  day,  and  died  when  compara- 
tively a  young  man.  His  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Julia  Garis,  long 
survived  him,  living  to  the  ag^e  of  seventy-nine  years.  They  had  two  children, 
William  and  Thomas,  both  of  whom  served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil 
war. 

During  his  youth  and  early  manhood  Thomas  Garis  was  engaged  in  day's 
work  at  Bear  Ridge  and  later  with  the  Navigation  Company  at  Port  Carbon 
landing.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  joined  Company  C,  96th  Regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  during  his  three  years'  service 
took  part  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  company  and  regiment  were  engaged. 
When  he  left  the  army  he  returned  to  Port  Carbon  and  soon  found  employ- 
ment with  Mr.  Allison  in  the  blacksmith  shop,  where  he  later  became  engineer, 
remaining  there  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years.  His  next  position  was  at  the 
Port  Carbon  shops  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  as  boiler- 
maker,  and  he  was  employed  there  for  twenty-four  years,  retiring  when  he 
reached  the  age  of  seventy.  During  President  Roosevelt's  administration  Mr. 
Garis  was  appointed  ^postmaster  at  Port  Carbon,  and  he  filled  the  position  for 
three  years;  the  office  meanwhile  was  raised  from  the  fourth  to  the  third 
class.  His  interest  in  borough  affairs  has  been  shown  in  many  ways,  and  he 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  council,  and  one  term  as  school  director.  On 
political  questions  he  is  a  Republican.  Mr.  Garis  has  never  lost  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  his  Civil  war  comrades,  and  he  is  a  prominent  member  of  Alli- 
son Brothers  Post,  No.  144,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Port  Carbon,  having  had  the  honor 
of  being  its  first  commander.  He  is  at  present  serving  as  quartermaster 
of  the  post.     In  reli^on  Mr.  Garis  is  a  Methodist. 

Mr.  Garis  was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna  Rebecca  Freed,  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Freed,  and  they  have  two  children :  William  H.,  a  jeweler, 
now  in  Pottsville,  Pa.;  and  John  E.,  a  patternmaker,  of  Flemington,  New 
Jersey. 

ALFRED  SCHLEAR  has  become  very  well  known  in  his  section  of  Schuyl- 
kill .county  as  proprietor  of  the  "Second  Mountain  House,"  situated  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Blythe  township.  Before  his  removal  to  his  present  location 
he  had  a  blacksmith  and  Wheelwright  shop  at  McKeansburg  for  eighteen  years, 
and  did  well  in  that  line  as  he  has  in  the  hotel  business,  by  showing  the  ut- 
most regard  for  the  needs  of  his  patrons. 

Mr.  Schlear  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  this  county,  Nov.  4,  1862,  a  son 
of  Jacob  Schlear  and  grandson  of  Georgfe  and  Magdalena  (Unger)  Schlear. 
Jacob  Schlear,  the  father,  was  born  in  Windsor  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
Feb.  25,  1826,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  When  he  was  a  young 
man  he  removed  to  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  was  employed  on  the  Schuylkill 


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926  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Navigation  Company's  canal  as  a  stonemason  and  boatman.  When  his  son 
Alfred  was  six  years  old  he  moved  to  Blythe  township,  where  he  bought  a 
farm  of  thirty-six  acres,  in  a  few  years  adding  twenty-four  acres  thereto.  Of 
these  tracts  there  were  almost  twenty-five  acres  under  cultivation,  and  be- 
sides doing  general  farming  Mr.  Schlear  made  a  specialty  of  dairying,  having 
a  very  fine  herd  of  cows.  He  conducted  a  milk  and  butter  route  and  mar- 
kjeted  his  various  products  to  Pottsville,  Port  Carbon  and  Palo  Alto.  When 
he  sold  his  farm  he  removed  to  McKeansburg,  where  he  lived  retired  for  about 
ten  years  before  his  death,  Sept.  lO,  1896.  Mr.  Schlear  married  Louisa  Keim, 
who  was  bom  in  Perry  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  April  8,  1835,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Keim,  and  died  April  13,  1900.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schlear 
had  four  children:  Alfred;  Angelina,  who  is  married  to  Samuel  Tiley  and 
resides  in  Port  Carbon ;  Isaac,  who  married  Kate  Briggs,  deceased  (he  lives  at 
New  Ringgold)  ;  and  Edward,  who  married  Sarah  Smith,  and  they  reside  in 
Blythe  township.  Mr.  Schlear  was  a  Republican,  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran, 
belonging  to  Christ  Church  at  McKeansburg. 

Alfred  Schlear  was  reared  and  educated  in  Blythe  township,  and  worked 
on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  learned  the 
trades  of  blacksmith  and  wheelwright  and  owned  a  shop  at  McKeansburg, 
where  he  did  an  excellent  business  for  about  twenty  years.  Selling  out  in  1903. 
he  removed  to  Blythe  township,  where  he  purchased  the  "Second  Mountain 
House."  He  has  conducted  it  very  successfully  since,  and  its  popularity  is 
readily  understood  by  those  who  have  had  reason  to  seek  Mr.  Schlear's  hos- 
pitality. His  ready  courtesy  and  prompt  attention  to  the  wants  of  any  guest 
on  the  one  hand,  a!nd  the  excellent  table  fare  provided,  make  a  stop  at  the 
hotel  one  of  pleasant  memories,  and  many  of  the  guests  are  old-time  patrons. 
The  hotel  is  now  lighted  with  gas,  Mr.  Schlear  having  installed  a  Colt's  acety- 
lene generator  and  thirteen  lights,  which  have  proved  a  great  convenience. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Schlear  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  Christ 
Lutheran  Church  at  McKeansburg.  His  connection  with  public  affairs  has 
consisted  chiefly  in  his  connection  with  the  Blythe  township  school  board,  of 
which  he  was  president  for  a  few  years.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Protection 
Council,  No.  935,  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  at  McKeansburg. 

Mr.  Schlear  married  Ellen  C.  Heiser,  who  was  born  Feb.  13,  1863,  at  Mc- 
Keansburg, this  county,  and  received  her  education  in  West  Penn  township. 
Four  children  have  been  bom  to  this  union:  Stella  A.,  bom  April  24,  1895; 
Jacob  J.,  bom  July  8,  1897;  George  A.,  bom  Feb.  23,  1900;  William  M.,  bom 
July  23,  1902. 

W^illiam  Heiser,  Mrs.  Schlear*s  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  in  West  Bruns- 
wick township  (at  that  time  East  Brunswick),  owning  a  tract  of  forty  acres 
which  he  operated  until  the  end  of  his  days.  He  had  the  following  children: 
Charles  married  Mary  Heist,  and  both  are  deceased;  Joshua  was  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Schlear;  William  married  Kate  Harting,  and  both  are  deceased; 
Nathan  married  Anna  Weller,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Catherine  married  Wil- 
liam Weaver,  and  both  are  deceased;  Hannah  married  Adam  Schock,  and 
both  are  deceased ;  Susanna  married  Ephraim  Brown,  and  both  are  deceased ; 
Mrs.  Weller  and  Mrs.  Perry  complete  the  family.  Mr.  Heiser  was  a  Demo- 
crat and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Orwigsburg,  where  he  and 
his  wife  are  buried. 

Joshua  Heiser  was  bom  in  East  Brunswick  township  and  there  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.     He  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  927 

he  was  about  thirty-five  years  of  age,  when  he  moved  to  near  Kepners,  in 
East  Brunswick  township,  and  bought  a  small  tract  of  land,  which  he  operated 
for  a  while.  Selling  his  interest  there  he  came  to  East  Brunswick  township, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  His  wife,  Mary  (Zettle- 
moyer),  daughter  of  Henry  and  Kate  (Reinhart)  Zettlemoyer,  still  lives  in 
East  Bnmswick  township.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Ellen  C,  Mrs. 
Schlear;  Mary  A.,  Mrs.  Abraham  Schappell;  Thomas  A.,  who  married  Emma 
Bachert;  Robert  A.,  who  died  when  six  years  old;  Ida  L.,  deceased  in  infancy; 
and  William  C,  who  died  when  four  years  old.  Mr.  Heiser  was  a  Democrat 
and  a  member  of  the  Frieden's  German  Lutheran  Church  at  New  Ringgold. 
He  is  buried  there. 

CHARLES  W.  FAUST,  the  principal  transfer  man  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 
Pa.,  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  that  borough,  his  teams  and  auto  truck 
being  familiar  objects  to  residents  of  the  town.  Mr.  Faust  was  bom  May  29, 
1868,  in  Washington  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  a  son  of  Ferdinand 
Faust,  being  of  German  descent. 

Ferdinand  Faust  was  bom  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  and  came  to 
America  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  He  first  located  at  Baltimore,  Md., 
where  he  worked  at  the  baker's  trade.  Some  time  later  he  came  to  Schuyl- 
kill county  and  was  employed  by  the  Susquehanna  &  Schuylkill  Railroad 
Company.  He  resided  for  a  time  at  Centralia,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  then 
came  to  Washington  township,  this  county,  where  he  bought  a  farm  which  he 
operated  for  about  thirty  years,  finally  retiring  to  live  at  Pottsville,  Pa.  He 
died  in  that  place  Nov.  14,  1913,  and  is  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at 
Schuylkill  Haven.  His  widow  is  still  living  in  Pottsville.  Mr.  Faust  mar- 
ried Mary  Fessler,  daughter  of  John  Fessler,  and  to  this  union  were  bom 
eight  children:  Kate,  widow  of  Conrad  Weber;  Sarah,  wife  of  W.  A. 
Farrabee ;  John,  living  at  AUentown ;  Samuel,  residing  at  Orwigsburg ;  Charles 
W. ;  Frank,  living  in  Washington  township;  Oscar,  residing  at  Pottsville; 
and  Emma,  who  married  Frank  Spearly,  of  Pottsville. 

Charles  W.  Faust  attended  public  school  in  Washington  township  and 
worked  upon  the  home  farm  until  he  was  thirty-one  years  of  age.  He  then 
came  to  Schuylkill  Haven  and  worked  for  Mrs.  Raudenbush  for  some  time. 
In  IQ03  he  engaged  in  the  transfer  business  in  a  small  way*,  and  has  since 
developed  it  into  great  proportions,  having  now  from  six  to  eight  horses  in 
use  all  of  the  time,  besides  running  an  auto  truck  for  the  heavier  trade. 

Mr.  Faust  was  married  to  Tillie,  daughter  of  the  late  Levi  Kershner,  of 
Schuylkill  Haven,  and  to  them  have  l^en  bom  three  children:  Austin, 
Onedia  and  Blanche.  The  family  home  is  on  Canal  street.  Mr.  Faust  attends 
the  English  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Red  Men  and  the  Jr. 
O.  U.  A.  M.  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

REV.  A.  V.  KAMINSKY,  of  Minersville,  for  several  years  pastor  of 
St.  George's  Greek  Catholic  Church,  is  a  native  of  Galicia,  Austria,  bom  in 
1876.  He  received  a  thorough  education  in  Switzerland  and  Germany,  and 
for  three  years  was  professor  of  science  before  coming  to  America,  in  the 
year  1904.  His  preparation  for  the  priesthood  was  completed  at  Baltimore, 
Md.,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  three  years,  and  he  was  ordained  in 
1906  at  Scranton,  Pa.  His  first  work  was  at  Elizabeth  and  Newark,  in  New 
Jersey,  whence  he  was  transferred  to  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  remain- 


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928  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ing  there  for  six  months.  In  1908  he  was  appointed  to 'his  present  station 
at  Minersville,  where  he  has  cared  for  the  congregation  most  ably,  buildinjg 
a  fine  church  and  attending  zealously  to  all  the  needs  of  the  parish.     His 

f^ood  work  is  thoroughly  appreciated  by  all  the  citizens  of  Minersville,  r^;ard- 
ess  of  creed  or  class,  his  energy  and  efficiency  having  gained  him  the  good 
will  of  air  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

ROWLAND  WHITFIELD,  late  of  Pottsville,  was  in  his  day  a  most 
highly  regarded  citizen  of  that  borough,  and  a  worthy  successor  to  his  father, 
Joseph  Whitfield,  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  popular  figures  in  the 
business  and  social  life  of  this  section. 

Joseph  Whitfield  was  of  English  birth,  bom  in  May,  1807,  near  Liverpool. 
He  was  a  relation  of  Thomas  Nuttall,  the  distinguished  English-American 
naturalist,  in  whose  company  he  came  to  this  country  when  seventeen  years 
old  on  a  pleasure  trip.  But  he  was  so  favorably  impressed  with  what  he  saw 
in  America  that  he  concluded  to  make  his  home  here,  and  he  shortly  after- 
wards entered  Harvard  College,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  with 
distinction.  The  class  included  among  its  members  a  number  of  men  who 
became  distinguished  in  various  walks  of  life — Edward  Everett,  statesman 
and  orator;  Judge  Joseph  Storey;  Washington  Allston  and  Gilbert  Stuart, 
the  celebrated  painters;  Henry  W.  Longfellow,  the  poet;  as  well  as  others 
of  towering  intellect.  His  association  with  Stuart  and  Allston  was  an  inspira- 
tion which  he  obeyed  for  several  years,  devoting  himself  to  painting  and 
,  traveling  about  in  search  of  subjects  and  ideas.  Though  he  did  not  remain 
long  in  the  profession  he  acquired  a  familiar  knowledge  of  art  and  art  work 
which  was  a  source  of  the  keenest  enjo)rment  to  him  throughout  life.  Coming 
to  Pottsville  in  1831  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  and  followed  it  to 
the  dlose  of  his  life — a  period  of  forty-six  years,  and  he  was  equally  suc- 
cessful as  a  coal  operator.  He  was  not  only  a  prosperous  business  man  but 
popular  in  his  social  relations,  and  led  an  ideal  home  life.  It  would  seem 
that  his  nature  was  so  broad  it  grew  out  and  developed  along  many  lines 
instead  of  confining  itself  to  a  few  interests,  taking  in  all  phases  of  tfie  life 
of  his  adopted  community.  In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  Whig,  belieying  in 
the  principles  of  protection  for  home  industries,  and  he  had  great  admiration 
for  Henry  Clay.  In  fact,  his  uplifting  influence  was  felt  for  many  years, 
and  appreciated  thoroughly  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintance. 

Mr.  Whitfield  married  Ellen  Doman,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters :  Mary,  who  married  Col.  Henry 
Royer,  general  merchant  of  Pottsville;  Rowland;  Albert,  a  resident  of  the 
State  of  Georgia ;  Fannie,  who  married  Abraham  Seligman,  a  dry  goods  mer- 
chant of  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  countv ;  Franklin  B.,  of  Topeka,  Kans. ;  Lucy, 
who  married  Edwin  W.  Harper,  of  Philadelphia;  and  Ellen,  who  married 
Channing  Shumway.  For  a  number  of  years  after  her  husband's  death  Mrs. 
Joseph  Whitfield  carried  on  a  dry  goods  store  she  and  her  sister  established, 
and  their  old  stand  on  Centre  street  is  now  occupied  by  the  Britton-HoflFman 
installment  house. 

Rowland  Whitfield  was  bom  Tune  24,  1834,  at  Pottsville,  and  there 
received  his  education,  graduating  trom  public  school  in  1849.  At  that  time 
his  father  was  interested  in  coal  operations  at  St.  Clair,  this  county,  where 
the  youth  went  to  work,  and  he  soon  entered  the  mercantile  business  there, 
remaining  at  that  location  until  1869.    Returning  to  Pottsville  he  became  a 


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''"'•H  ^EV/  VTi^ 

^^BilC  LIBRARY  ^ 

FTT,>.^^''^°'^'  LENOX 
Llii£l^>OUKDA-nONs| 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  929 

dealer  in  flour,  on  Second  street,  continuing  that  business  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  Pottsville  April  2,  1897.  He  is  buried  in  the  Charles  Baber 
cemetery.  His  undeviating  honesty  and  fairness  towards  his  fellowmen, 
positive  success  in  all  his  undertakings,  conservative,  unassiuning  character 
and  good  will  to  all,  won  him  a  degree  of  respect  attained  by  few  men.  When 
a  candidate  for  the  borough  coimcil  he  had  the  honor  of  being  imanimbusly 
elected.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  in  religious  connection  a  Presby- 
terian. Socially  he  was  a  Mason,  holding  membership  in  Anthracite  Lodge, 
No.  285,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  St.  Clair,  of  which  he  was  a  past  master;  Mountain 
Gty  Chapter,  No.  196,  R.  A.  M.,  Pottsville;  and  Constantine  Commandery, 
No.  41,  K.  T.,  Pottsville,  of  which  he  was  a  charter  member. 

On  May  6,  1865,  Mr.  Whitfield  married  Lottie  E.  Brick,  of  St  Clair,  and 
seven  children  were  bom  to  them:  George  died  in  infancy;  Charles  died  in 
his'  sixth  year;  Lucian  V.  was  formerly  in  business  with  his  father  at  Potts- 
ville and  is  now  a  resident  of  Philadelphia  (he  married  Catherine  Haddock 
and  has  one  son;  Rowland)  ;  Rowland  died  in  infancy ;  Mary  R.,  who  grad- 
uated from  the  Pottsville  high  school,  is  now  the  wife  of  Prof.  Thomas  C. 
Knowles,  of  Pottsville,  principal  of  the  commercial  department  of  the  high 
school,  and  has  three  children,  Rowland  W.,  Thomas  C,  Jr.,  and  Charlotte  W. ; 
Ellen  J.,  also  a  graduate  of  the  Pottsville  hi^h  school,  is  married  to  Frederick 
Wetter,  of  Pottsville,  and  has  two  children,  Carl  S.  and  George  S.;  Joseph 
died  in  his  seventh  year. 

Mrs.  Whitfield  resides  at  No.  309  West  Norwegian  street,  Pottsville. 
She  is  highly  esteemed,  and  was  a  successful  business  woman  for  many  years, 
carrying  on  Mr.  Whitfield's  business  after  his  death.  She  owns  a  fine  piece 
of  business  property  opposite  the  post  office  on  Second  street,  the  place  occu- 
pied by  the  Britton-Hoffman  Ccwnpany. 

Louis  Brick,  Mrs.  Whitfield's  father,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  met  his 
wife,  Charlotte  (Frantz),  on  board  the  vessel  which  brought  them  to  America. 
They  were  married  at  Philadelphia,  and  came  to  Schuylkill  county,  settling 
at  St.  Qair,  where  he  followed  mining.  They  died  there.  Four  children  were 
bom  to  them:  Catherine  married  Joshua  Ketner;  Charlotte  (Lottie)  E.  is  the 
widow  of  Rowland  Whitfield ;  Ellen  married  William  Matthews ;  Louis  lives  at 
Pittstwi,  Pennsylvania. 

JACOB  R.  SCHULZ,  of  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county,  has  been  a  resident 
of  that  place  practically  all  the  time  since  the  family  came  to  America  in 
1880.  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Barbara  (Therm)  Schulz,  were  bom  in  Ger- 
many, along  the  Rhine,  and  the  father  was  a  soldier  during  the  Franco-Prus- 
sian war,  receiving  a  i)ension  for  his  services.  They  brought  their  family  to 
America  in  1880,  leaving  Germany  June  13th,  and  landing  at  New  York  on 
the  29th,  after  a  voyage  of  sixteen  days,  and  thence  coming  directly  to  Ash- 
land, Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  The  father  is  deceased,  and  the  mother,  who  still 
survives,  makes  her  home  with  her  son  Jacob.  There  were  ten  children  bom 
to  this  couple,  namely:  Jacob  Robert,  the  eldest;  Mary,  now  in  a  convent 
at  Lancaster,  Pa. ;  Katie,  deceased ;  Hattie,  wife  of  William  Smith,  ol  Ash- 
land; John,  a  resident  of  Ashland,  Pa.;  George;  and  four  children  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Jacob  R.  Schulz  was  bom  May  12,  1872,  at  Hungard,  Germany,  on  the 
Rhine,  in  the  county  of  Ottweiler,  Trier,  and  lived  there  until  eight  years 
old,  attending  school  for  about  two  years  before  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  America.    The  rest  of  his  schooling  was  received  at  Ashland,  and  he  was 

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930  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

but  eleven  years  of  age  when  he  commenced  mine  work,  being  employed  at 
the  collieries  near  Ashland  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-two  years. 
Entering  the  John  Dence  shoe  factory  at  Ashland,  he  remained  there  for  four 
years,  resinned  mine  work  for  a  time,  and  later  moved  to  Hopewell,  N.  J., 
Avhere  he  remained  for  five  months.  Returning  to  Ashland,  he  then  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  there,  repairing  shoes.  His  place  is  equipped  with 
modem  machinery,  and  he  has  an  extensive  patronage,  his  skillful  and  reli- 
able workmanship  drawing  and  holding  a  profitable  trade.  He  owns  the 
building  where  he  lives,  a  substantial  three-story  structure,  and  his  thrifty 
and  industrious  life  has  gained  him  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  comes 
into  contact.  He  is  a  consistent  member  of  St.  Mauritius  Catholic  Church 
at  Ashland,  and  for  the  last  twenty-four  years  has  belonged  to  the  St.  Mauri- 
tius Society  and  the  Holy  Name  Society.  Politically  he  gives  his  s,upport 
to  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Schulz  was  married  April  21,  1914,  to  Mary  Shearer,  a  native  of 
America,  of  German  descent,  her  parents  being  John  and  Anna  (Gabel) 
Shearer,  now  residents  of  Trenton,  N.  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schulz  were  married 
at  that  place. 

WILLIAM  S.  ACKER  has  a  well  improved  little  farm  in  East  Bruns- 
wick township  which  he  has  occupied  for  over  thirty  years,  and  he  and  his 
family  are  among  the  respected  residents  of  that  locality.  He  comes  of  an 
old  Pennsylvania  family,  being  a  grandson  of  Jacob  Acker,  who  was  a  school 
teacher  and  followed  his  profession  in  Berks  and  Lancaster  counties.  He 
died  in  young  manhood,  and  is  buried  at  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Oley  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  having  been  a  member  of  that  church.  He  was  married 
in  that  county  to  Caroline  Wise,  and  they  had  one  child,  Daniel.  The  widow 
remarried,  becoming  the  wife  of  Matthias  Rhodes,  by  whom  she  had  the 
following  children:  Jacob,  John,  Hiram  (who  married  Sarah  Wolfgang), 
Frank,  Kate  (who  married  Lincoln  Romich)  and  Mark.  The  mother  of  this 
family  is  also  buried  at  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Oley  township. 

Daniel  Acker,  only  child  of  Jacob,  above,  was  bom  at  Oley,  Berks  county, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  township  schools.  After  his  father's  death 
he  was  bound  out  to  Jacob  Reichner,  with  whom  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade. 
He  owned  a  small  tract  of  land,  and  later  was  a  tenant  on  a  large  farm  for 
a  time,  making  a  good  living.  He  was  supervisor  in  Pottsgrove  township, 
Montgomery  Co.,  T^a.,  for  twenty-six  years,  also  held  the  office  of  school 
director,  and  took  considerable  interest  in  local  politics  as  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  lived  to  be  over  eighty,  dying  Jan.  10,  1896,  and  his 
wife  Maria  (Schoener),.  daughter  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Schwenk) 
Schoener,  was  over  ninety  at  her  death.  They  are  buried  at  Mount  Zion, 
in  Chester  county.  Pa.  He  was  a  member  and  leading  worker  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Pottstown,  in  which  he  held  the  offices  of  elder  and  deacon.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Acker  had  these  children:  Lydia,  who  died  in  childhood;  Henry, 
who  married  Sarah  Hartranft,  and  after  her  death  Louisa  Dengler;  Kate, 
who  married  Michael  Kadeny  and  after  his  death  Arthur  K.  Miley;  William 
S. ;  Daniel,  deceased,  who  married  Annie  Jacoby;  Jonathan,  who  married 
Catherine  Wise;  and  Mary,  Mrs.  David  Endy. 

William  S.  Acker  was  bom  July  10,  1845,  in  Douglass  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  worked 
among  the  neighboring  farmers,  as  well  as  on  his  father's  place,  until  he  was 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  931 

eighteen  years  of  age.  He  learned  cigarmaking,  and  then  went  to  the  milling 
trade  with  Isaac  March,  at  Ironstone  creek,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  His  next  move  was  to  Glasgow,  Montgomery  county,  where  he 
worked  in  the.  merchant  mill  for  one  year,  and  from  there  he  went  to  Walker 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  following  milling  at  that  location  for  two  years. 
Returning  to  Pottstown,  Pa.,  he  worked  in  the  Davis  Merchant  Mill  for  three 
years,  then  followed  the  butcher  business  in  Pottstown  for  a  short  time, 
but  sold  out  after  several  months  and  entered  the  grocery  business,  in  which 
he  was  engaged  for  about  one  year.  At  that  time  he  married,  and  then 
worked  in  the  rolling  mills  until  April  12,  1881,  when  he  came  to  his  present 
place  in  East  Brunswick  township,  a  tract  of  nineteen  acres  and  some  perches, 
where  he  carries  on  general  farming. 

Mr.  Acker  married  Esther  Ann  Nester,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Mary  Louisa,  born  Sept.  30,  1872,  married  William  B. 
Best;  Daniel  Webster,  bom  Oct.  4,  1873,  '^ves  in  Montana;  Augustus  Withers, 
bom  April  8,  1875,  died  when  seventeen  months  old ;  Bertha  Esther,  born  Sept. 
8,  1877,  married  Fred  Heiser;  one  child,  bom  May  14,  1879,  died  in  infancy; 
Blanche  Anna,  bom  July  22,  1880,  married  Irvin  Eberhart;  Bessie  Mabel, 
bora  July  29,  1883,  married  John  Schoener;  Esther  Carrie,  born  Jan.  3,  1886, 
is  in  Montana. 

Mr.  Acker  is  independent  in  politics.  Formerly  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  in  Montgomery  county. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Transfiguration  (Lutheran), 
at  Pottstown,  Pennsylvania. 

Mrs.  Esther  Ann  (Nester)  Acker,  wife  of  William  S.  Acker,  was  born  in 
East  Bmnswick  township  July  22,  1844,  daughter  of  Daniel  Nester  and  grand- 
daughter of  Daniel  Nester.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Hereford  township, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  followed  blacksmithing  and  farming.  To  him  and  his 
wife  Esther  (Moyer)  were  bom  the  following  children :  Elijah ;  Daniel,  father 
of  Mrs.  Acker;  Henry,  who  married  Hannah  Zimmerly  and  (second)  Sarah; 
Aaron;  Sallie,  Mrs.  John  Shirey;  Esther,  Mrs.  Samuel  Seiple;.  and  Lydia. 
Mr.  Nester  was  a  Democrat  in  political  faith  and  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  belong- 
ing to  the  Hill  Church  in  Hereford  township.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried 
there. 

Daniel  Nester,  father  of  Mrs.  Acker,  was  born  in  Hereford  township,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  10,  1804,  and  was  reared  there.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  went 
to  Greenwich,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  worked  in  the  forge  for  a  time.  He 
then  moved  to  Rauschs,  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was 
employed  by  Bertolet  Brothers  (Mayberry  and  Samuel)  in  the  rolling  mill, 
learning  the  work  of  puddling,  heating  and  rolling.  After  twelve  years'  em- 
ployment at  Rauschs  he  removed  to  Bacherts  valley,  in  East  Brunswick  town- 
ship, and  bought  a  tract  of  land  to  which  he  added  from  time  to  tjme  until  he 
had  a  large  farm.  He  cleared  a  great  deal  of  his  property,  and  carried  on  gen- 
eral farming  very  successfully.  About  twenty  years  before  his  death  he  gave 
a  farm  to  each  of  his  sons  Daniel  and  Harrison  J.,  and  then  lived  retired  for 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  death  occurred  March  28,  1897,  and  his  wife 
Priscilla  (Kepner),  bom  Sept.  24,  1818,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catherine 
(Moser)  Kepner,  survived  him  just  a  month,  passing  away  April  29,  1897. 
They  are  buried  at  the  Frieden's  Church,  New  Ringgold.  Mr.  Nester  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  of  that  church,  a  Republican  in  f)olitics, 
and  held  the  office  of  school  director.    His  children  were  as  follows :  Cather- 


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932  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ine  married  Samuel  Marberger,  and  after  his  death  Amos  Gerber,  who  is  also 
deceased;  Daniel  married  Mary  Dewalt,  and  both  are  deceased;  Samuel,  de- 
ceased, married  Carrie  Delaney,  and  after  her  death  Minnie  Matthew;  Frank' 
married  Lizzie  Bock,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Esther  Ann  is  Mrs.  W.  S.  Acker ; 
Heniy  died  in  infancy ;  Harrison  J.  married  Sarah  Hartman ;  Jcrfm  died  un- 
married. 

/ 

CHARLES  ELLSWORTH  MOYER,  an  enterprising  young  man  now 
in  business  at  McKeansburg,  is  a  native  of  Lehighton,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
a  descendant  of  a  family  which  has  been  in  this  section  of  the  State  for  several 
generations.  His  great-grandfather,  Isaac  Moyer,  was  a  broom  and  basket 
maker.  He  was  married  in  Bucks  coimty,  and  thence  moved  to  Berks  coimty, 
where  he  followed  his  trades  until  his  death.  While  on  a  trip  selling  brooms 
he  was  murdered,  his  body  being  found  later  in  a  field  by  hunters.  He  had 
six  children:  Sarah  Ann,  Mrs.  Hosier;  Jacob  G.;  Benjamin;  John;  Samuel; 
and  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Peter  Gerhart.  Isaac  Moyer  was  a  member  of  St. 
Michael's  German  Reformed  Church  in  Tilden  township,  Berks  county,  and  is 
buried  there.    He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  faith. 

Jacob  G.  Moyer,  grandfather  of  Charles  E.  Moyer,  was  bom  in  Bucks 
county.  Pa.,  and  received  his  education  there.  Moving  to  Berks  county  he 
worked  as  a  woodchopper  on  the  Blue  mountain,  and  later  bought  a  tract  of 
thirty-six  acres,  all  of  which  he  cleared  and  cultivated  in  general  farming. 
Subsequently  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
Company,  as  brakeman.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he  entered 
the  Union  army,  as  a  member  of  the  is8th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  served  nine  months.  After  returning  from  the  army  he  went 
back  to  his  farm,  which  he  eventually  sold  out  to  all  of  his  nephews.  Then 
he  came  to  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  bought  a  tract 
of  seventy-two  acres,  ten  acres  of  which  were  in  timber.  He  conducted  this 
farm  until  a  few  years  before  his  death,  when  he  sold  this  land  to  Moses 
Behler  and  bought  a  small  tract  at  Drehersville,  nine  acres,  upon  which  he 
died.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  passing  away  in  191 1.  His 
widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Meek,  still  survives,  now  (1915)  seven- 
ty-nine years  old,  and  is  the  owner  pf  the  nine-acre  tract;  she  lives  at*Drehers- 
ville.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Meek.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moyer  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Henry  married  Lizzie  Reeser;  Eli  married  Emma  Wert; 
Amanda  married  Morris  Spatz ;  Agnes,  deceased,  married  Lewis  Myers ;  Sam- 
uel married  Priscilla  Bolich;  Alfred  married  Mrs.  Stella  (Medlar)  Miller, 
widow  of  William  Miller;  Priscilla  died  in  infancy;  Emmalina  died  in  in- 
fancy; Ida  Rebecca,  Emma  and  Adeline  are  deceased.  Like  his  father  Mr. 
Moyer  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  St.  Michael's  Reformed  Church  in 
Tilden  township,  Berks  county.    He  is  buried  there. 

Eli  Moyer,  father  of  Charles  E.  Moyer,  was  bom  in  Tilden  township, 
Berks  Co.,- Pa.,  Oct.  6,  i860,  received  his  schooling  there,  and  worked  on  his 
father's  farm  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  found  emplo)mient  at  the 
Port  Qinton  rolling  mills,  at  Port  Clinton,  Schuylkill  coimty,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  puddler,  which  he  followed  for  two  years.  Later  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  being  one  of  the 
mason  gang  under  Charles  Jacobs,  foreman,  and  worked  along  the  main  line, 
building  and  repairing  bridges,  for  one  year.  He  then  changed  to  the  Lehigh 
Valley  RaUroad  Company,  working  in  the  car  shops  at  Weatherly,  Carbon 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  933 

Co.,  Pa.,  and  repaired  cars,  continuing  this  work  in  all  for  thirteen  years. 
Meantime,  while  in  Weatherly,  he  married,  and  he  removed  thence  to  Packer- 
ton,  Carbon  cotmty,  continuing  in  the  same' employ  and  following  the  same 
work,  in  the  car  shops.  He  was  next  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  employ  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  at  the  Park  shops,  as  repaii*man  for  one 
year,  during  which  his  family  lived  in  Lehighton,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.  Later  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Curtis  Bay  Car  Company,  at  Curtis  Bay,  Baltimore, 
Md.,  as  car  repairer,  for  nine  months;  went  to  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  was 
employed  by  the  Pullman  Car  Company  for  three  months,  when  he  gave  up 
that  line  and  went  to  Hackelbemie,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  at  which  place  he  con- 
ducted the  "Washington  Hotel"  for  nine  years.  The  hotel  burned  down  May 
15,  1913,  and  he  is  noW  living  retired  with  his  son  Charles  E.  Moyer  at  Mc- 
Keansburg.  Mr.  Moyef  married  Emma  Wert,  who  was  bom  Feb.  2T,  1861, 
in  Lehighton,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  a  daughter  of  Willoughby  and  Maria  (Hart- 
ranft)  Wert.  They  had  two  children:  Charles  Ellsworth;  and  Emmalina 
Elizabeth,  bom  Oct.  18,  1886,  who  died  aged  two  years,  nine  months,  seven 
days.  Mr.  Moyer  is  a  Democrat  in  political  association,  and  he  took  an  active 
part  in  public  affairs  while  a  resident  of  Lehighton,  serving  in  the  town  coun- 
cil for  three  years,  and  as  president  of  that  body  for  one  year.  He  is  a 
member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  179,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Weatherly,  Carbon 
couuty.  Mrs.  Moyer  united  with  the  Reformed  Church  at  Lehighton,  and 
Mr.  Moyer's  religious  inclinations  are  in  the  same  direction. 

Charles  Ellsworth  Moyer  was  bom  Aug.  14,  1885,  ^ind  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Lehighton.  Most  of  his  young  manhooid  was  spent  at  Hackel- 
bemie, where  he  worked  in  the  coal  mines  for  the  Lehigh  Coal  &  Navigation 
Company,  and  also  at  odd  times  in  the  Hackelbemie  mines,  until  1913.  That 
year  he  went  into  the  hotel  business  in  East  Mauch  Chunk,  where  he  was 
located  for  one  year,  thence  coming  to  McKeansburg,  Schuylkill  county.  Here 
he  bought  the  hotel  and  store  property  which  he  is  now  conducting,  the  old 
Leibensperger  property,  having  a  general  store  and  the  "Hotel  Moyer*'  (for- 
merly called  the  "Drover  Hotel").  He  is  married  to  Elizabeth  Stoker,  bom 
April  II,  1882,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Alice  (Brainbridge)  Stoker.  They 
have  one  child,  Charles  Ellsworth,  bom  Feb.  18,  1914. 

Mr.  Moyer  has  always  been  an  active  Democrat.  While  in  Carbon  county 
he  was  county  committeeman  under  James  I.  Blackslee,  fourth  assistant  post- 
master general  of  the  United  States,  and  at  that  time  county  chairman  of 
,  Carbon  county.  Mr.  Moyer  was  candidate  for  poor  auditor,  to  represent  Car- 
bon and  Luzerne  counties,  and  was  elected,  but  never  served.  He  acted  as 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  Local  No.  1595,  United  Mine  Workers  of  America, 
from  the  time  the  local  was  started  until  he  left  the  mines,  and  was  delegate 
to  all  the  conventions  while  in  office.  He  joined  Washington  Camp  No.  108, 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  Mauch  Chunk,  and  was  a  charter  member  of  Lehighton 
Tent,  No.  442,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees  of  the  World.  He  attended  the 
Episcopal  Church  at  Mauch  Chunk. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Stoker)  Moyer  was  bom  April  11,  1882,  at  Upper  Lehigh, 
in  Foster  township,  Luzeme  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  William  Stoker  and  grand- 
daughter of  John  Stoker.  The  grandfather  was  a  miner,  beginning  that 
occupation  in  England,  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  married  in  England  and 
emigrated  to  America  with  his  family  about  the  time  that  President  Lincoln 
was  assassinated.  Landing  at  Castle  Garden,  New  York,  he  then  proceeded 
to  near  Hazleton,  Luzeme  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  a  miner  until  his  death, 


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934  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

which  occurred  when  he  was  over  sixty  years  of  age.  He  was  married  three 
times,  his  first  wife  being  the  mother  of  William  Stoker.  His  second  wife, 
Martha  (Kennedy),  bore  him  four  children:  John  married  Priscilla  Briggs; 
Charles  married  Ida  Baker;  Thomas  married  Maggie  Rheimheimer;  George 
married  Lillie  Stackhouse.  His  third  wife  was  Mary  Kennedy.  Mr.  Stoker 
and  his  three  wives  are  buried  at  Wanamie,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a 
Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Church  of  England. 

William  Stoker,  father  of  Mrs.  Moyer,  was  bom  in  New  Castle,  England, 
Dec.  14,  1854,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  America  when  ten  years  old.  He 
followed  the  occupation  of  coal  miner  at  Freeland,  Luzerne  county,  for  the 
Upper  Lehigh  Company,  for  thirty-seven  years.  On  leaving  the  mines  he 
went  to  Mauch  Chunk  and  assisted  his  son-in-law  in  the  hotel  business,  and  on 
the  latter's  removal  to  McKeansburg  accompanied  him.  He  is  still  residing 
there.  His  wife,  Alice  (Brainbridge),  is  buried  at  Freeland.  They  had  chil- 
dren as  follows :  John,  a  resident  of  Wapwallopen,  Luzerne  county,  married 
Kate  Schaeffer,  and  they  have  four  children;  Elmira  is  unmarried;  Florence 
resides  at  Orwigsburg,  Pa.;  Elizabeth  is  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Moyer;  Mary  Ann 
and  Mary  Jane  died  young.  Mr.  Stoker  has  supported  the  Republican  party 
and  has  beem  actively  associated  in  promoting  its  welfare.  He  has  served 
as  judge,  clerk  and  inspector  of  elections,  and  held  the  office  of  supervisor  in 
Foster  township,  Luzerne  county.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Loyal  Castle, 
No.  65,  Knights  of  the  Mystic  Chain,  and  is  a  past  Sir  Knight  Commander. 

CHARLES  HENRY  HOPPES,  of  West  Penn  township,  is  a  typical 
representative  of  a  family  whose  members  have  been  among  the  respected 
residents  of  that  part  of  Schuylkill  county  since  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
period.  Industrious,  progressive  and  of  high  personal  character,  he  is  uphold- 
ing in  an  honorable  life  the  best  traditions  of  the  substantial  stock  to  which 
he  belongs  and  doing  his  share  in  advancing  the  best  interests  of  the  region 
which  has  been  the  chosen  home  of  his  race  for  several  generations. 

John  Michael  Hoppes,  the  emigrant  ancestor  of  Charles  Henry  Hoppes, 
came  to  this  country  from  Baden,  Germany,  it  is  said  about  1740,  but  the 
family  history  of  that  period  is  incomplete.  He  made  his  home  in  what  is 
now  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  then  included  in  Northampton 
county,  Pa..  He  had  four  sons.  Life  in  this  region  was  full  of  dangers  in 
those  days,  for  the  settlers  were  never  safe  from  Indian  raids,  and  the  father 
of  this  family  eventually  lost  his  life  defending  his  home  against  the  savages. 
A  band  of  Indians  surrounded  and  attacked  the  Hop|>es  home  one  night,  and 
in  the  fight  which  ensued  John  Michael  Hoppes  and  two  of  his  sons  were 
killed.  The  other  two  sons  fought  until  the  attackers  withdrew  defeated,,  and 
saved  the  mother  and  daughters'.  The  three  victims  were  buried  next  day 
under  a  pine  tree  near  by,  and  the  survivors  decided  to  break  up  the  home, 
being  thoroughly  discouraged  by  the  evil  turn  of  their  fortune.  One  of  the 
sons  moved  to  Virginia  and  made  a  permanent  settlement  there.  He  succeeded 
in  life,  acquiring  the  ownership  of  a  valuable  plantation,  and  owned  slaves. 
The  other  son,  Jonas,  remained  in  Pennsylvania.  Bom  Jan.  12,  1753,  he 
spent  his  life  in  Pennsylvania.  When  the  Revolution  broke  out  he  took  up 
arms  in  the  cause  of  the  Colonies,  serving  seven  years.  He  was  in  a  cavalry 
regiment  and  under  Washington's  command.  In  the  retreat  from  Phila- 
delphia he  was  captured  by  the  British  and  kept  without  food  for  three  days, 
was  rescued  by  I^Fayette*s  army,  and  returned  to  his  service.     After  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  935 

war  he  became  a  prosperous  fanner  in  West  Penn 'township,  Northampton 
(now  Schuylkill)  county  (having  there  located  the  land  grant  of  150  acres 
received  for  his  services),  building  a  log  house  and  bam  on  his  tract,  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  which  he  succeeded  in  clearing.  He  farmed  throughout 
his  active  years.  His  death  occurred  July  30,  1833,  his  wife,  Catherine 
(Harr),  who  was  bom  April  7,  1755,  passing  away  July  5,  1823.  They  are 
buried  at  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township,  and  his  grave  is  always 
decorated  on  Memorial  Day.  Mr.  Hoppes  was  one  of  the  most  zealous  mem- 
bers of  Zion's  Church,  giving  the  land  for  the  building  site  and  cemetery 
plot,  and  he  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  church. 

Michael  Hoppes,  grandfather  of  Charles  Henry  Hoppes,  was  a  farmer  and 
miller,  owning  the  farm  of  128  acres  and  the  stone  mill  thereon  now  owned 
by  his  grandson,  Michael  A.  Hoppes,  in  West  Penn  township.  The  mill  is 
one  of  the  local  landmarks.  He  was  a  Democrat  on  political  questions  and  a 
Lutheran  in  religion,  belonging  to  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township  and 
helping  to  build  its  present  stone  house  of  worship.  He  and  his  wife  are 
buried  in  the  cemetery  of  that  church.  They  had  children:  Joseph,  Nathan, 
John,  Michael,  Lizzie  and  Judith. 

Michael  Hoppes,  the  father  of  Charles  Henry  Hoppes,  was  bom  Nov.  17, 
1822,  at  the  old  mill  in  West  Penn  township,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  township  schools.  He  followed  farming  and  milling  all  his  long  life, 
which  covered  almost  fourscore  years,  his  death  occurring  Feb.  3,  1902.  He 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  township,  and  after  entering  upon  the 
serious  work  of  life  was  occupied  as  laborer  on  his  father's  farm  from  the 
age  of  sixteen  until  twenty-five,  at  which  time  he  bought  the  mill  and  128 
acres  of  land.  A  man  of  upright  life,  he  was  highly  respected  by  all  his 
neighbors  and  valued  as  a  worker  in  the  Zion's  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he 
filled  all  the  official  positions.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  wife, 
Catherine  (Balliet),  survived  him  ten  years,  dying  Sept.  30,  1912.  She  was 
bom  June  3,  1825,  daughter  of  George  Balliet  (whose  wife  was  a  Houser), 
and  IS  buried  with  her  husband  in  the  cemetery  of  Zion's  Church.  They  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Polly,  now  the  widow  of  Nathan 
Gilbert,  is  living  in  West  Penn  township;  Rebecca  is  the  wife  of  Reuben 
Nothstein,  and  lives  in  the  Mahoning  valley  in  West  Penn  township;  Cathe- 
rine is  the  widow  of  Adam  Henry,  of  Carbon  county,  Pa.;  Benneville  died 
young;  Charles  Henry  is  next  in  the  family;  Michael  A.,  who  lives  on  the  old 
homestead,  married  Mary  Shellhammer. 

Charles  Henry  Hoppes  was  bora  April  8,  1856,  in  West  Penn  township, 
in  the  Mahoning  valley.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  township,  and  he  remained  at  home,  working  on  the  farm  for  his  father, 
until  twenty-one  years  old,  after  which  he  worked  out  among  other  farmers 
for  a  period  of  three  years.  He  then  married  and  removed  to  New  York 
City,  where  for  three  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Stephen  Kistler,  driving 
a  team,  handling  hides  and  leather.  Returning  to  West  Penn  township,  he 
purchased  from  Nathan  Gilbert  part  of  the  farm  which  he  has  since  operated, 
his  first  purchase  consisting  of  fifty-eight  acres,  to  which  he  has  added  until 
his  holdings  now  consist  of  eighty-nine  acres,  seventy  of  which  are  cleared. 
He  carries  on  general  farming,  marketing  his  produce  at  Summit  Hill  and 
Lansford.  Mr.  Hoppes  has  given  practically  all  his  attention  to  his  work, 
but  he  has  taken  sufficient  interest  in  local  affairs  to  give  his  services  for  one 
term  as  member  of  the  board  of  school  directors,  and  he  is  a  zealous  member 


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936  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church,  the  religious  home  of  his  ancestors  for  several 
generations,  in  which  he  has  served  as  elder  and  deacon.  On  political  ques- 
tions he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Hoppes  married  Fianna  Amanda  Kistler,  who  was  bom  Jan.  7,  i860, 
in  West  Penn  township,  near  the  "Mansion  House'*  hotel,  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Elmer  Zimmerman.  She  received  her  education  in  that  township 
and  in  the  public  schools  of  Allentown,  Pa.,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
congregation  of  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township;  she  takes  great  interest 
in  its  work,  and  is  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoppes 
have  had  three  children,  all  of  whom  have  been  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  West  Penn  township:  Harvey  M.,  bom  June  28,  1880,  is  at  present  in 
Newark,  N.  J.,  where  he  is  engaged  as  a  ni^t  watchman;  he  is  a  member 
of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  at  Newark;  he  married  Ida  Haas,  who  was  bom  in  1880, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Elmer  (bom  April  7,  1901)  ?Lnd  Wallace  (bom 
May  30,  1905).  William  H.,  bom  Nov.  12,  1889,  assists  his  father  on  the 
home  farm;  he  married  Esther  Helfrich,  bom  May  i,  1891,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Walter  Eli,  bom  Oct.  11,  1910.  Charles  A.,  bom  April  25,  1896, 
is  living  at  home. 

Michael  Kistler,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Hoppes,  was  a  native  of  Lehigh 
county.  Pa.,  and  died  about  1869,  when  about  eighty  years  of  age.  He  leamed 
the  trade  of  tanner,  and  owned  and  operated  a  farm  as  well  as  a  tannery. 
When  he  retired  from  active  labors,  a  few  years  before  his  death,  he  moved 
to  a  small  farm  adjoining  his  old  home,  and  there  passed  away.  He  and  his 
wife,  Magdalena  (Brobst),  are  buried  at  the  New  Jemsalem  Lutheran  Church 
near  Wessnersville.  Mr.  Kistler  was  a  member  of  that  church  and  a 
Democrat  in  political  opinion.  His  faimily  consisted  of  ten  children: 
Stephen,  Joel,  Jacob  (who  was  three  times  married,  to  a  Miss  Kistler,  Mrs. 
Miller  and  another  Kistler,  respectively),  Michael,  William,  Daniel,  Angeline 
(Mrs.  Peter  Seip),  Mary  (Mrs.  Charles  Faust),  Sallie  (Mrs.  Stephen  Snyder) 
a^d  another  whose  name  is  not  known. 

Daniel  Kistler,  son  of  Michael,  was  bom  about  Aug.  i,  1828,  in  Kistl^r's 
valley,  below  L)mnville,  Lehigh  county,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
local  township  schools.  He  leamed  tanning  under  the  able  instruction  of  his 
father,  and  when  he  went  to  work  on  his  own  account  continued  to  follow  it 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  owned  sixty-five  acres  of  land  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship (now  owned  by  Elpier  Zimmerman)  and  also  had  a  tannery,  operating 
both  for  a  considerable  period.  When  he  sold  his  farm  he  removed  to  Allen- 
town,  Pa.,  where  he  was  engaged  at  the  butcher's  trade  for  three  years,  at 
the  end  of  that  time  retuming  to  his  farm,  which  he  had  repurchased.  He 
continued  to  reside  there  until  within  a  few  years  of  his  death,  when  his 
daughter  bought  the  property,  and  he  passed  the  few  remaining  years  of  his 
life  in  retirement.  For  some  time  he  ran  a  bone  mill  on  his  farm.  He  was 
a  well  known  and  much  esteemed  man  in  his  day,  serving  fifteen  years  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  was  an  elder  and  deacon  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church  of 
West  Penn  township,  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  and  a  man 
of  marked  probity  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  trusted  by  all  his  associates. 
Politically  he  was  originally  a  Republican,  later' a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Kistler  was  first  married  in  Lehigh  county,  before  settling  in  West 
Penn  township,  to  Polly  Werley,  daughter  of  Sebastian  and  Lydia  (Bittner) 
Werley.  She  died  in  November,  1875,  aged  fifty  years,  eleven  months, 
twenty-four  days,  and  is  buried  at  Zion's  Church.     By  this  marriage  there 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  937 

were  four  children :  Elmira,  now  a  resident  of  Hamburg,  Pa.^  married  Louis 
Houser  (deceased)  and  (second)  Levi  Rehrich;  Fianna  Amanda  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Henry  Hoppes;  Rev.  William  W.,  of  Coopersburg,  Pa.,  married 
Mary  Mantz;  Mentana  died  in  infancy.  For  his  second  wife  Daniel  Kistler 
married  Mrs.  Sarah  (German)  Clouse,  widow  of  Edward  Qouse,  and  she 
passed  away  in  July,  1913,  surviving  Mr.  Kistler,  whose  death  occurred  Sept. 
7,  1908.  There  were  no  children  by  this  union.  Daniel  Kistler  and  his  wife 
Sarah  are  buried  at  the  New  t'ripoli  Church  in  Lehigh  county. 

WILLIAM  FRANKLIN  BENSINGER  is  one  of  the  best  known  resi- 
dents of  West  Brunswick  township.  As  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  high 
school  at  Schuylkill  Haven  he  is  brought  into  direct  contact  with  many  of 
the  families  living  in  the  borough  and  vicinity,  and  his  activities  in  fraternal 
and  church  circles  have  further  widened  his  acquaintance.  In  business  he  is 
a  successful  farmer,  having  a  valuable  tract  under  profitable  cultivation.  Mr. 
Bensinger  was  bom  April  10,  1879,  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  belongs  to  one 
of  the  oldest  families  of  this  part  of  Schuylkill  county.  His  great-great- 
grandfather, Frederick  Bensinger,  the  progenitor  of  many  of  the  name  in 
this  locality,  was  bom  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  and  settled  in  East  Bmns- 
wick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  before  the  Revolution.  When  the  war 
broke  out  he  was  engaged  in  farming  there,  and  he  left  his  private  affairs 
to  go  to  the  assistance  of  the  Colonies.  In  his  later  years  he  received  a  pension 
for  his  services.  He  married  Mary  Weiman,  and  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren. We  have  record  of  Michael;  Benjamin;  Isaac;  Jacob,  who  married 
Hannah  Dreher,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  another  branch  of  the  family  in 
East  Brunswick  township;  Frederick,  who  married  a  Koup;  and  Mrs.  Koup. 
The  parents,  are  buried  at  the  Frieden's  Church,  New  Ringgold. 

Michael  Bensinger,  son  of  Frederick,  was  a  native  of  East  Brunswick 
township,  and  died  in  1855,  aged  fifty-seven  years.  He  farmed  in  that  town- 
ship, where  he  owned  about  seventy-five  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared, 
erected  a  log  house  and  bam,  and  carried  on  general  farming  the  greater  part 
of  his.  life.  He  inherited  113  acres  from  his  father,  in  Bensinger  valley.  The 
Indians  were  still  numerous  enough  in  the  locality  in  his  day  to  be  a  menace, 
and  the  neighboring  farmers  got  together  at  night  for  protection.  Michael 
Bensinger  married  Kate  Boyer,  daughter  of  Joseph  Boyer,  and  she  died  aged 
sixty  years.  They  had  the  following  children :  Edward  married  Sarah  Heiser, 
and  both  are  deceased ;  William  married  a  Miss  Fister,  and  both  are  deceased ; 
Franklin  B.  married  Catherine  Shuster,  and  both  are  deceased;  Benneville 
married  Caroline  Fahl,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Frederick  married  Sarah  Reed 
and  (second)  Emmaline  Bock,  and  they  reside  at  McKeansburg;  Priscilla 
married  Thomas  Hartung,  and  both  are  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bensinger 
are  buried  in  the  Steigerwalt  Church  cemetery  in  East  Brunswick  township. 
He  was  a  very  active  member  of  that  church.  In  politics  he  was  first  a  Demo- 
crat, later  a  Whig. 

Frederick  Bensinger,  son  of  Michael,  was  bom  July  15,  1835,  in  East 
Bmnswick  township,  where  he  was  educated.  His  early  years  were  spent  in 
work  on  the  paternal  farm,  but  he  left  home  when  fifteen  and  a  half  years  old 
and  went  to  boating  on  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  canal,  running  from  Rond- 
out,  N.  Y.,  to  New  York  City,  down  the  North  river.  Then  he  was  a  brake- 
man  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad,  between  Palo  Alto,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  Richmond  (near  Philadelphia).    When  he  gave  up  this  work  he 


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938  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

located  at  Port  Carbon,  to  leam  the  trade  of  cabinetmaker  with  Jacob  Bretz, 
but  he  had  to  stop  this  work  because  of  ilhiess,  which  incapacitated  him  for 
a  year.  After  following  house  carpentering  for  a  time  he  was  again  taken 
sick,  and  subsequently  went  to  Mauch  Chuiik,  where  he  learned  ht)use  paint- 
ing, the  business  he  continued  for  twenty-four  years.  For  a  while  after 
giving  up  painting  he  huckstered  from  McKeansburg,  then  moved  to  a  farm 
in  Bensinger  valley  and  later  to  one  in  Summer  valley,  thence  moving  back 
to  McKeansburg,  where  his  first  wife  died.  Buying  a  small  tract  of  land,  he 
operated  it  in  connection  with  painting  for  one  year,  and  in  1880  removed 
to  Mahanoy  City,  where  he  began  huckstering  for  H.  K.  Smith,  later  going 
into  the  green  grocery  business  on  his  own  account.  When  his  store  burned 
out  he  moved  back  to  the  vicinity  of  McKeansburg,  settling  on  a  small  tract 
which  he  cultivated,  meantime  also  doing  painting,  for  one  year.  For  the 
next  nine  years  he  was  tenant  on  William  Bock's  farm,  afterwards  rented 
various  farms  for  a  number  of  years,  and  finally  bought  the  property  at 
McKeansburg  which  he  now  occupies,  living  in  retirement.  He  is  an  inter- 
ested member  of  the  Steigerwalt  Church  (Church  of  God)  in  East  Brunswick 
township,  and  is  serving  on  the  church  committee.  On  political  questions  he 
has  always  been  a  stanch  Republican. 

Mr.  Bensinger's  first  wife,  Sarah  (Reed),  was  bom  March  8,  1832,  daugh- 
ter of  Christopher  and  Maria  Catherine  (Meyer)  Reed,  and  died  June  5,  1879. 
She  is  buried  at  the  Steigerwalt  Church.  To  this  union  were  bom  children 
as  follows:  John  Emanuel;  Dianna,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Frank 
Siegfried,  of  Orwigsburg;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Francis  Faust,  of  West  Bmns- 
wick  township;  Frederick,  deceased;  Elenora;  and  two  that  died  in  infancy. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Bensinger  married  Emmaline  Bock,  who  was  bom 
Nov.  15,  1851,  daughter  of  William  and  Susanna  (Sheip)  Bock,  and  they 
have  become  the  parents  of  nine  children:  Lillie  Gertrude  married  Harvey 
Dundore,  of  Pottsville;  Agnes  Louisa  died  April  20,  1888,  aged  fifteen  years, 
eight  months,  twenty  days;  James  Frederick,  of  Walker  township,  married 
Lillie  Shock;  Katie  Susanna  is  the  widow  of  Walter  Shock  and  is  living  in 
Walker  township;  Emma  Justina  married  Phares  Shock,  and  they  live  in 
Walker  township;  Walter  Leroy,  of  Walker  township,  married  Elmeta  Boyer; 
Clarence  Eugene,  of  Walker  township,  married  Ada  Leiby;  Bertha  May 
married  Henry  Schwenk,  and,  lives  in  East  Bmnswick  township;  Furman 
Ambrose  married  Emma  Miller,  and  they  live  in  Drehersville,  Schuylkill 
county. 

John  Emanuel  Bensinger,  son  of  Frederick,  above,  was  bom  Aug.  7,  1855, 
at  McKeansburg,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  drove  a  huckster's 
wagon  in  Mahanoy  City  for  his  father,  whom  he  also  assisted  in  painting 
until  1876,  in  which  year  he  removed  to  Schuylkill  Haven.  There  he  drove 
a  bakery  wagon  for  J.  C.  Ehman  for  many  years,  later  resuming  painting, 
and  for  twenty  years  he  was  a  painter  foreman  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Coal  &  Iron  Company,  under  C.  F.  Muehlhof ,  having  charge  of  the  terri- 
tory to  Shamokin,  Pa.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  painting  business  in  Schuyl- 
kill Haven.  Mr.  Bensinger  is  a  member  of  St.  John's  Reformed  Church  in 
that  borough,  a  Republican  in  political  association,  and  belongs  to  Washington 
Camp  No.  47,  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Mr.  Bensinger  married  Susanna  Knittle,  who  was  bom  April  11,  1857, 
in  McKeansburg,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Knittle,  and  four  children  have  been 
bom  to  them:     William  Franklin;  Frederick  Benjamin;  Mamie,  deceased. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  939 

and  another,  deceased.  Frederick  Benjamin  Bensinger,  bom  Oct.  14,  1881, 
is  now  second  clerk  in  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  shops  at  Schuylkill  Haven ; 
he  married  Bessie  Moser,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  Arlo  James  and 
Emmor  Moser,  the  latter  deceased. 

William  Franklin  Bensinger  obtained  his  early  education  in  the  schools 
of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  later  attended  the  Millersville  State  Normal  school, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1898.  He  has  been  teaching  at 
Schuylkill  Haven  ever  since,  for  the  last  three  years  in  the  high  school,  and 
has  been  steadily  successful  as  an  educator,  as  his  long  retention  in  the  same 
field  would  indicate.  Agriculture,  however,  has  claimed  part  of  his  interest, 
and  he  finds  pleasure  as  well  as  profit  in  that  line.  In  the  spring  of  191 1  he 
removed  to  his  present  farm  in  West  Brunswick  township,  which  he  pur- 
chased from  Francis  A.  Faust,  having  109  acres,  of  which  eighty-nine  are 
under  cultivation.  The  land  is  devoted  to  general  farming,  but  about  fifty 
acres  are  in  garden  truck,  and  Mr.  Bensinger  takes  produce  to  the  markets 
at  Pottsville  and  St.  Clair  twice  a  week.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  the  growing 
of  apples  and  plums,  and  finds  a  ready  sale  for  all  his  crops.  He  has  fine 
stock,  seventeen  head  of  Holstein  cattle,  three  mules,  two  horses  and  fourteen 
hogs. 

Like  many  of  his  ancestors  Mr.  Bensinger  adheres  to  the  faith  of  the 
Church  of  God,  belonging  to  the  Kimmel  Church  in  his  home  township  (Rev. 
E.  F.  Yoder,  pastor),  which  is  in  the  English  eldership.  He  takes  a  leading 
part  in  its  activities,  being  secretary  of  the  church  council,  secretary  of  the 
Christian  Endeavor  Society,  and  in  charge  of  a  Bible  class  of  young  ladies 
in  the  Sunday  school.  He  is  independent  in  politics  and  not  specially  identi- 
fied with  public  affairs.  Socially  he  holds  membership  in  Washington  Camp 
No.  47,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  of  which  he  is  a  past  president, 
and  he  was  recording  secretary  of  the  organization  for  fifteen  years ;  he  also 
affiliates  with  Webster  Council,  No.  23,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Mr.  Bensinger  was  united  in  marriage  with  Irene  Maud  Rubright,  who 
was  bom  March  9,  1879,  in  Shumanstown,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  re- 
ceived her  education  at  Shamokin,  that  county,  graduating  from  the  high  school 
there.  Before  her  marriage  Mrs.  Bensinger  clerked  in  the  Miehle  store  in 
Pottsville,  and  later  in  the  general  store  of  Peter  Raring,  in  St.  Clair.  Like 
her  husband  she  is  a  member  of  the  Kimmel  Church  and  interested  in  its  enter- 
prises, being  secretar}'  of  the  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  societies,  and  an 
extra  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bensinger  have  two  chil- 
dren: Kenneth  Rubright,  bom  Dec.  13,  1904,  and  Marlin  Emanuel,  bom  March 
7,  1909,  both  of  whom  attend  school  in  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Aaron  Rubright,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Bensinger,  was  bom  in  Schuylkill 
Haven,  and  died  in  December,  1894,  aged  over  seventy-five  years.  At  one 
time  he  conducted  an  inn  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Schuylkill  county,  where  the 
stage-coaches  used  to  stop  on  their  way  to  Pottsville  and  Shamokin.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  a  cavalry  regiment  and  saw  hard  service,  remaining 
in  the  army  throughout  the  war,  and  was  held  prisoner  at  Andersonville. 
Later  he  was  a  boatman  for  many  years  on  the  canal  of  the  Schuylkill  Naviga- 
tion Company.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  watchman  for  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Company  at  Shtunansville.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church  and  of  Ashland  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  in  politics  was  .a 
Republican.  He  and  his  wife,  Sarah  (Eyster),  who  died  in  September,  1896, 
aged  seventy-eight  years,  are  buried  at  Lavelle,  Schuylkill  county.     She  was 


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940  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

a  daughter  of  Benneville  and  Camille  (Epler)  Eyster.  They  had  the  follow- 
ing children :  Jeremiah,  who  married  Angeline  Nuss,  living  at  Mount  Carmel, 
Pa.;  Josiah;  Nora,  wife  of  Samuel  Houch,  of  Reading,  Pa.;  Adeline,  wife  of 
John  Troust,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Mahala,  wife  of  Robert  Rogers,  of  St. 
Clair,  this  county;  William,  who  married  Tillie  Walters  and  lives  at  Pottsville; 
Charles,  who  married  Emma  Mench,  livine  at  Eagle  Hill,  Schuylkill  county ; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Albert  Kramer,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Ellsworth  (his  wife's 
name  is  Carrie). 

Josiah  Rubright,  son  of  Aaron,  was  bom  Dec.  25,  1855,  at  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, Schuylkill  county.  He  was  practically  self-educated,  having  b^^un  work 
in  the  coal  mines  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and  continued  to  be  employed  there 
until  he  was  a  youth  of  sixteen.  After  that  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  for  whom  he  worked 
imtil  twenty-eight  years  old,  subsequently  having  charge  of  pumps  for  three 
years.  He  was  then  made  outside  foreman  for  the  same  company,  holding 
that  position  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  March  30,  1905. 
Mr.  Rubright  is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  St.  Clair.  He  was 
well  known  in  the  local  fraternities,  belonging  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at 
Lavelle,  to  Ashland  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  to  John  Siegfried  Camp,  Sons  of 
Veterans,  at  Mount  Carmel,  Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  and  his  early 
religious  connection  was  with  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Rubright  married 
Berdilla  Kirlin,  who  was  bom  Oct.  31,  1853,  in  Port  Qinton,  Schuylkill  county, 
daughter  of  EflSnger  Jacob  and  Caroline  (Diener)  Kirlin,  and  she  now  makes 
her  home  with  her  son  Effinger  in  Ocean  View,  N.  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Josiah 
Rubright  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
the  others  being:  Mrs.  W.  F.  Bensinger;  Gertrude  Margaret,  bom  July  14, 
1880,  wife  of  Samuel  G.  Turpe,  of  Mays  Landing,  N.  J.;  George  Alonzo, 
born  May  3,  1882,  who  married  Alke  Rabond  and  lives  at  Wade,  Schuylkill 
county;  Charles  Edgar,  bom  Feb.  16,  1884,  who  married  Annie  Waters  and 
makes  his  home  at  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  county ;  and  Effinger  Jacob,  bom  July 
14,  1892,  residing  at  Ocean  View,  New  Jersey. 

FRED  SCHENCK,  of  Minersville,  is  a  business  man  of  standing  and 
worthy  of  the  respected  position  he  occupies.  The  shoe  store  he  has  conducted 
for  over  twenty-five  years  is  a  popular  trading  place,  and  his  patronage  has 
been  built  up  by  methods  which  deserve  encouragement,  also  gaining  him  the 
personal  esteem  of  his  customers. 

Mr.  Schenck  is  a  native  of  Pmssia,  Germany,  bom  Jan.  14,  1865,  son  of 
Fred  Schenck.  The  father  was  also  a  native  of  Prussia,  where  he  worked  by 
the  day  until  he  came  to  America  with  his  family,  in  1866.  Settling  at  Miners- 
ville, Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  he  engaged  in  railroad  work,  which  he  followed  for 
a  period  of  thirty-nine  years,  being  one  of  the  first  men  that  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Company  placed  on  the  retired  list.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church,  and  active  in  promoting  its  interests.  He  died  at  Min- 
ersville. By  his  marriage  to  Sophia  Voelsch  he  had  a  family  of  six  children : 
Lena,  who  married  Ed.  Klinger;  Fred;  William,  deceased;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
John  Geier;  Charles,  deceased;  and  Annie,  who  married  Herbert  Drake. 

Fred  Schenck  obtained  his  education  at  Minersville,  and  during  boyhood 
began  work  at  the  mines,  where  he  was  employed  from  the  time  he  was  ten 
years  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of 
shoemaker,  and  after  following  it  for  a  few  years  as  journeyman  opened  a 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  941 

store  of  his  own,  in  1887.  Mr.  Schenck  has  been  in  business  continuously  since, 
being  now  located  at  No.  218  Sunbury  street,  and  he  carries  a  general  line  of 
boots  and  shoes  and  has  many  steady  customers.  He  is  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  shoe  business,  and  his  careful  devotion  to  the  wants  of  his  patrons, 
intelligent  understanding  of  their  needs  and  sincere  efforts  to  please  are  the 
foundations  upon  which  his  success  has  been  made.  His  high  character  and 
worthy  life  entitle  him  to  a  place  among  the  most  estimable  citizens  of  the 
borough. 

Mr.  Schenck  married  Christie  Bahnlofink,  of  Minersville,  and  they  have 
had  a  family  of  six  children,  namely :  Edna,  Robert,  Herman,  Alma,  William 
and  Helen.  Mr.  Schenck  is  an  active  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
and  his  fraternal  connection  is  with  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  independent 
on  political  questions. 

HARRY  P.  KLINE,  of  Mahanoy  City,  is  one  of  the  qualified  mine  fore- 
men in  the  anthracite  district.  He  has  been  outside  foreman  at  the  North 
Mahanoy  colliery,  one  of  the  workings  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal 
&  Iron  Company,  continuously  since  1907. 

Mr.  Kline  is  a  native  of  Mahanoy  Cit^,  where  he  has  passed  most  of  his 
life.  His  parents,  William  and  Sarah  (Klme)  Kline,  are  now  (191S)  seventy- 
eight  and  eighty-two  years  old,  respectively,  the  oldest  living  couple  at  Ma- 
hanoy City.  William  Kline  was  bom  in  Nassau,  Germany,  and  came  to 
America  when  a  youth  of  sixteen.  For  a  short  time  after  his  arrival  he  was 
located  at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county,  and  in  i860  settled  at  what  is  now 
Mahanoy  City,  where  there  were  then  only  three  houses.  He  was  employed 
for  a  considerable  period  cutting  timber  and  clearing  land  on  the  present  site 
of  the  borough,  afterwards  taking  a  position  at  what  was  known  as  the  Bow- 
man colliery.  For  several  years  he  was  inside  foreman  there,  remaining  at 
the  colliery  until  1897,  in  which  year  he  gave  up  the  foremanship  because  of 
failing  eyesight.  He  then  worked  in  a  stone  quarry  for  a  short  time,  before 
retiring,  but  he  has  been  totally  blind  for  the  last  few  years.  Mr.  Kline  is  a 
large  man,  six  feet,  one  inch  in  height,  and  possessed  unusual  strength*  when 
in  his  prime.  As  one  of  the  pioneers  in  his  part  of  the  county  he  is  very  well 
known  to  many  of  its  residents,  and  is  universally  respected  for  his  high  char- 
acter. He  married  Sarah  Kline,  of  Roaring  Creek,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Kline,  and  they  now  reside  with  their  son  Harry.  Six  children 
were  bom  to  them:  William;  Clara,  Mrs.  Thomas  Hillibush;  Kate,  Mrs. 
Frantz  Kaier;  George;  Harry  P.;  and  Tillie,  Mrs.  McNally. 

Harry  P.  Kline  was  bom  March  i,  1872,  and  obtained  his  schooling  in  the 
borough.  He  was  but  nine  years  old  when  he  started  mine  work  in  the  usual 
way,  as  slate  picker  at  the  breaker  of  the  Mahanoy  colliery,  being  so  employed 
imtil  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  He  was  then  transferred  to  the 
North  Mahanoy  colliery,  where  he  was  breaker  engineer  for  one  year,  after 
which  he  did  madiinist  work  there  until  eighteen  years  old.  For  the  next  two 
years  he  was  assistant  outside  foreman  there,  followed  machine  work  again  for 
three  years,  and  then  became  outside  foreman  at  the  Potts  colliery,  at  Locust 
Dale,  this  county,  where  he  was  stationed' for  two  years  and  eight  months— from 
July  II,  1904,  to  March  22,  1907.  Retuming  to  the  North  Mahanoy  colliery 
he  became  outside  foreman,  in  which  position  he  has  since  been  retained,  and 
he  has  performed  its  duties  creditably,  holding  the  high  regard  of  the  men 
and  the  confidence  of  his  superiors.    This  is  one  of  the  most  important  opera- 


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942  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

tions  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  about  nine  hun- 
dred men  and  boys  being  employed  there.  Mr.  Kline  has  won  his  promotion 
by  honest  eflfort,  and  he  is  a  good  citizen  in  every  sense  of  the  term. 

Mr.  Kline  was  married  to  Celie  Burke,  who  died  Nov.  3,  1909.  She  was 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  namely:  William;  Nicholas;  Harry;  Daniel, 
deceased ;  George,  deceased ;  John,  deceased ;  and  a  daughter  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. On  Jan.  27,  1912,  Mr.  Kline  married  (second)  Tillie  Graham,  daugh- 
ter of  Edward  Graham,  and  two  children  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage: 
a  son  that  died  in  infancy;  and  Edward.  Mr.  Kline's  religious  connection  is 
with  the  German  Catholic  Church. 

FRANK  P.  SELTZER  has  recently  settled  upon  a  fine  farm  in  North 
Manheim  township  and  expects  to  give  considerable  attention  to  its  cultiva- 
tion. He  is  also  engaged  in  the  business  of  hauling  coal,  keeping  nine  horses 
and  four  men  employed  at  that  work,  and  in  all  of  his  undertakmgs  has  dis- 
played enterprise  thoroughly  typical  in  Schuylkill  county  of  the  name  he  bears. 
Mr.  Seltzer  was  bom  in  North  Manheim  township  June  22,  1876,^ and  belongs 
to  an  old  Pennsylvania  family,  the  branch  of  which  he  is  a  member  having 
been  established  in  Schuylkill  County  by  his  grandfather. 

The  Seltzers  were  first  established  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  after  their  emi- 
gration to  America.  Jacob  Seltzer  emigrated  in  1752  from  the  Upper  Rhein, 
near  Cohlentz,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  famous  "Seltzer  Springs*'  in  Germany, 
where  he  was  bom  in  1732.  He  settled  in  Heidelberg  township  (where  after- 
wards Womelsdorf  was  laid  out),  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  became  a  naturalized 
citizen  in  1765.  Several  years  before  (1762)  he  established  a  hotel  in  the 
village,  which  has  continued  to  be  known  until  the  present  time  as  the  **Seltzer 
House."  He  died  in  1788.  He  was  married  to  Maria  Catherine  Heister,  of 
Bern  township,  born  in  1735,  died  in  1817,  and  by  her  had  six  children:  Jacob, 
who  married  Catharine  Kauffman ;  Michael,  who  enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary 
war  and  died  of  fever  shortly  before  the  end  of  his  term  of  service ;  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Dr.  Michael  Tryon,  a  prominent  physician  of  Tulpehocken; 
Mary,  who  married  Jacob  Spang,  a  prominent  ironmaster  of  Oley ;  Catharine, 
who  married  David  Dewees ;  and  a  daughter  who  married  Christopher  Reed. 

Jacob  Seltzer  was  born  in  1764  at  Womelsdorf,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing and  kept  hotel  until  his  decease  in  1825.  He  was  married  to  Catharine 
KauflFman  (daughter  of  Jacob,  of  Oley),  born  in  1766  and  died  in  1842,  and 
by  her  he  had  eight  children :  William  married  Catharine  Ruth ;  John  married 
Mary  Van  Reed;  Daniel  married  a  Weiser;  David  married  Eliza  O.  Sheetz 
and  moved  to  Ohio;  Jacob  married  a  Hassinger;  Michael  married  Catherine 
Haine;  Anna  remained  single;  Elizabeth  married  George  See. 

Abraham  Seltzer,  great-grandfather  of  Frank  P.  Seltzer,  was  bom  in 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  was  an  early  settler  in  East  Bmnswick  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  Drehersville.  For  a  number  of  years  he  kept  hotel  at  that  point,  besides 
following  agricultural  pursuits.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-one  years,  and 
his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Faust,  is  buried  with  him  at  the  Red  Church. 
They  had  the  following  family:  Mrs.  Daniel  Ebling,  Mrs.  Edw.  Ebling, 
Michael  (who  married  Mary  Freyer),  Nathan,  Joseph  (went  West,  where 
he  died)  and  Mrs.  Reuben  Miller  (lived  in  the  West),  see  ^  iaLO 

Nathan  Seltzer,  son  of  Abraham,  was  bom  in  December,  1827,  in  East 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  943 

Brunswick  township,  and  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three  years.  He  was 
a  successful  business  man,  following  farming,  and  kept  an  inn  at  Drehersville 
for  a  time,  also  carrying  on  a  general  mercantile  business  at  that  point.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  is  buried  at  the  Red  Church. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  wife,  Catherine,  was  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Albright,  of  W^t  Brunswick  township,  and  four  children  were  born  to  this 
union :  Elizabeth,  Wesley  A.,  Oscar  and  Mary,  all  deceased  but  Wesley ;  Mrs. 
Seltzer  remarried,  becoming  the  wife  of  John  Walbom,  but  had  no  children 
by  that  union. 

Wesley  A.  Seltzer  was  bom  Jan.  22,  1865,  at  Drehersville,  in  East  Bruns- 
wick township,  and  is  a  farmer,  his  land  being  in  Orwigsburg  borough.  In 
1874  he  married  Joanna  Hoy,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Faust) 
Hoy,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  the  following  named  children:  Frank  P.; 
Mary,  who  lives  at  home ;  Anna,  who  taught  school  for  a  time,  now  the  wife 
of  a  physician,  of  Orwigsburg;  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Williams,  living  at 
Pine  Grove  Furnace,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.;  John  W.,  living  at  Franklin 
Furnace,  N.  J.;  George  I.,  now  in  New  York  State;  Edward,  a  student  at 
State  College;  and  Albert,  at  home. 

Frank  P.  Seltzer  attended  public  school  in  West  Brunswick  township. 
His  early  training  was  entirely  along  the  line  of  farm  work,  and  he  spent  his\ 
young  manhood  at  home,  assisting  his  father.  In  1913  he  bought  a  valuable 
property  in  North  Manheim  township,  near  Adamsdale,  comprising  161  acres, 
to  which  he  removed  March  20,  1914.  This  farm  has  been  owned  by  the 
Lindners,  Wagners,  Heisters  and  Mowerys,  from  whom  Mr.  Seltzer  purchased 
it.  The  location  is  excellent  and  well  watered,  the  land  being  particularly 
desirable  on  that  account,  and  Mr.  Seltzer  has  set  about  converting  his  tract 
into  a  thoroughly  up-to-date  farming  property.  He  has  various  social  con- 
nections, being  a  member  of  Washington  Camp,  No.  86,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and 
Lodge  No.  186,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  both  of  Orwigsburg.  In  religion  like  most  of  his 
family  he  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  He  votes  according  to  his 
own  ideas,  supporting  the  men  and  measures  he  approves  regardless  of  the 
political  party  by  which  they  are  sponsored. 

Mr.  Seltzer  married  Ida  Hartzel,  daughter  of  John  Hartzel,  of  Black 
Horse.  They  have  a  family  of  six  children:  Harold,  Anna,  Ralph,  Oliver, 
John  and  Clarence. 

GEORGE  A.  WACHTER,  a  Pottsville  tradesman  who  stands  well  in  the 
opinion  of  his  customers  and  fellow  citizens  generally,  is  following  a  busi- 
ness in  which  at  least  four  generations  of  the  Wachters  have  been  engaged. 
His  father,  Rudolph  Wachter,  is  still  following  the  butcher's  trade  at  Potts- 
ville, and  his  grandfather  and  great-grandfather  were  so  engaged  in  Germany, 
where  the  family  originated. 

John  Wachter,  the  grandfather,  was  bom  May  6,  1812,  in  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  son  of  Philip  Wachter.  He  lived  and  died  in  Wurtemberg,  passing 
away  Jan.  19,  1862.  He  was  a  butcher  and  cattle  dealer,  and  also  kept  hotel— 
a  prosperous  business  man,  and  well  known  in  his  section.  He  was  married 
three  times,  and  by  the  first  union  had  four  children :  Stephen,  who  came  to 
America  in  1864  and  settled  at  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  saloon  business;  Anthony,  who  remained  in  Wurtember|^; 
Andrew,  who  died  in  France;  and  Paul,  who  came  to  the  United  States  m 
1868  and  who  has  been  in  the  carriage  manufacturing  business   for  many 


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944  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

years.  For  his  second  wife  John  Wachter  married  Qementine  Reide,  and 
to  them  were  bom  five  children:  Francisca,  who  settled  in  Wurtemberg; 
Rudolph;  August,  who  came  to  this  country  in  April,  1867,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  proprietor  of  the  "West  End  Hotel"  at  YorkviUe,  this 
coimty;  Conrad,  deceased;  and  Elizabeth.  By  the  third  wife  he  had  two 
children:  Mathias,  deceased;  and  Cornelius,  a  watchmaker,  of  Wurtemberg. 

Rudolph  Wachter  was  bom  Jan.  16,  1846,  in  Wurtemberg,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated,  receiving  the  thorough  training  customary  in  his  native 
land.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  entered  upon  his  apprenticeship  to  the 
butcher's  trade,  and  after  completing  his  preparation  followed  the  business 
as  a  journeyman  in  Germany,  Switzerland  and  France,  until  he  came  to 
America.  Arriving  in  the  coimtry  in  the  later  part  of  June,  1868,  he  settled 
in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  at  Pottsville.  There  he  worked  for  different  butchers 
for  a  few  years,  in  1872  opening  a  shop  of  his  own  in  the  borough.  After 
conducting  it  a  few  years  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  in  1876,  and  was  em- 
ployed at  his  trade  there  for  the  next  ten  years.  Returning  to  Pottsville  he 
foimd  employment  in  the  Seltzer  packii^^  house,  where  he  remained  two  years, 
at  the  end  of  that  time  removing  to  YorkviUe,  where  he  had  his  home  and 
business  interests  for  a  number  of  years.  He  had  a  profitable  stand  in  a  good 
location,  and  by  honest  dealing  and  reliability  built  up  a  good  patronage,  being 
one  of  tihe  leading  butchers  in  the  borough.  He  earned  on  his  own  shop  until 
1910,  when  he  decided  to  lay  aside  its  responsibilities,  and  he  retumed  to  the 
employ  of  the  Seltzer  Packing  Company,  by  whom  he  is  still  engaged. 

During  his  active  years  Mr.  Wachter  was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of 
YorkviUe.  He  was  a  member  of  the  borough  coimcil  for  seven  years,  and 
was  serving  as  coimcilman  at  the  time  the  borough  of  YorkviUe  became  part 
of  Pottsville.  Mr.  Wachter  was  also  policeman  at  YorkviUe.  In  every  official 
position  he  acquitted  himself  creditably,  showing  commendable  public  spirit 
and  a  conscientious  regard  for  the  wishes  of  his  townsmen,  who  reciprocated 
by  giving  him  their  hearty  support  at  the  polls.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat 
Mr.  Wachter  has  been  popular  among  those  of  his  own  nationality,  haying 
long  been  president  of  the  local  society  of  German  Mechanics,  and  his  religious 
connection  is  with  St.  John's  German  Catholic  Church  at  Pottsville.  His 
home  is  at  No.  1639  West  Market  street,  PottsviUe.  In  19 12  Mr.  Wachter 
went  on  a  visit  to  his  old  home  in  Germauy  and  also  included  Switzerland  in 
his  tour,  spending  six  months  abroad.  In  1870  Mr.  Wachter  married  Magda- 
lena  Yastadt,  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara  (Ritzel)  Yastadt,  of  YorkviUe, 
this  county,  who  came  from  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany.  Her  father  served 
seven  years  in  the  German  army,  came  to  America  before  his  marriage,  and 
settled  at  Pottsville,  where  he  died.  Of  the  ten  chUdren  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wachter  George  A.  is  the  eldest ;  Albert  P.,  who  married  Emma  Rader,  is 
Uving  at  PottsvUle,  and  is  an  electrician  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Company;  Qementina  died  when  four  years  old;  Elizabeth  died  when  nine 
years  old;  Emma  died  when  twenty-nine  years  old;  Rudolph,  Jr.,  married 
Elizabeth  St.  Clair,  and  is  living  at  PottsvUle ;  Bertha  married  Hany  Doland 
and  lives  at  PhUadelphia ;  Catherine  is  unmarried  and  living  at  Reading,  Pa. ; 
WUliam,  who  married  Florence  Smith,  lives  in  PottsviUe  and  is  an  electrician 
with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company ;  Leo  is  in  the  West. 

George  A.  Wachter  was  bom  Nov.  24,  1870,  in  PottsviUe,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  good  public  school,  education.  When  twelve  years  old  he  started  to 
work  as  errand  boy  for  a  dressmaker,  at  Thirteenth  and  Race  streets.    Later 


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SCHUYLKILL  <:OUNTY,  PENNSYLVANL\  945 

he  was  employed  at  Philadelphia  for  five  years,  three  years  in  an  umbrella 
factory  and  two  years  in  a  soap  factory.  When  he  returned  to  Pottsville  he 
found  work  with  the  Seltzer  Packing  Company,  and  after  three  years  with  that 
concern  changed  tx>  the  Dolphinger  Packing  Company,  with  whom  he  remained 
one  year.  He  then  assisted  his  father  in  the  latter's  s|;iop  until  ready  to  begin 
on  his  own  account.  Hfe  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  selling  meat  ever 
since,  having  a  well  equipped  establishment  at  No.  1440  West  Norwegian 
street,  and  he  has  drawn  a  large  trade  by  first-class  service  to  his  patrons. 
He  owns  the  place  where  his  business  is  located  and  also  the  property  adjoin- 
ing, and  by  his  own  thrift  and  integrity  has  attained  a  position  among  the  sub- 
stantial residents  of  the  borough,  where  the  name  of  Wachter  is  highly 
respected. 

Mr.  Wachter  has  always  been  public-spirited.  When  the  Spanish-American 
war  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  8th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  under 
Captain  (now  Major)  Owens,  and  served  the  full  term.  He  was  a  charter 
member  of  the  Yorkville  Fire  Company,  and  took  out  the  first  spadeful  of 
earth  when  the  erection  of  the  new  building  of  that  company  was  begun. 
He  is  now  a  member  of  the  West  End  Fire  Company,  and  fraternally  is  asso- 
ciated with  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  and  Woodmen  of  the  World.  In 
religion  he  is  a  Catholic. 

Mr.  Wachter  married  Emma  Roeder,  daughter  of  Louis  Roeder,  a  well 
known  brewmaster  of  Pottsville,  now  living  retired  at  No.  i02i  Howard 
avenue.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wachter  have  three  children:  Dorothy,  Charles  and 
George. 

WILLIAM  F.  FREESE,  a  well  known  farmer  of  Panther  Valley,  in  North 
Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  near  Drehersville,  this 
county,  in  1854.  He  is  a  son  of  Gideon  Freese,  and  the  family  is  of  German 
extraction. 

Gideon  Freese,  father  of  William  F.,  was  born  in  Lehigh  county,  Pa.,  and 
during  early  life  followed  the  occupation  of  farmer.  Later  he  came  to  Port 
Clinton,  Schuylkill  coimty,  where  he  started  railroad  work,  in  which  he  was 
engaged  for  about  twenty-two  years.  After  that  time  he  did  day's  work  at 
Port  Clinton,  where  he  died  when  over  seventy  years  old.  His  remains  are 
interred  at  Port  Qinton.  Mr.  Freese  was  first  married  to  Mary  Ketner,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children,  William  F.,  George  and  Sarah.  For  the  second 
wife  he  married  Mrs.  Susanna  Moyer,  and  of  their  children  three  are  living: 
Jacob,  James  and  Emma. 

William  F.  Freese  attended  the  public  schools  of  Port  Clinton  and  Schuyl- 
kill Haven.  He  has  followed  farming  all  his  life,  beginning  on  his  own 
accoimt  when  he  had  attained  the  age  of  thirty-five.  He  Aen  bought  the  farm 
of  his  father-in-law,  Peter  Mertz,  consisting  of  forty-nine  acres  ^of  good  land, 
which  he  has  put  into  fine  condition,  makmg  many  improvements  upon  the 
buildings  and  bringing  the  land  into  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  He  does  a 
general  farming  business,  and  attends  market  at  Pottsville. 

Mr.  Freese  was  married  to  Annie  Mertz,  daughter  of  Peter  Mertz,  of 
Schuylkill  county,  and  they  have  three  daughters:  Jennie,  living  in  Potts- 
ville, Pa. ;  LiUie ;  and  Annie.  Mr.  Freese  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church 
of  Cressona,  which  he  has  served  as  trustee  and  steward,  and  he  takes  an 
active  interest  in  all  its  work.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  but  is  not  active 
in  the  political  field.  He  takes  a  keen  interest  in  all  matters  agricultural  and 
Vol.  n— 22 


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946  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA       - 

endeavors  to  introduce  upon  his  farm  the  latest  and  best  methods  of  cultiva- 
tion and  production.    The  water  on  his  farm  is  as  pure  as  any  in  the  county. 

STEPHEN  E.  NOEL  is  one  of  the  younger  business  men  at  Minersville 
who  are  making  the  most  of  local  conditions.  His  practical  application  of 
modem  methods  to  the  requiremtots  of  his  trade  has  brought  him  prosperity, 
as  its  positive  advantages  have  appealed  to  his  patrons,  and  they  have  expressed 
their  gratification  in  a  most  unmistakable  manner.  Though  a  native  of  Gettys- 
burg, Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  Mr.  Noel  has  spent  most  of  his  life  at  Minersville, 
Schuylkill  county. 

The  Noel  family  is  of  French  stock,  Peter  Noel,  grandfather  of  Stephen 
E.  Noel,  having  been  bom  near  Paris,  France.  Coming  to  America  when  a 
young  man  he  settled  along  the  State  road,  near  Gettysburg,  in  Adams  county. 
Pa.  He  purchased  land  in  that  county,  and  followed  farming  there  all  his 
active  life,  living  to  be  over  seventy  years  of  age.  He  is  buried  at  Gettys- 
burg. Mr.  Noel  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  married  Kate 
Myers,  and  seven  children  were  bom  to  them,  namely :  Susan,  Mrs.  Emanuel 
Butler;  Emanuel  N. ;  Joseph r  Peter;  Amanda,  who  married;  Julia,  who  mar- 
ried Stephen  Noel ;  and  Jerome. 

Emanuel  N.  Noel  was  bom  in  Gettysburg,  received  a  public  school  educa- 
tion and  leamed  the  trade  of  saddler.  He  was  employed  in  that  capacity  by 
the  Summit  Branch  Railroad  Company,  was  a  mail  carrier  in  Adams  county 
during  the  Civil  war  and  subsequently  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  joining 
Company  F,  163d  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry.  After  the 
war  he  spent  several  years  in  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county,  returning  to 
Adams  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  being  the  owner  of  three  farms. 
He  died  there  May  12,  1893,  and  is  buried  at  Gettysburg.  Mr.  Noel  married 
Elizabeth  Fitzpatrick,  by  whom  he  had  a  family  of  five  children,  viz. :  George 
R.,  John  R.,  Joseph  A.,  William  H.  and  Anna.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Noel  married  Ottilia  Bueck,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Anna  (Shellthom)  Bueck. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  on  coming  to  America  first  settled 
at  Tremont,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  for  a  few  months,  thence  removing  to  Miners- 
ville. By  trade  he  was  a  tailor  and  followed  that  business  for  many  years. 
His  children  were:  Margaret,  Ottilia,  Annie,  Katie,  Louise,  Henry  and 
Cordelia.  By  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Noel  had  seven  children,  namely: 
Cordelia,  who  is  deceased;  Mary  E.,  deceased;  Loui&a  May,  Mrs.  George  J. 
Kline;  Stephen  E.;  Emma  J.;  Ottilia  A.,  and  Regina  M.  Mrs.  Noel,  the 
mother,  is  now  a  resident  of  Pottsville,  Pa.  In  her  early  years  she  was  a 
school  teacher,  following  that  profession  at  Lykens  and  at  Williamstown, 
Pennsylvania. 

Stephen  E.  Noel  was  bom  Feb.  20,  1886,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  where  he 
passed  his  youth,  attending  the  public  schools  there.  When  a  boy  he  began 
to  drive  wagons  for  Batdorf  &  Dando,  grocers,  at  Williamstown,  and  he  has 
continued  in  that  business  ever  since.  He  started  on  his  own  account  in  1903, 
and  he  handles  all  kinds  of  staple  articles  as  well  as  green  groceries,  at  present 
taking  care  of  a  very  large  trade.  His  patronage  is  drawn  from  the  borough 
and  several  miles  of  surrounding  territory,  and  his  store  at  the  comer  of 
Front  and  Lewis  streets  is  well  stocked  with  high  grade  goods.  Though  still 
a  young  man  Mr.  Noel  has  become  recognized  as  one  of  the  substantial  dealers 
in  his  line  at  Minersville,  and  the  fact  that  he  is  self-made  has  won  him  a 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  947 

place  in  the  good  will  of  his  fellow  citizens  here.     He  is  a  member  of  the 
well  known  Mercantile  Club  at  Minersville.  ' 

On  April  26,  1907,  Mr.  Noel  married  Alice  C.  Evans,  daughter  of  Daniel 
W.  Evans,  who  was  bom  in  Wales.  For  several  years  Mr.  Evans  was  fore- 
man for  the  Pine  Hill  Coal  Company  near  Minersville,  and  he  now  resides 
at  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.  He  married  Dorothy  Griffith,  and  they  have  had  the 
following  children:  Marian,  Nathan,  Alberta,  William,  Benjamin,  Thomas, 
Frederick  and  Alice  C.  (Mrs.  Noel).  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Noel,  Evan  and  Ethyl. 

KARL  W.  BURKHART,  of  Pottsville,  is  a  young  business  man  of  that 
city  who  is  making  good  in  an  enterprise  which  has  been  well  patronized  ever 
since  its  establishment.  He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  Burkhart  and  grandson  of 
Martin  Burkhart,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Alsace-Lorraine,  then  French 
territory.  The  grandfather  served  four  years  in  the  French  army.  He  brought 
his  family  to  America  when  the  children  were  quite  young,  settling  in  Potts- 
ville, Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of  tailor,  being  an 
excellent  workman  and  in  great  favor  in  this  section.  During  the  Civil  war 
period  he  did  considerable  work  for  the  soldiers  in  Pottsville.  He  died  in 
the  borough  and  is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery.  Three  children  were 
bom  to  him  and  his  wife,  namely:  Martin,  Frederick  and  Sophia,  the  last 
named  the  wife  of  George  Wamick. 

Frederick  Burkhart,  father  of  Karl  W.  Burkhart,  was  bom  March  27, 
1850,  and  was  a  young  child  when  brought  to  America  by  his  father.  In  early 
manhood  he  leamed  the  trade  of  baker  and  confectioner,  and  he  followed 
it  throughout  his  active  life.  For  fifteen  years  he  did  business  at  Shenandoah, 
at  the  end  of  that  period  retuming  to  Pottsville,  where  in  1898  he  established 
the  Pottsville  Noodle  Company.  He  is  still  a  member  of  the  firm,  though  the 
active  management  is  now  in  the  hands  of  his  son  Karl.  The  plant  is  located 
at  No.  308  North  Railroad  street,  and  the  product  consists  of  homemade 
noodles,  Saratoga  chips  and  macaroni,  as  well  as  mustard  and  peanut  butter. 
The  motto  "Purity  and  cleanliness"  has  been  strictly  adhered  to  and  accounts 
for  the  high  reputation  which  these  goods  have  always  had  among  dealers. 

Mr.  Burkhart  married  Mary  Louise  Brenneman,  daughter  of  the  late 
Philip  Brenneman,  Sr.,  and  they  have  had  the  following  children :  Anna  Cath- 
erine, the  wife  of  Clarence  Kendricks,  who  is  employed  by  the  well  known 
Sheaf er  Estate  in  Pottsville;  Charlotte  P.;  Christine  M. ;  Anna  P.,  the  wife 
of  Rev.  A.  M.  Stump,  of  Easton,  Pa. ;  Lester  A.,  who  is  crew  manager  for 
the  Pillsbury  Flour  Milling  Company ;  Paul  L.,  who  is  a  student  at  the  Val- 
paraiso (Ind.)  University;  and  Karl  W. 

Karl  W.  Burkhart  was  bom  Sept.  28,  1889,  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  was  a  boy  when  the  family  removed  to  Pottsville,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  was  still  young  when  he  began 
work  with  his  father,  under  whose  competent  instruction  he  leamed  the  baking 
business,  and  he  has  continued  to  follow  that  line  to  the  present.  His  assist-  . 
ance,  energy  and  up-to-date  ideas  have  had  considerable  to  do  with  the  recent 
prosperity  of  the  Pottsville  Noodle  Company,  of  which  he  became  the  man- 
ager in  191 1.  He  now  handles  all  the  details  of  the  business,  and  his  live 
methods  and  thorough  familiarity  with  the  needs  of  the  trade  have  enabled 
him  to  keep  up  with  his  competitors  and  extend  his  custom,  which  is  drawn 
from  all  over  Schuylkill  and  the  surrounding  counties.     Personally  he  is  a 


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948  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

young  man  of  excellent  character,  a  good  citizen,  and  thoroughly  respected 
in  his  home  city.  He  is  Unmarried  and  resides  with  his  parents.  The  family 
belong  to  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  at  Pottsville. 

HOMER  F.  MILLER  has  one  of  the  most  popular  general  stores  at 
Valley  View.  He  has  been  conducting  it  as  proprietor  since  191 3,  but  his 
connection  with  the  business  goes  back  five  years  further,  during  which  period 
he  clerked  for  J.  E.  Rickert,  the  former  owner.  In  that  time  he  was  not  only 
gaining  familiarity  with  the  operation  of  the  store,  but  also  laying  the  founda- 
tions for  the  confidence  and  good  will  which  have  made  it  a.  success  under  his 
ownership.  The  uninterrupted  patronage  of  old  customers  is  the  best  possible 
evidence  of  their  approval  of  his  methods,  and  he  has  expressed  his  appreci- 
ation in  improved  service  and  up-to-date  stocks  in  every  line.  Mr.  Miller  is 
one  of  the  younger  business  men  of  the  town,  but  nevertheless  regarded  as 
substantial  and  reliable.  He  is  a  son  of  Louis  Miller  and  grandson  of  Samuel 
Miller,  who  settled  in  an  early  day  at  Sacramento,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  farmed  tmtil  his  death. 

Louis  Miller  was  born  at  Sacramento,  and  has  passed  all  his  life  in  Schuyl- 
kill county.  He  has  made  his  home  at  Valley  View  since  about  18^.  For 
many  years  he  was  engaged  in  butchering,  but  for  the  last  eight  years  he  has 
been  in  the  local  postal  service,  having  the  rural  free  delivery  route  from 
Valley  View.  He  married  Kate  Herb,  who  was  bom  in  Hegins  township, 
daughter  of  Abraham  Herb,  a  farmer,  who  resided  in  the  township  until  his 
death.  Ten  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Miller:  Jennie, 
wife  of  Elwin  Conrad,  of  Valley  View ;  Harvey  E.,  who  now  lives  at  Williams- 
town,  Pa.;  Homer  F. ;  Emory  A.,  living  at  home;  Mabel,  wife  of  George 
Bixler,  of  Valley  View;  I.  Walter,  who  is  clerking  for  his  brother  Homer 
F.  Miller;  Allen,  living  at  home,  who  is  still  pursuing  his  studies;  Edna,  at 
home;  and  two  deceased. 

Homer  F.  Miller  was  bom  in  1887  at  Sacramento,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  passed  his  early  years,,  receiving  most  of  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
there.  When  he  was  twelve  years  old  the  family  moved  out  to  Kansas,  but 
returned  a  year  later  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  at  Valley  View.  During  his 
youth  he  worked  in  the  collieries  for  four  years,  and  then  entered  the  employ 
of  J.  E.  Rickert,  clerking  for  him  five  years  in  the  general  store  which  he 
now  owns.  In  191 3  he  bou|^ht  Mr.  Rickert's  interest  in  the  business,  which 
he  has  since  carried  on  on  his  own  account. 

In  1909  Mr.  Miller  married  Edna  V.  Herb,  of  Valley  View,  daughter  of 
John  and  Harriet  (Erdman)  Herb,  who  live  at  Valley  View.  Mr.  Herb  is 
a  farmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  one  child,  Catherine  Harriet.  They  are 
active  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  Mr.  Miller  is  a  teacher 
of  the  Women's  Organized  Adult  Bible  Class.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M. 

JOHN  M.  EBLING,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  has  been  a  resident  of  that 
borough  for  twenty  years  and  more,  for  a  number  of  years  conducting  the  well 
known  "Spring  Garden  Hotel"  there,  in  this  connection  becoming  very  well 
known  throughout  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
fourth  generation  of  his  family  in  this  county,  it  having  been  established  here 
by  his  great-grandfather,  Jacob  Ebling,  a  native  of  Oley,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  who 
settled  in  West  Brunswick  township  about  183 1.    Here  he  engaged  in  farm- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  949 

I 

ing,  in  connection  with  which  he  followed  his  trade,  blacksmithing,  but  after 
a  few  years'  residence  in  Schuylkill  county  returned  to  Berks  county,  where 
he  died.  Among  his  children*  were  Jacob,  Gideon,  Kate,  Sallie,  and  David. 
His  father  was  the  earliest  ancestor  of  the  family  in  America,  having  come  to 
this  country  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  he  lived 
and  died. 

Gideon  Ebling,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bom  in  1813  in  Oley  township,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  attended  public  school  at  Reading,  that  county,  during  his  boy- 
hood. He  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  West  Brunswick  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  in  1831,  and  followed  farming  in  this  county  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  owning  the  tract  of  148  acres  upon  which  he  made  his 
home.  His  sincere  endeavors  to  live  an  upright  life  won  him  the  esteem  of 
all  who  knew  him.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Oiurch,  helped  to  build  the  church  at  Auburn,  and  was  always  active  in  relig- 
ious enterprises.    Politically  he  was  a  strong  Democrat. 

Mr.  Ebling  married  Elizabeth  Fahl,  daughter  of  John  Fahl,  of  West 
Brunswick  township,  and  she  is  buried  in  a  private  cemetery  at  Auburn.  Mr. 
Ebling  died  on  his  farm  Dct.  24,  1892.  Nine  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gideon  Ebling,  namely:  Angeline  married  John  Hosier;  Thomas  is  liv- 
ing at  Auburn;  Albert,  who  lives  at  Tamaqua,  served  during  the  Civil  war 
in  Company  G,  28th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  Robert  is  mentioned  below; 
Elizabeth  married  Edward  Faust;  Polly  married  James  Meek;  Jacob,  who 
lived  and  died  in  West  Brunswick  township,  was  a  Union  soldier  during  the 
Civil  war,  serving  in  Company  K,  97th  Pennsylvania  Regiment ;  Susanna 
married  Frank  Schwenk ;  Gideon  lives  at  Aubum. 

Robert  Ebling,  one  of  the  sons  of  Gideon  and  Elizabeth  (Fahl)  Ebling, 
was  bom  March  22,  1842,  in  West  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  attended  the  pay  schools  common  in  that  region  in  his  boyhood  days. 
He  was  reared  to  farming,  working  at  home  with  his  father  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  eighteen  years,  after  which  he  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith  at 
Auburn.  He  followed  it  for  four  years,  until  his  marriage,  at  that  time  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  which  he  cultivated  for  many 
years.  Moving  to  Schuylkill  Haven  he  conducted  the  ** Spring  Garden  Hotel" 
in  that  borough  for  seven  years,  and  is  now  living  retired,  occupying  the  home 
on  Centre  avenue  which  he  erected. 

Though  a  Democrat,  Mr.  Ebling  was  an  ardent  Union  supporter  during 
the  Civil  war,  serving  under  two  enlistments,  as  a  private  in  Company  G, 
28th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  under  Col.  J.  C.  Frick,  of  Pottsville,  and  again 
during  the  emergency,  in  1862.  He  has  been  one  of  the  most  efficient  party 
workers  in  his  township,  has  been  delegate  to  a  number  of  county  conventions, 
and  has  received  substantial  recognition  and  appreciation  from  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, who  have  chosen  him  to  several  township  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he 
has  discharged  with  conscientious  regard  for  the  best  interests  of  the  public. 
In  1 891  he  was  elected  one  of  the  directors  of  the  poor  of  Schuylkill  county, 
for  a  term  of  three  years,  which  office  he  filled  most  creditably.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  543,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Aubum,  and  his  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Reformed  Church,  in  whose  welfare  he  has  long  main- 
tained an  active  interest. 

Mr.  Ebling  married  Sarah  De  Walt,  daughter  of  Joseph  De  Walt,  of  South 
Manheim  township,  and  she  died  in  11884,  the  mother  of  seven  children,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters,  namely:  Irvin  A.,  formerly  of  Orwigsburg,  now  a 


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950  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

resident  of  Mount  Carbon,  married  Annie  Miller,  of  Washington  township; 
Annie  is  married  to  Morris  Kissler,'  and  lives  in  Schuylkill  Haven ;  Kate  and 
Joel  live  at  home;  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  W.  Wagner,  of  Schuylkill  Haven; 
John  M.  is  mentioned  below;  Mary  married  George  W.  Butz,  a  civil  engineer 
and  also  a  well  known  merchant  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

John  Fahl,  father  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Fahl)  Ebling,  was  a  native  and  life- 
long resident  of  West  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county.  During  his 
early  life  the  Indians  were  still  in  this* region,  and  he  helped  to  open  it  up  to 
civilization.  He  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five  years,  and  his  wife 
Elizabeth  lived  to  be  ninety  years  old. 

John  M.  Ebling  was  bom  Nov.  ii,  1874,  in  West  Brunswick  township, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  Up  to  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  was  employed  with  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  then  came  to  Schuyl- 
kill Haven  and  entered  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  repair  shops,  where  he 
worked  for  the  six  years  following.  After  that  he  embarked  in  the  hotel 
business,  taking  charge  of  the  "Spring  Garden  Hotel/'  which  he  conducted 
until  April  I,  1913.  Meantime,  in  1910,  he  had  purchased  the  hotel  prop- 
erty from  the  Joel  Stump  Estate,  and  during  his  ownership  the  hotel  under- 
went material  improvements,  being  converted  into  an  up-to-date  establish- 
ment. When  he  gave  it  up  the  lease  was  taken  by  Mr.  Bubeck,  but  Mr.  Ebling 
continues  to  own  the  property,  and  he  owns  other  valuable  real  estate  prop- 
erty in  Schuylkill  Haven  also.  Since  the  spring  of  1914  he  has  been  a  sub- 
agent  for  the  wfell  known  Ford  automobile  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  at  present 
giving  the  principal  part  of  his  attention  to  this  business.  Mr.  Ebling's  genial 
personality  made  him  highly  successful  as  a  hotelkeeper,  and  he  has  been 
equally  prosperous  in  his  other  undertakings,  in  all  of  which  he  has  shown 
good  judgment  and  executive  ability.  H^  is  a  popular  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  has  served  as  ward  committeeman,  and  is  now  a  candidate  for 
membership  of  the  State  committee.  Socially  he  hold  membership  in  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  and  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  in  the  latter 
connection  belonging  to  Aerie  No.  134,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.  Like  members  of 
the  family  generally  he  belongs  to  the  Reformed  Church. 

Mr.  Ebling  married  Alice  M.  Auchey,  a  daughter-  of  Jonathan  Auchey,  of 
Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Helen  Vema. 

WILLIAM  J.  BURNHAM  is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens 
of  the  borough  of  Port  Carbon,  where  the  family  is  one  of  old  standing,  his 
father,  Joseph  Burnham,  having  been  a  pioneer  settler  there. 

Joseph  Burnham  was  a  native  of  England,  bom  Nov.  25,  1798,  and  came 
to  America  in  young  manhood.  He  was  a  miner,  stocking  maker  and  engineer, 
worked  on  the  construction  of  the  jail  at  Cherry  Hill.  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and 
afterwards  located  at  Mount  Laffee,  near  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  was  employed  as  a  miner  and  engineer.  He  hoisted  the  first  coal  lifted  by 
steam  at  the  Spoon  vein  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  continued  to  follow  this 
kind  of  work  to  the  end  of  his  life,  his  last  position  being  at  the  Eagle  HiU. 
His  death  occurred  at  Port  Carbon  April  29,  1865,  and  he  is  buried  in  the 
Presbyterian  cemetery  there.  Mr.  Burnham  was  especially  interested  in  church 
work,  in  which  he  always  took  an  active  part,  and  he  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  Methodist  congregation  at  Port  Carbon,  where  he  served  as 
trustee,  steward  and  class  leader.    He  married  Rebecca  Mellor,  who  was  bom 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  951 

Jan.  3,  1795,  and  died  June  4,  1885,  and  she  is  also  buried  in  the  Presbyterian 
cemetery  at  Port  Carbon.  They  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  bom  as  fol- 
lows: George,  March  25,  1820;  Kate,  Feb.  14,  1822;  Joseph,  Feb.  7,  1824; 
Susan,  April  4,  1826;  Joseph,  Nov.  7,  1827;  Austin,  Nov.  24,  1830;  Thomas, 
Jan.  24,  1832;  Mary  A.,  Aug.  10,  1833;  Hannah,  March  27,  1835;  Rebecca  S., 
Nov.  9,  1836;  John  H.,  June  18,  1839;  and  William  J.,  June  6,  1841.  Mrs. 
Bumham  came  with  two  children  from  Philadelphia  to  Mount  Carbon,  a  dis- 
tance of  nearly  one  hundred  miles,  making  the  journey  on  the  deck  of  a  boat 
loaded  with  lumber,  which  was  the  only  protection  they  had  from  the  weather. 

William  J.  Bumham  was  bom  at  Port  Carbon,  and  here  received  his  early 
training  and  education.  When  a  boy  he  picked  slate  at  the  colliery  for  a 
time  and  spent  a  few  months  in  Maryland,  where  he  ran  an  engine  for  one 
winter.  Returning  to  Port  Carbon  he  soon  afterwards  became  a  chute  boss 
at  the  colliery  at  Five  Points,  near  the  borough,  where  he  was  employed  for 
one  year.  When  he  returned  from  the  army  he  was  employed  one  year  as  an 
engineer,  until  he  changed  to  the  oil  house,  at  Palo  Alto,  Nov.  2,  1866.  He 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company  at  that  point  for 
nineteen  years,  until  his  retirement.  He  makes  his  home  at  Port  Carbon, 
where  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 

During  the  Ciyil  war  Mr.  Bumham  enlisted  in  Company  K,  s6th  Regiment, 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  on  Aug.  28,  1862,  he  was  wounded  at 
Gainesville,  Va.  On  Nov.  2d  of  that  year  Mr.  Bumham  was  seriously  wounded 
in  the  battle  at  Union,  Va.,  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell,  losing  his  right  arm  at 
the  shoulder.  For  three  days  he  was  under  shell  fire  at  Rappahannock  Sta- 
tion, and  for  one  day  at  Sulphur  Springs,  Va.  He  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  G.  A.  R.  work,  being  a  member  of  Allison  Brothers  Post,  No.  144, 
of  Port  Carbon,  and  one  of  its  past  officers.  He  is  a  leading  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  which  he  has  served  as  tmstee  and  steward,  and  for  four 
years  he  held  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  Bumham  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Lydia  B.  Phillips,  was  from  Pottsville,  bom  Sept.  3,  1845,  and  died  Dec. 
22,  1891.  She  conducted  a  millinery  store  at  Port  Carbon  for  a  number  of 
years.  Mr.  Bumham's  second  marriag^e  was  to  Mrs.  Hallie  Davis,  who  was 
from  Minnesota,  and  she  died  Nov.  8,  1912.  There  were  no  children  by 
either  union. 

Mrs.  Hallie  Davis  Bumham  had  children  by  her  first  marriage. 

CHRISTOPHER  C.  REDDY,  train  dispatcher  at  Gordon,  Pa.,  for  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  is  a  man  of  much  literary  attain- 
ment and  is  noted  throughout  Schuylkill  county  for  his  ability  and  brilliancy 
as  a  correspondent.  He  has  been  correspondent  for  the  Pottsville  Republican, 
the  Ashland  Evening  Telegram  and  the  Ashland  News  for  over  thirty-five 
years.  Mr.  Reddy  is  a  son  of  Christopher  and  Catherine  (Reilly)  Reddy, 
both  natives  of  County  Meath,  Ireland,  and  was  bom  at  Gordon.  Pa.,  Nov. 
18,  i860. 

Christopher  Reddy,  the  father,  was  bom  in  County  Meath,  Ireland,  and 
the  grandparents  died  in  that  country.  He  came  to  America  in  18^4  and  set- 
tled in  Delaware,  where  he  remained  for  some  time.  He  was  married  in  Phil- 
adelphia to  Catherine  Reilly,  by  whom  he  had  the  following  children :  James, 
a  resident  of  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J. ;  Thomas,  deceased ;  Anna,  widow  of  Thomas 
Connor,   of   Gordon;   Christopher  C,  mentioned  below;   Patrick,  deceased; 


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952  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Bartholomew,  residing  in  Gordon ;  and  Michael,  John  and  Mary,  all  deceased. 
Mr.  Reddy  removed  to  Ashland  in  1858  and  remained  there  until  i860,  when 
he  settled  at  Gordon.  He  was  one  of  a  construction  crew  which  helped  to  build 
the  Reading  railroad  from  Gordon  to  Locust  Gap  and  Gordon  Plane,  during 
the  time  when  much  of  this  country  was  a  wilderness.  He  continued  in  the 
employ  of  the  railroad  company  thereafter,  being  a  watchman  at  Gordon  Plane 
for  forty  years.  When  President  Lincoln  issued  his  call  for  75,cx)o  men  Mr. 
Reddy  enhsted  in  Company  I,  48th  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  for  three  months. 
He. afterwards  received  a  pension  for  his  services.  He  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at  Gordon,  and  was  still  a  member  of  that  or- 
ganization, at  the  time  of  his  death.  May  30,  1895.  Mrs.  Reddy,  who  was 
bom  in  County  Meath,  Ireland,  came  to  America  when  a  child,  and  died  at 
Gordon,  March  20,  igoS,    Her  parents  died  in  Ireland. 

Christopher  C.  Reddy  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Gordon,  and  in  1872 
went  to  work  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company.  In  1880 
he  took  up  tele^^raphy,  was  soon  able  to  handle  a  key  with  the  best  operators 
and  is  now  tram  dispatcher  for  the  railroad  at  Gordon.  He  has  also  been 
station  agent  at  that  point,  and  has  served  the  railroad  company  in  various 
other  capacities.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  been  giving  the  Gordon  news  to 
the  papers  in  other  parts  of  the  county  for  over  thirty-five  years,  with  success 
and  general  satisfaction.  Mr.  Reddy  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  and  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Relief  Corps.  He  has  served 
as  tax  receiver  of  the  county  of  Schuylkill.  He  has  never  married  and  resides 
with  a  married  sister. 

AUGUST  MANDLER,  one  of  the  younger  business  men  of  Ashland,  who 
has  made  a  thorough  success  of  his  enterprise,  has  a  well  conducted  greenhouse 
at  Millersville,  near  the  borough,  which  he  has  been  carrying  on  for  several 
years.  He  was  bom  near  Ashland  in  1886,  son  of  John  and  Anna  (Schilling) 
Mandler.  John  Mandler,  Sr.,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  settled  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  at  an  early  day.  He  served  his  adopted 
country  as  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  a  miner  by  occupation. 

John  Mandler,  father  of  August  Mandler,  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  county, 
and  died  when  his  son  August  was  yet  a  boy.  He  followed  mining  all  his 
active  life.  His  wife,  Anna  (Schilling),  also  a  native  of  this  county,  is  now 
deceased.  Her  father,  John  Schilling,  was  a  German  by  birth,  and  long  ago 
came  to  America,  settling  in  Schuylkill  county.  Six  children  were  bom  to 
John  and  Anna  (Schilling)  Mandler,  namely:  Matthias,  who  is  a  resident  of 
Fountain  Springs,  this  county;  John,  deceased;  Frederick,  a  veteran  of  the 
Spanish-American  war,  now  first  sergeant  of  Company  A,  3d  Infantry  in  the 
United  States  regular  army;  August;  Catherine,  and  Michael. 

August  Mandler  attended  public  school  in  his  home  township  and  at  Ash- 
land, receiving  a  practical  education.  When  he  commenced  work  he  took  up 
the  florist  business,  in  which  he  has  found  congenial  and  profitable  occupation. 
He  has  a  greenhouse  at  Millersville,  near  Ashland,  which  he  has  been  steadily 
enlarging  and  improving  as  the  increase  of  his  business  justified,  and  he  bids 
fair  to  rank  among  the  substantial  business  men  of  the  vicinity.  His  establish- 
ment is  the  only  one  of  the  kind  there  and  has  received  encouraging  patronage. 

THOMAS  HARTUNG  occupies  a  respected  position  among  the  substan- 
tial farmers  of  East  Brunswick  township,  which  he  has  attained  by  hard 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  953 

work.  His  ambition  has  been  supplemented  by  practical  efforts  which  have 
brought  him  honorable  independence,  and  he  is  thoroughly  deserving  of  the 
good  will  and  friendly  esteem  which  are  manifest  wherever  he  goes. 

The  late  Thomas  Hartung,  his  father,  was  bom  May  i,  1819,  in  Pottsville, 
Pa.,  and  was  twelve  years  old  when  his  father  died.  The  widowed  mother 
brought  her  boys  and  girls  to  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  there 
Thomas  received  his  early  education.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  came  to 
East  Brunswick  township,  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade  with  Jacob  Bensinger, 
and  after  completing  his  apprenticeship  started  in  business  for  himself,  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Thomas  W.  Paul,  in  East  Brunswick  township.  He 
had  his  shop  on  the  farm,  which  he  owned,  and  conducted  it  for  thirty-three 
years.  The  tract  was  a  large  one,  and  about  half  cleared  when  he  bought  it, 
and  he  made  considerable  progress  in  the  task  of  clearing  the  remainder.  After 
thirty-three  years  there  he  traded  farms  with  his  son-in-law,  William  Paul, 
and  moved  to  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son  Thomas.  He  was  on  this 
tract  twenty-two  years  before  his  death,  following  general  farming,  and  he 
passed  away  in  November,  1885,  after  an  industrious  and  prosperous  life. 
He  adhered  to  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Hartung  was 
married  to  Priscilla  Bensinger,  who  was  bom  in  December,  1823,  and  died 
March  15,  1896,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Catherine  (Boyer)  Bensinger. 
Children  as  follows  were  bom  to  this  union :  Amanda  Mary,  bom  June  30, 
1841,  died  Dec.  2,  1841 ;  Emma  Elizabeth,  bom  Dec.  16,  1842,  (died  March  12, 
1910,  the  wife  of  William  Paul ;  James  William,  bom  Jan.  10,  1845,  died  in 
February,  1910,  married  Sarah  Gerber,  who  is  also  deceased;  Eli,  bom  July  20, 
1846,  died  Dec.  27,  1846;  Jane,  bom  Oct.  31,  1847,  died  Nov.  2,  1885,  married 
Joel  Dietrich,  who  is  also  deceased;  Catherine,  bom  June  24,  1849,  is  the  wife 
of  Frederick  Yeisly;  Matilda,  bom  Sept.  25,  1851,  died  May  18,  1872,  unmar- 
ried; Mary,  bom  Sept.  10,  1854,  married  David  Schock;  ihomas  is  next  in 
the  family;  Priscilla,  born  Sept.  23,  1857,  died  June  23,  1872,  unmarried.  The 
parents  are  buried  in  the  Steigerwalt  cemetery  in  East  Brunswick  township. 
Mr.  Hartung  was  a  member  of  the  Church  of  God,  and  served  as  elder  most 
of  his  mature  life,  holding  that  office  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Thomas  Harttmg,  son  of  Thomas  and  Priscilla  (Bensinger)  Hartung,  was 
bom  April  19,  1856,  in  East  Brunswick  township,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Thomas  W.  Paul.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the  East  Bmnswick  schools, 
moving  with  his  father  to  the  place  where  he  now  lives;  he  has  had  a  large 
share  m  its  improvement.  The  farm  at  that  time  contained  thirteen  acres, 
ten  cleared.  After  his  father's  death  he  bought  the  place,  and  later  purchased 
a  tract  of  fifty-four  acres  adjoining,  without  buildings,  which  latter  he  has 
since  sold  to  his  nephew,  Thomas  W.  Paul.  Mr.  Hartung  has  c^ven  his  time 
to  eeneral  farming  and  tmcking,  and  attends  market  at  Middleport,  New 
Philadelphia  and  Big  Vein.  He  has  shown  his  public  spirit  in  six  years  of 
effective  service  on  3ie  school  board.  He  is  a  Republican  on  political  issues. 
For  twenty-six  years  he  has  been  an  elder  in  the  Church  of  God  at  Steigerwalt, 
and  is  highly  regarded  by  his  fellow  members  in  that  organization. 

On  May  13,  1877,  Mr.  Hartung  married  Sarah  Jane  Schock,  who  was  bom 
Oct.  14,  1057,  in  Liberty  township,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Emmanuel 
Schock,  the  ceremony  taking  place  in  West  Penn  township ;  it  was  performed 
by  Rev.  Eli  Souers,  of  Auburn,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartung  have  no  children. 
She  came  from  her  native  township  to  Schuylkill  county  when  six  years 
old. 


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954  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Jacob  Schoch,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Hartung,  was  a  farmer  of  Schuyl- 
kill (now  Walker)  township,  this  county,  where  he  owned  a  tract  of  over  lOO 
acres.  He  married  Eliza  Beck,  a  daughter  of  Emmanuel  and  Barbara  (Fisher) 
Beck,  and  we  have  the  following  account  of  their  children,  of  whom  there 
were  fourteen:  Levi  went  to  war  and  never  returned;  John  married  Hettie 
Merkel;  Emmanuel  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hartung;  Daniel  married  Malinda 
Sheipe;  Jacob  married  Mary  Reichert;  Lewis  married  Elizabeth  Mosteller; 
Joseph  married  Lizzie  Kistler;  Catherine  is  unmarried;  Barbara  married 
Charles  Heisler;  David  married  Manr  Hartung.  Mr.  Schoch  was  a  Republican, 
but  not  active  in  politics.  He  held  membership  in  the  German  Lutheran 
Church,  in  the  Lewistown  valley.  Walker  township,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
buried  there. 

Emmanuel  Schock,  bom  Feb.  12,  1833,  in  Schuylkill  township,  was  educated 
in  the  schools  ol  that  part  of  Schuylkill  now  known  as  Walker  township.  He 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  while  young,  and  after  his  marriage  left  home. 
He  worked  as  a  farm  laborer  for  a  time,  later,  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
Levi,  buying  a  tract  in  Liberty  township,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  which  they  operated 
until  Levi  went  into  the  Union  army.  Emmanuel  Schock  then  sold  the  farm 
and  lived  in  Schuylkill  township,  this  county,  for  a  while,  after  which  he  re- 
moved to  Auburn,  Schuylkill  county,  and  with  his  brother  Lewis  as  a  partner 
bought  a  lOO-acre  tract  which  they  operated  until  after  their  father's  death. 
They  then  sold  their  farm  and  Emmanuel  came  to  Schuylkill  township  and 
bought  part  of  the  homestead  place,  which  he  operated  until  after  his  wife's 
death.  Selling  his  interest  there,  he  conducted  a  general  store  a  short  distance 
up  the  road  from  the  homestead,  continuing  the  business  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Sept.  12,  1907. 

On  Jan.  7,  1855,  Mr.  Schock  married  Caroline  Stupp,  who  was  bom  in 
December,  1834,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Schoener)  Stupp,  and  died 
May  26,  1872.  She  was  the  mother  of  six  children :  Mary,  bom  Jan.  30,  1856, 
died  voung;  Sarah  Jane,  bora  Oct.  14,  1857,  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Hartung; 
Charles,  bom  Nov.  5,  18^9,  married  Emma  Moyer;  Levi  Franklin,  bom  April 
II,  1862,  died  young;  Samuel,  bom  Oct.  14,  1863,  died  young;  Emma,  bom 
May  4,  1866,  died  young.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Schock  married  Mrs. 
Rebecca  (Hoch)  Kessler,  the  widow  of  Levi  Kessler.  She  is  now  (191 5) 
about  seventy  years  of  age,  and  is  living  in  Florida.  Mr.  Schock  was  a  Repub- 
lican, and  his  religious  connection  was  with  the  German  Lutheran  Church  in 
Lewistown  valley,  Walker  township ;  his  first  wife  was  a.member  of  the  United 
Evangelical  Church,  and  they  are  buried  in  the  Evangelical  Church  cemetery 
at  Lewistown. 

GEORGE  R.  CARMITCHELL  has  had  a  varied  experience  in  the  mines 
of  Schuylkill  county,  which  he  has  found  very  valuable  in  meeting  the  require- 
ments of  his  present  position,  that  of  inside  foreman  at  the  Tunnel  Ridge 
colliery,  at  Mahanoy  City.  He  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  family  of  Schuylkill 
county,  founded  here  by  his  grandfather,  who  was  an  early  settler  at  Ashland, 
where  he  lived  and  died.  His  occupation  was  shoemaking.  Of  his  four  sons, 
Robert,  John,  Daniel  and  Charies,  all  but  the  last  named  served  in  the  Civil 
war,  Daniel  as  a  dmmmer  boy.    John  was  the  father  of  twenty-one  children. 

Charies  Carmitchell,  father  of  George  R.  Carmitchell,  was  bom  at  Cumbola, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  a  miner  by  occupation,  and  died  in  December,  1905, 
at  Mount  Carmel,  Northumberiand  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  is  buried.    After  some 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  955 

years'  residence  at  Ashland  he  moved  to  Helf enstine,  this  county,  and  later  to 
Mount  Carmel.  In  1892  he  was  made  inside  foreman  at  the  Natalie  (Northum- 
berland county)  colliery,  where  he  was  stationed  until  1894.  Returning  to 
Mount  Carmel,  he  again  followed  mining  for  several  years,  in  1900  coming 
to  Mahanoy  City.  Until  1902  he  was  fire  boss  at  the  Primrose  colliery,  at 
Mahanoy  City,  living  at  Mahanoy  City  during  this  time,  and  subsequently 
mined  there,  until  he  went  back  to  Mount  Carmel,  where  he  passed  the  rest 
of  his  life.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Rebecca  (Adams)  Carmitchell,  still  resides  at 
Mount  jZarmel.  They  had  the  following  children:  Janet,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased ;  George  R. ;  Rebecca,  deceased ;  Mary ;  Eliza,  deceased ;  Margaret ;  Ma- 
bel ;  and  Alice. 

George  R.  Carmitchell  was  bom  March  9,  1879,  at  Helfenstine,  Schuylkill 
county.  He  had  ordinary  public  school  advantages  until  ten  years  old,  when 
he  started  mine  work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  breaker.  At  the  a^  of  twelve 
he  was  given  inside  work,  tending  door,  etc.,  and  worked  at  the  different  posi- 
tions until  he  became  a  regular  miner,  being  so  engaged  for  eight  years  at  the 
Richards  colliery,  at  Mount  Carmel,  and  at  the  Green  Ridge,  Natalie,  Primrose 
and  North  Mahanoy  Collieries.  In  September,  1903,  he  became  fire  boss  at 
Park  Place,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  remained  until  June,  1907,  when  he 
took  a  similar  position  at  the  North  Mahanoy  colliery,  in  the  Schuylkill  section. 
He  was  there  for  almost  four  years,  from  July,  1907,  until  April,  191 1,  after 
which  he  was  assistant  inside  foreman  at  the  Tunnel  Ridge  colliery  until  Sept. 
I.  I9i3»  when  he  was  promoted  to  inside  foreman.  In  this  capacity  he  has 
the  oversight  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  their  good  opinion  of  him,  as 
well  as  the  approval  of  his  employers,  stamps  him  as  trustworthy  and  compe- 
tent. Mr.  Carmitchell  has  not  only  shown  his  intention  of  performing  his 
work  conscientiously,  but  he  h;»s  been  ambitious  to  grain  a  thorough  under- 
standing of  his  business  from  the  scientific  as  well  as  the  practical  standpoint, 
and  with  this  object  he  has  taken  a  comprehensive  course  in  mining  at  the 
International  Correspondence  Schools,  of  Scranton.  He  began  these  studies 
in  1900,  and  he  has  gone  through  the  complete  coal  mining  course,  covering 
twenty-eight  branches,  having  a  diploma  in  each.  He  completed  this  work  and 
passed  the  last  examination  in  July,  1914.  No  one  knows  better  than  he  the 
advantages  of  such  close  application  to  all  the  details  of  his  work,  or  the  benefit 
to  be  derived  therefrom,  and  its  value  has  been  proved  many  times  in  actual 
tests.  Mr.  Carmitchell  is  well  known  socially,  belonging  to  the  Washington  Hook 
&  Ladder  Company,  to  Lodge  No.  617,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  and  to  the  M.  E.  Church; 
he  has  served  the  church  as  one  of  the  official  board. 

In  1900  Mr.  Carmitchell  married  Jennie  Hubler,  daughter  of  Richard 
Hubler,  and  the  following  children  have  been  bom  to  them:  Charles  R.,  Mabel, 
Jennie,  George,  William,  Thomas  and  Alice,  the  last  named  dying  in  infancy. 
The  family  home  is  at  No.  131 1  East  Mahanoy  avenue,  Mahanoy  City. 

ALFRED  ZIMMERMAN  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  West  Penn 
township,  where  he  was  bom  Feb.  12,  1848.  He  is  of  German  descent,  being 
a  great-grandson  of  Leonard  Zimmerman,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  settled 
in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  many  years  ago,  and  rehired  his  family  here.  His 
children  were :  Samuel,  grandfather  of  Alfred  Zimmerman ;  David,  who  mar- 
ried; and  Mrs.  John  Zehner.  Leonard  Zimmerman  and  his  wife  are  buried 
at  zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church,  and  in  politics  supported  the  Democratic  party. 


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956  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Samuel  Zimmemian,  son  of  Leonard,  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township 
and  frrew  to  manhood  there,  receiving:  his  education  in  the  local  schools.  In 
youn^:  manhood  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  but  farming  was  always  his 
principal  occupation,  and  he  prospered,  becoming  a  large  landowner.  His 
home  tract,  the  first  place  he  bought,  was  the  109-acre  property  now  owned  by 
his  grandson  Frank  Zimmerman,  and  besides  he  owned  two  tracts  of  sixty 
acres  each,  and  one  of  seventy-five.  Retiring  from  arduous  farm  labors  when 
about  sixty  years  of  age,  he  sold  the  109  acres  to  his  son  Thomas  (father  of 
the  present  owner)  and  with  his  wife  moved  into  a  residence  he  had  built  on  a 
twenty-acre  tract  he  owned.  Mrs.  Zimmerman,  whose  maiden  name  was  Susan 
Miller,  died  there  when  over  sixty  years  old.  His  death,  which  occurred 
at  the  home  of  his  son  Thomas  when  he  was  seventy-two  years  old,  was  the 
result  of  camp  fever  contracted  during  his  service  in  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  Zim- 
merman was  a  Democrat  and  took  considerable  interest  in  public  affairs ;  held 
the  office  of  constable  for  many  years ;  and  was  a  prominent  member  and  official 
of  the  Reformed  cong^regation  at  Zion's  Church,  serving  as  elder,  deacon 
and  trustee.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  the  church.  Their  children  were: 
Rebecca  died  unmarried;  Benjamin  married  Polly  Martz;  Thomas  was  the 
father  of  Alfred  Zimmerman ;  Polly  married  Samuel  Miller ;  Priscilla  married 
Abraham  Halderman;  Rudolph  married  Hannah  Donert;  Joseph  married 
Polly  Schaeffer;  Samuel  married  Lydia  Mautz,  and  died  in  Oregon. 

Thomas  Zimmerman,  son  of  Samuel,  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township,  and 
died  there,  on  the  farm  of  109  acres  previously  mentioned,  April  25,  1903, 
aged  seventy-eight  years.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  township,  and  in  early  life  he  learned  shoemaking,  which  was  his  chief 
occupation  for  a  number  of  years ;  he  gave  it  up  when  his  son  Alfred  was  ten 
years  old.  He  had  quite  an  extensive  patronage,  employing  a  couple  of  men 
to  help  him.  When  he  turned  from  his  trade  to  farming  he  bought  the  home 
place  from  his  father,  and  there  remained  until  his  death,  though  after  retiring 
he  sold  it  to  his  son  Frank.  He  carried  on  general  agriculture,  and  marketed 
his  produce  at  Tamaqua.  He  was  a  public-spirited  citizen,  one  of  the  earliest 
advocates  of  the  public  school  system  in  the  township,  and  served  very  ef- 
ficiently as  school  director;  for  one  year  he  filled  the  position  of  tax  collector. 
Like  his  father  he  was  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
belonging  to  Zion's  Church,  which  he  served  as  trustee  and  in  other  capacities, 
being  one  of  its  most  helpful  workers.  Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Annie  Schaef- 
fer, daughter  of  George  and  Catharine  (Hoppes)  Schaeffer,  and  she  survived 
him,  dying  two  years  ago,  when  well  up  in  the  eighties.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zim- 
merman are  buried  at  Zion's  Church.  Of  their  three  children,  Alfred  is  men- 
tioned below ;  Ellen  married  Owen  Wehr,  of  Lehighton ;  Frank  is  married  to 
Jane  Hill. 

Alfred  Zimmerman  grew  up  in  West  Penn  township,  where  he  received 
his  education  in  school  No.  11.  His  agricultural  training  was  gained  assisting 
his  father,  with  whom  he  worked  until  twenty-seven  years  old,  at  which  time 
he  married  and  moved  to  his  present  farm,  which  his  father  bought  for  him. 
The  property  comprises  109  acres,  seventy  of  which  are  cleared,  and  though 
he  carried  on  general  farming  he  acquired  considerable  reputation  in  the 
locality  for  his  success  with  fruit,  to  which  he  gave  special  attention.  He  at- 
tended market  at  Tamaqua.  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  retired  from  agricultural 
work,  his  son  Howard  now  owning  the  farm,  but  he  is  still  engaged  in  milling, 
having  a  sawmill  and  chop  mill  on  the  farm,  the  former  operated  by  steam,  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  957 

latter  by  water  power.  He  is  a  man  of  active  temperament,  doing  his  share 
in  the  furtherance  of  all  good  movements  in  the  locality,  is  a  trustee  of  the 
Reformed  congregation  of  Zion's  Church,  and  in  politics  associates* with  the 
Democratic  partjr.    He  has  acted  as  judge  of  election. 

By  his  marnage  to  Kate  George,  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  had  the  following 
children :  Cora  Adda,  born  March  2,  1878,  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel  Zehner, 
of  Lynnport,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  and  her  children  are  Lorain,  Vera,  Georjgre, 
Harold  and  Woodrow;  Howard  Franklin,  bom  Nov.  28,  1883,  now  farming 
the  home  place  in  West  Penn  township,  married  Rosie  Eberts,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Lamont  Howard;  Edna  Mabel,  bom  I>ec.  23,  1894,  was  a  member  of 
the  class  of  191 5,  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  at  Kutztown. 

Mrs.  Zimmerman  was  bom  Oct.  26,  1854,  in  Lowhill  township,  Lehigh  Co., 
Pa.,  daughter  of  Levi  George,  who  moved  to  Schuylkill  county  when  she  was 
twelve  years  old,  settling  at  the  hotel  now  known  as  the  "Three  Mile  House,"  in 
West  Penn  township,  which  he  conducted  for  a  few  years.  Previous  to  his 
removal  to  Schuylkill  county  he  was  engaged  as  a  huckster,  and  when  he  gave 
up  the  hotel  business  he  bought  a  farm  in  West  Penn  township,  the  place  now 
owned  by  William  Kunkel.  After  cultivating^  it  for  a  while  he  moved  to 
Tamaqua,  where  he  conducted  the  ''American  Hotel"  until  his  retirement,  with- 
drawing from  business  principally  because  his  wife  had  become  afflicted  with 
blindness.  His  son  Eli  then  took  the  hotel,  the  parents  continuing  to  live 
there,  however.  Levi  George  was  bom  in  1819,  lived  to  be  over  eighty  years 
old,  and  is  buried  at  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township.  By  his  first  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Kemmerer,  he  had  two  children :  Maria,  now  the  wife 
of  Nathan  Snyder,  of  New  Tripoli,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.;  and  Sophia,  wife  of 
Lewis  Guldner,  of  Tamaqua.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  George  married  Esther 
Snyder,  who  was  bora  in  1819,  daughter  of  Conrad  Snyder,  and  they  had 
three  children ;  Monroe,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  who  married  Mary  Wertman ;  Kate, 
Mrs.  Zimmerman;  and  Eli;  the  latter,  who  is  still  conductmg  the  "American 
House"  at  Tamaqua,  married  Sabilla  Strauss.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  are  buried 
at  Zion's  Church.  He  was  a  member  and  elder  of  the  Reformed  congregation 
there,  and  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 

JONATHAN  B.  EMRICK,  late  of  Pottsville,  had  a  valuable  home  place  in 
the  section  known  as  Mechanicsville,  and  was  one  of  the  most  esteemed  resi- 
dents of  that  section.  He  was  bom  April  19,  1838,  in  South  Manheim  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  son  of  John  Emrick  and  grandson  of  Jacob  Emrick, 
and  was  a  member  of  an  old  Pennsylvania  family.  His  earlier  ancestors  lived 
in  Berks  county,  the  family  having  been  established  in  eastem  Pennsylvania 
during  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

There  is  record  of  a  number  of  the  name  who  emigrated  to  this  country 
during  that  period,  the  Pennsylvania  Archives,  Vol.  XVH,  showing  the  fol- 
lowing, with  the  name  of  ship  and  date  of  arrival :  Johan  "Nickel"  Emrich 
(aged  thirty-six),  "Glasgow."  Sept.  Q,  I7.'^8;  Jacob  Emrich  (aged  nineteen), 
"Patience  and  Margaret."  Sept.  2S,  1748;  Johan  Fried.  Emrich,  "Chesterfield," 
Sept.  I,  1749;  Anthoni  Emrich,  "Royal  Union,"  Aug.  15,  1750;  Johan  C^orge 
Emmerich,  "Richard  and  Mary,"  Sept.  20,  1752;  Herman  Emrich  (aged 
twenty-seven)  and  Cari  Emrich  (aged  twenty-seven),  "Louisa,"  Oct.  3,  1753; 
Johan  Peter  Emrich,  "Bannister,"  Oct.  31,  1754;  Andreas  Emrich,  snow 
"Tryall,"  Dec.  4,  1764;  Johannes  Emrich,  "Chance,"  Sept.  23,  1766;  Joseph 
Emrich,  "Betsy,"  Oct.  26,  1768;  Johan  Theobald  Emrich,  "Minerva,"  Oct.  13, 


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958  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

1769;   Andreas   Emmerich,   "Charming   Molly,"   Oct.  22,    1773.     One  John 
Bolters  Emerick  died  on  shipboard  April  22,  1806. 

That  the  family  has  been  quite  numerous  in  eastern  Pennsylvania  is  shown 
by  the  Federal  census  report  of  1790,  in  which,  under  Emrich,  we  find  in- 
dexed Adam,  Andrew,  Balser,  Herman,  Jacob,  Jacob,  Jr.,  John,  John  (Phila- 
delphia county),  John  Jr.,  John  Jr.,  John  George,  Leonard,  Ludwig  (Phila- 
delphia county),  Michael,  Nicolas  (Cumberland  county),  Philip  and  William; 
of  the  Emricks,  there  were  Georgre,  Henry  (of  Dauphin  county),  and  Jacob, 
John,  John  and  Valentine  (all  four  of  Montgomery  county).  Of  these  Adam 
Emrich,  of  Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county,  had  two  sons  under  sixteen 
and  two  daughters ;  Andrew  Emrich,  of  that  township,  had  one  son  above  and 
two  sons  under  sixteen  and  four  daughters;  John  George  Emrich,  of  the 
same  township,  had  four  daughters ;  Balser  Emrich,  of  Bethel  township,  Berks 
county,  had  three  sons  under  sixteen  and  two  daughters;  John  Emrich,  Jr., 
of  Bethel  township,  had  one  son  under  sixteen  and  one  daughter ;  another  John 
Emrich,  Jr.,  of  the  same  township,  had  two  sons  above  sixteen;  Jacob  Emrich, 
also  of  Bethel  township,  had  wife  but  no  children;  Jacob  Emrich,  Jr.,  same 
township,  had  one  son  above  and  one  son  under  sixteen  and  two  daughters; 
William  Emrich,  of  Bern  township,  Berks  county,  had  one  son  above  .and  one 
son  under  sixteen,  and  two  daughters;  Leonard  Emrich,  of  Brunswick  (or 
Brecknock)  and  Manheim  townships,  Lancaster  county,  had  one  son  above 
and  one  son  under  sixteen ;  Michael  Emrich  had  four  sons  above  sixteen  and 
two  daughters;  Philip  Emrich,  of  the  borough  of  Reading,  Berks  county,  had 
two  sons  above  and  one  son  under  sixteen,  and  three  daughters;  Herman 
Emrich,  of  Rockland  township,  Berks  county,  had  one  son  above  and  two  sons 
under  sixteen,  and  three  daughters.  One  Andrew  Emrich,  of  Bethel  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  died  before  1789,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret  and  children 
Valentine,  Julianna  (niarried  Henry  Moyer),  John  and  Henry.  During  the 
Revolutionary  war  one  Jacob  Emmerick  was  a  private  in  Capt.  James  Todd's 
company  from  Dauphin  county. 

Of  the  Emerich  wills  on  record  the  earliest  is  that  of  Nicholas  Emerich,  re- 
garding which  we  find  the  following  in  the  register  general's  office  at  Reading, 
Berks  county :  Letters  of  administration  under  the  said  office  with  a  true  copy 
of  a  translation  from  the  German  original  of  the  last  will  and  testament  of 
Nicholas  Emerich,  late  of  the  township  of  Rockland  in  the  County  of  Berks, 
aforesaid,  yeoman,  deceased,  were  granted  to  Valentine  Emerich  of  the  Town- 
ship of  Whitehall,  in  the  County  of  Northampton,  in  the  Province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, yeoman,  eldest  son  of  the  said  testator,  no  executor  or  executors  being 
therein  named,  he  having  first  given  bond  according  to  Law  (Anna  Barbara, 
the  widow,  relict  of  the  said  testator,  appearing  not  to  be  of  sound  understand- 
ing sufficient  to  take  upon  her  the  burden  of  the  administration  of  the  estate 
of  the  said  testator)  ;  inventory  to  be  exhibited  at  or  before  the  twenty-sixth 
day  of  July  next  and  an  account  of  his  administration  at  or  before  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  June,  which  will  be  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand,  seven 
hundred  and  seventy ;  which  will  of  the  said  Nicholas  Emerich,  deceased,  was 
duly  proved  by  the  solemn  oath  of  .George  Oberdorff  and  Jaque  Baral,  the 
Subscribing  Witnesses  to  the  said  will,  but  being  in  the  German  language  could 
not  be  recorded.  The  will  was  proved  the  sixteenth  of  June,  1769;  letters  of 
administration  the  26th  of  the  same  month.  Examined  by  James  Read,. deputy 
register. 

Descendants  of  Valentine  Emerick  live  in  Center  county,  near  Center  Hall. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  959 

One  is  a  doctor,  and  his  sister  is  married  to  an  attorney  who  had  a  number 
of  Emrich  family  papers. 

Other  wills  recorded  are  those  of  Jacob  Emerich  (1803)  ;  Adam  Emerich 
(1809);  Balzer  Epierich  (1810);  Adam  Emerich  (1813);  John  Emerich 
(1816);  Leonard  Emerich  (1834);  Christian  Emerich  (1^0);  Hannah 
Emerich  (1842)  ;  Barbara  Emerich  (1849)  ;  George  Emerich  (1865).  Guard- 
ians were  appointed  for  John  and  George  Emerich  in  1809;  for  Mary  and 
Catharine  Emerich  in  1810;  for  a  child  of  John  Emerich  (deceased)  and 
for  Peter  and  Joseph  Emerich,  181 5. 

There  was  a  John  Nicholas  Emerick,  bom  in  1749,  who  came  to  this  country 
in  1774,  and  who  engaged  in  the  fur  trade  as  a  partner  of  John  Jacob  Astor, 
founder  of  the  celebrated  New  York  family.  Astor,  also  a  German,  born  in 
1763,  near  Heidelberg,  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  musical  instruments 
with  his  brother  in  London,  and  came  to  America  in  1783,  to  Baltimore,  with 
the  idea  of  disposing  of  some  of  his  instruments.  He  was  the  first  regular 
dealer  in  that  line  in  this  country.  Having  exchanged  musical  instruments  for 
furs,  in  New  York,  he  accidentally  entered  into  the  business  upon  which  his 
great  fortune  was  founded.  Returning  to  London  with  his  stock,  he  disposed 
of  it  to  such  advantage  that  he  speedily  made  another  trip.  In  time  he  came 
to  invest  largely  in  real  estate  in  New  York,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
his  death,  in  1848.  (See  "Frolic  and  Fun,"  by  Isabel  Allardyce,  1907).  John 
Nicholas  Emerick,  who  was  his  partner  in  the  fur  business  for  thirty  years, 
was  stationed  at  Berlin  and  was  probably  the  best  known  agent  in  Europe  in 
that  line  of  trade.  He  never  married,  leaving  all  his  property  to  the  children 
of  two  brothers  in  the  United  States.  According  to  tradition  Astor  and  Emerick 
entered  into  an  agreement  to  the  effect  that  no  settlement  of  their  partnership 
affairs  was  to  be  made  for  a  certain  number  of  years  after  the  death  of  either. 
So  far  as  the  descendants  of  John  Michael  Emerick — supposed  to  have  been 
a  brother  of  John  Nicholas  Emerick — are  concerned,  no  settlement  has 
ever  been  reached.  The  estate  was  reputed  to  be  so  vast  as  to  stimu- 
late the  activities  of  possible  beneficiaries.  Franklin  Square,  Philadelphia,  is 
part  of  the  property  involved.  Some  of  the  money  is  in  banks  at  Bremen,  Ger- 
many. On  July  28,  1886,  there  was  a  press  inquiry  and  notice  to  the  heirs 
of  the  estate  of  Nicholas  Emerick,  and  newspaper  articles  relating  to 'the  matter 
which  have  appeared  at  various  times  are  preserved  by  members  of  the  family 
as  possible  clews.  Several  Emericks  in  different  parts  of  the  country  are 
reputed  to  have  received  money  as  heirs,  and  efforts  are  being  made  to  have 
the  matter  closed  up. 

Jacob  Emrick,  the  grandfather  of  Jonathan  B.  Emrick,  of  Pottsville,  lived 
in  South  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. He  married  a  Miss  Dewalt  and  they  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
named  children:   Jacob,  John,  Joshua,  Sallie,  Mary  and  Lucy. 

John  Emrick,  son  of  Jacob,  above,  was  bom  in  South  Manheim  township, 
where  he  lived  and  died,  following  farming  all  his  life.  His  death  occurred 
when  he  was  sixty-nine  years  old,  and  he  is  buried  at  Summer  Mountain.  By 
his  marriage  to  Cassie  Berkheiser,  who  died  when  a  young  woman,  he  had 
four  children :  Benjamin,  Jonathan  B.,  William  and  John.  To  his  second  mar- 
riage were  also  bom  four  children:  Daniel,  Jacob,  Martha  and  Mary  (the  last 
named  deceased). 

Jonathan  B.  Emrick  was  reared  in  his  native  township  and  during  his  boy- 
hood assisted  with  the  work  at  home,  meanwhile  attending  school.     He  was 


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960  ,    SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

but  ten  years  old  when  he  commenced  work  on  the  Schuylkill  canal,  and  during 
the  early  days  of  its  operation  he  was  engaged  as  boatman  for  four  years. 
Meantime,  during  the  summer  of  1850,  he  was  also  employed  for  a  time  in  a 
brickyard,  helping  to  make  the  brick  for  the  first  courthouse  erected  at  Potts- 
ville.  After  leaving  the  canal  he  was  employed  at  farm  work  until  twenty  years 
old,  and  then  for  a  time  cut  timber  in  the  woods  and  built  bams  and  houses, 
following  this  line  for  a  period  of  five  years.  For  some  time  afterwards  he 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Navigation  Company  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  thence 
removing  to  Cressona,  where  he  obtained  employment  in  the  Reading  shops, 
remaining  with  the  company  for  eighteen  years.  After  that  he  resided  at 
Pottsville,  where  he  was  first  engaged  in  trucking,  selling  his  produce  in  the 
borough,  for  about  three  years.  He  then  bought  the  property  at  what  is  now 
known  as  Mechanicsville,  in  1884,  ten  acres  of  valuable  land  upon  which  he 
followed  trucking  until  his  retirement.  Subsequently  he  laid  out  eighty-five 
building  lots  upon  his  property,  which  has  a  promising  future  as  a  residence 
section.  During  the  summer  of  1914,  although  over  seventy-five  years  old, 
Mr.  Emrick  built  himself  a  bam  without  assistance.  He  passed  away  in  Oc- 
tober, 1914. 

In  1859  Mr.  Emrick  married  Mary  Reber,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
(Rucia)  Reber,  and  to  them  were  bom  ten  children,  all  of  whom  survive, 
namely:  Elizabeth  married  James  Rubrecht;  Alice  married  George  Weaver; 
Gideon  married  Elizabeth  Marberger ;  Anna  married  Frank  Bpltz ;  Minnie  mar- 
ried Daniel  Snyder;  Sallie  married  William  Snyder;  Jennie  married  Edw. 
Gormley ;  August  married  Rachel  Forney ;  Martha  married  Raymond  Hoffman ; 
Bmce  married  Eva  Zechman.  The  family  home  was  at  No.  1355  Pottsville 
street.  Mr.  Emrick  was  a  Republican  from  the  time  he  attained  his  majority, 
having  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  was  always 
an  earnest  church  worker,  and  was  long  prominently  connected  with  the  Evan- 
gelical Church  at  Cressona,  serving  twenty  years  as  class  leader.  He  attended 
the  camp  meetings  of  the  Evangelical  association  for  about  fifty  years.  Mr. 
Emrick  read  his  German  Bible  faithfully  and  was  well  versed  in  the  Scriptures. 

WILLIAM  E.  LECHER  is  a  man  of  large  business  and  property  inter- 
ests at  Pottsville,  representing  in  the  present  generation  a  family  whose  thrift 
and  other  sterling  qualities  have  made  the  name  respected  in  this  vicinity 
for  many  a  year.  The  Lecher  property  at  No.  260  West  Railroad  street  has 
been  owned  by  the  family  since  his  grandfather's  day. 

John  Lecher,  the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Germany.  On  coming  to 
America  he  first  settled  at  Reading,  Pa.,  later  removing  to  Pottsville  and 
locating  at  Fishbach,  when  that  section  was  mostly  in  the  woods.  He  fol- 
lowed mining.  His  death  occurred  at  what  is  now  No.  260  West  Railroad 
street.  His  family  consisted  of  five  children,  namely:  John,  Amelia,  Tillie, 
Catherine  and  Elizabeth. 

John  Lecher,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Germany  and  was  about  sixteen 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  father  to  America.  Coming  from  Reading 
to  Fishbach  on  foot,  he  found  employment  with  John  M.  Crosland,  building 
boats  for  use  on  the  canal,  and  continued  to  follow  this  work  for  about  twenty 
years.  Then  he  engaged  in  hauling  coal  for  a  time,  afterwards  conducting 
a  grocery  business  of  his  own  at  No.  260  West  Railroad  street,  which  he 
carried  on  until  his  death.  To  his  marriage  with  Catherine  Moyer,  like 
himself  a  native  of  Germany,  were  bom  children  as  follows :     Mary,  Josephine, 


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PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR,  LENOX 
[TILDEiNi   i-OUX^'DATIONS 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  961 

Catherine,  Sarah,  John,  George,  Elizabeth,  Emma,  Frederick,  William  E.  and 
Bertha. 

William  E.  Lecher,  best  known  as  Will.  E.  Lecher,  was  bom  May  24, 
1862,  at  No.  260  West  Railroad  street.  After  several  years*  attendance  at 
the  public  schools  he  began  assisting  his  father  as  clerk  in  the  grocery  store, 
and  he  himself  is  now  doing  business  at  the  same  location.  Continuing  in  his 
father's  employ  up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage,  he  then  began  business  (at 
No.  27s  Peacock  street)  for  himself,  paying  six  dollars  a  month  rent.  After 
two  years  of  hard  struggle  he  bought  the  property,  the  store  at  the  time  being 
14  by  14  feet  in  dimensions,  three  stories  high,  right  up  against  the  mountain. 
The  business  has  been  increasing  steadily  since,  and  the  store  has  been  enlarged 
to  accommodate  its  growth,  being  now  44  by  1 80  feet  in  size,  and  properly 
equipped  to  facilitate  the  handling  of  a  very  laree  trade.  The  establishment 
has  the  reputation  of  being  the  most  completdy  stocked  in  the  city,  Mr. 
Lecher's  line  of  general  merchandise  being  the  largest  and  best  assorted.  His 
judgment  in  selecting  his  goods,  his  caretul  arrangement  of  the  store  and  the 
convenience  of  his  appointments  show  dose  attention  to  the  idea  of  accom- 
modating customers,  high-class  service  being  one  of  the  points  upon  which 
this  store  has  set  the  standard  in  Pottsville.  Its  live  policy  accounts  for  the 
constantly  widening  trade.  Mr.  Lecher  also  deals  in  hve  stock,  cattle,  shoats 
and  poultry.  He  has  valuable  real  estate  in  the  borough,  about  thirty-five 
pieces  of  property,  is  a  director  of  the  New  City  Building  &  Loan  Assodation 
of  Pottsville,  and  a  director  of  the  Schuylkill  Trust  Company,  a  reliable  banking 
concern.  His  own  transactions  have  always  been  above  critidsm,  and  his 
personal  reputation  is  sufficient  to  create  confidence  in  any  enterprise  with 
which  he  becomes  associated.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic 
Church,  and  belongs  to  the  local  lodges  of  Elks,  Eagles  and  Foresters.  Politi- 
cally he  is  not  bound  to  any  party. 

In  1887  Mr.  Lecher  married  Catherine  T.  Brennan,  daughter  of  John 
Brennan,  of  Carbondale,  Lackawanna  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  eleven 
children,  namely :  Vincent,  Ralph,  Theodore,  Loretta,  Archibald,  Grace,  Vera, 
Walter,  Leo  (deceased).  Alberta  and  Edgar. 

MICHAEL  G.  DEWEY,  M.  D.,  of  Girardville,  has  just  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  already  received  many  evidences  of  the  con- 
fidence of  the  commtmity.  He  belongs  to  a  family  of  Irish  extraction,  his 
grandfather,  James  Dewey,  having  been  bom  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  whence  he 
emigrated  to  America,  settling  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  operation  of  freight  vessels  on  Lake  Erie.  Later  he  came 
to  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and  lived  at  Minersville,  Ashland,  and,  finally,  Ger- 
mantown,  where  he  followed  mine  work  and  also  taught  school.  He  died  at 
Germantown,  and  his  wife,  Mary  (Carney),  a  native  of  County  Kilkenny, 
Ireland,  died  at  the  home  of  her  son  Patrick  in  Ashland,  in  1902.  They 
were  the  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Two  who  died  in  infancy;  Mary, 
widow  of  Michael  Dugen,  of  Shamokin,  Pa.;  John,  now  engaged  as  a  mine 
superintendent  at  Springville,  111.;  James,  deceased;  Patrick  A.,  employed  as 
a  stationary  engineer  in  the  mines  near  Ashland ;  Frank,  a  fire  boss  in  the  mines 
near  Ashland;  Margaret,  wife  of  John  Foley,  of  Kaskawilliam,  this  county; 
Anna,  wife  of  Thomas  Eagan,  of  Ashland;  Catherine,  Mrs.  John  Casey,  of 
Ashland ;  Thomas,  Elizabeth  and  Joseph  are  deceased. 

Patrick  A.  Dewey,  the  Doctor's  father,  was  bom  in  Locustdale,  Schuylkill 

VoL  11—23 


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962  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

county,  and  married  Elizabeth  O'Brien.  They  removed  to  Ashland,  and  he 
became  employed  as  a  stationary  engineer  at  one  of  the  mines  near  the  borough. 
Two  children  were  bom  to  this  union,  the  eldest,  James,  being  deceased. 

Michael  G.  Dewey  was  bom  at  Ashland  June  2,  1889,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place.  For  two  years  he  was  employed 
in  a  drug  store  at  Ashland,  attended  Bucknell  Academy  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  for 
one  year,  and  in  1908  entered  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent 
a  year  in  preparatory  studies.  In  1909  he  matriculated  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  that  institution,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  decree  of 
M.'D.  in  1913.  Then  for  a  year  he  acted  as  inteme  in  the  Altoona  Hospital. 
Altoona,  Pa.,  at  the  end  of  that  period  coming  to  Girardville,  in  his  native 
county,  to  establish  himself  in  practice.  With  the  benefit  of  up-to-date  training 
and  the  advantages  of  his  hospital  experience  he  is  well  prepared  for  his  life 
work,  and  has  made  an-excellent  start  to  success  in  his  chosen  calling.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Schuylkill  County  Medical  Society,  and  of  the  American  Medical 
Association.  Dr.  Dewey  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  faith,  belonging  to  St. 
Joseph's  Church  at  Ashland,  and  he  also  holds  membership  in  Sarto  Council, 
Knights  of  Columbus,  of  that  borough. 

Michael  J.  O'Brien,  father  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (O'Brien)  Dewey,  was 
bom  in  County  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  and  his  parents,  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Han- 
lahan)  O'Brien,  were, natives  of  the  same  section.  The  family  came  to  America 
in  1831,  first  settling  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  later  removing 
to  Black  Heath,  near  there.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Hanlahan)  O'Brien  died  Jime  2, 
1898.  Michael  J.  O'Brien  began  teaching  school  when  only  fifteen  years  old, 
and  followed  that  profession  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fliirty.  He  leamed 
engineering,  and  for  three  years  was  engaged  as  an  engineer  at  the  Bancroft 
mines.  At  one  time  he  lived  at-Mahanoy  Plane,  Pa.,  and  was  there  engaged 
in  the  mines  with  Lawrence  &  Myrtle,  as  owner.  Eventually  he  engaged  in  the 
retail  shoe  business  on  his  own  account  at  Ashland,  continuing  this  until 
a  short  time  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in  that  borough  Sept.  14,  1877. 
Mr.  O'Brien  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  He  was  married  at  Miners- 
ville to  Mary  Brennan,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Anna  (Schmaltz)  Brennan, 
the  former  a  native  of  County  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  the  latter  bom  in  Port  Carbon, 
Pa.,  of  German  ancestry.  They  died  at  Minersville,  where  they  are  buried. 
Fifteen  children  were  bom  to  this  union,  of  whom  the  eldest,  Daniel,  died  at 
Shamokin,  Pa.,  where  he  is  buried ;  Patrick  and  James  are  deceased ;  Terence  A. 
lives  at  Decatur,  111. ;  John  lives  at  Ashland ;  William,  an  electrical  engineer, 
lives  at  Philadelphia ;  Michael  lives  at  Ashland ;  John  is  a  resident  of  Ashland ; 
Daniel  is  deceased ;  Thomas  F.  is  a  resident  of  Ashland ;  Edward  also  lives  at 
Ashland;  Theresa  is  the  widow  of  John  Madden,  of  Tamaqua,  Pa.;  Elizabeth 
is  Mrs.  Patrick  A.  Dewey. 

FRANCIS  B.  SELTZER,  whose  widow  now  resides  at  Mahanoy  City, 
was  a  worthy  representative  of  a  family  which  has  long  been  prominent  in 
the  southem  part  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  was  bom  there,  in  North  Manheim 
township,  Aug.   16,   1834,  son  of  Michael  Seltzer,  a  descendant  of  Jacob 

Seltzer.  ^^        ^        ,    . 

The  Seltzers  were  first  established  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  after  their  emigra- 
tion to  America.  Jacob  Seltzer  emigrated  in  1752  from  the  upper  Rhein,  near 
Coblentz,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  famous  "Seltzer  Springs"  in  Germany,  where 
he  was  bom  in  1732.    He  settled  in  Heidelberg  township  (where  afterwards 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  963 

Womelsdorf  was  laid  out),  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  became  a  naturalized  citizen 
in  1765.  Several  years  before  (1762)  he  established  a  hotel  in  the  village, 
which  has  been  known  until  the  present  time  as  "Seltzer  House."  He  died  in 
1788.  He  was  married  to  Maria  Catherine  Heister,  of  Bern  township,  who 
was  born  in  1735,  and  died  in  1817.  By  her  he  had  six  children:  Jacob,  who 
married  Catharine  Kauffman;  Michael;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Dr.  Michael 
Tryon;  Mary,  who  married  Jacob  Spang:;  Catharine,  who  married  David 
Dewees;  and  a  daughter  who  married  Christopher  Reed. 

Michael'Seltzer,  son  of  Jacob,  above,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  with  others  in  an  old  stone 
church,  where  he  starved  to  death.  His  children  were  Abraham,  John  and 
Jacob. 

Abraham  Seltzer,  son  of  Michael,  was  bom  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  was 
an  early  settler  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he 
followed  farming  at  Drehersville  until  his  death,  which  occurred  there.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  kept  hotel  at  that  point,  besides  following:  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-one  years,  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Catherine  Faust,  is  buried  with  him  at  the  Red  Church.  They  had 
the  following  children:  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Michael,  Susan,  Polly,  Catherine, 
Rebecca  and  Nathan.  One  daughter  married  Daniel  Ebling;  another  Edw. 
Ebling;  Michael  married  Mary  Frey;  Nathan  married  Catherine  Albright; 
Joseph  went  West,  where  he  died ;  Mrs.  Reuben  Miller  lived  in  the  West. 

Michael  Seltzer,  son  of  Abraham,  was  bom  in  the  southem  part  of  Schuyl- 
kill county  and  was  a  well  known  man  in  his  day.  He  was  a  prominent  Demo- 
crat, and  influential  in  local  politics,  served  as  steward  of  the  county  alms- 
house for  some  time,  and  carried  on  the  hotel  business  at  Orwigsburg,  in  his 
later  life  moving  to  the  West,  where  he  died.  By  his  marriage  with  Mary 
Frey  he  had  children  as  follows:  Francis  B.;  Rebecca,  Mrs.  John  Medlar; 
Abraham,  deceased;  Amanda,  Mrs.  Jacob  Kimmel;  John,  a  retired  banker, 
living  in  Springfield,  111. ;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Joseph  Brody,  of  Schuylkill  Haven ; 
and  Charles,  who  died  in  the  West.  ♦ 

Francis  B.  Seltzer  spent  all  his  life  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  had  fair  edu- 
cational advantages  in  the  public  schools  there,  and  later  attended  Wyoming 
Seminary,  in  Luzerne  county,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated.  During 
the  most  of  his  active  years  he  was  engaged  as  a  clerk,  but  for  a  time  he  con- 
ducted a  hotel  at  Port  Carbon,  and  he  was  employed  with  George  W.  Childs 
in  the  book  business.  His  death  occurred  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  he  is  buried 
at  Pottsville.  A  man  of  fine  character  and  upright  conduct  in  all  the  relations 
of  life,  he  had  the  unqualified  esteem  of  all  his  associates,  and  was  valued  for 
his  good  citizenship  and  altogether  honorable  career.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  served  as  a  member  of  Company  A,  48th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Petersburg. 

Mr.  Seltzer  married  Hannah  E.  Garrett,  who  was  bom  March  25,  1834,  at 
Pottsville,.  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  survives  him,  now  making  her  home  with 
her  son  and  youngest  daughter  at  No.  106  West  Mahanoy  avenue,  Mahanoy 
City.  Though  past  eighty  she  is  active  and  in  possession  of  all  her  faculties, 
having  a  clear  mind  and  many  interesting  recollections  of  the  early  days 
in  Schuylkill  county.  Three  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seltzer: 
George  W.;  Mabel,  now  the  wife  of  Harry  Noecher,  of  Milton,  Pa.;  and 
Rebecca  W. 

George  Garrett,  Mrs.  Seltzer's  father,  was  of  German  descent,  his  grand- 


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964  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

father  coming  to  this  country  from  Germany  and  settling  in  Lebanon  county. 
Pa.,  at  an  early  date.  He  died  there.  He  b€;came  a  prominent  man  of  the 
county,  serving  as  one  of  the  first  county  commissioners.  Jacob  Garrett,  father 
of  George  Garrett,  was  bom  in  Lebanon  county,  where  he  lived  and  died.  He 
followed  farming.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Noll,  and  they  had  several 
daughters  and  two  sons,  John  (who  died  in  Lebanon)  and  George. 

George  Garrett,  son  of  Jacob,  was  reared  in  Lebanon  county,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  miller.  He  came  to  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  many  years  ago, 
and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  at  that  place,  where  he  died  in  1842.  He 
was  engaged  in  burning  charcoal.  Mr.  Garrett  married  Mary  Mills,  a  member 
of  an  old  family  which  was  represented  by  more  than  one  soldier  on  the  Col- 
onies' side  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  following  children  were  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garrett :  Jacob  died  at  Pottsville ;  George  W.,  who  died  at  Potts- 
ville, was  a  soldier  in  both  the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars ;  William  died  when  nine- 
teen years  old ;  Nathaniel  J.,  also  a  soldier  iathe  Civil  war,  was  outside  foreman 
of  the  Hill  colliery,  at  Mahanoy  City,  where  he  died  and  is  buried ;  Hannah  E. 
is  the  widow  of  Francis  B.  Seltzer;  Rebecca  A.  married  Abraham  B rower; 
Joseph  A.  and  John  A.  died  young. 

MARTIN  DORMER  (deceased)  was  in  his  day  one  of  the  foremost  citi- 
zens of  St.  Clair  and  all  that  part  of  Schuylkill  county.  The  popularity  he 
enjoyed  indicated  the  likable  qualities  which  attracted  friends  wherever  he 
went,,  and  the  ample  competence  accumulated  by  his  own  efforts  was  an  un- 
mistakable evidence  of  his  versatile  business  ability.  The  fine  picnic  grounds 
near  St.  Clair  which  he  laid  out  and  developed  were  long  known  as  Dormer's 
Park,  and  upon  these  grounds  has  been  built  the  beautiful  Catholic  Church  edi- 
fice. 

Mr.  Dormer  was  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  bom  in  the  year  1824, 
son  of  Patrick  Dormer.  The  father  followed  mining  in  this  county,  and  died 
here,  at  Mount  Laffer.  His  children  were :  Thomas,  who  died  in  California ; 
James,  who  died  in  New  York ;  Patrick,  who  died  at  St.  Clair ;  Sarah ;  Cath- 
erine; Margaret;  Mary,  and  Martin. 

With  few  of  the  early  advantages  which  boys  of  the  present  day  are  allowed, 
Martin  Dormer  began  work  at  the  mines  when  a  mere  boy.  In  1849  ^^e  gold 
excitement  lured  him  to  Califomia,  and  he  had  the  grilling  experience  of  a  trip 
across  the  plains,  making  his  way  from  Galena,  111.,  to  San  Francisco  on  foot. 
It  took  him  six  months.  Kn  route,  he  was  entertained  at  Salt  Lake  City  by 
Brigham  Yotmg,  being  regaled  with  wine  and  cake,  but  most  of  the  journey 
was  characterized  by  hardships  which  would  have  deterred  any  but  a  man 
of  determined  spirit  from  contmuing  it.  Upon  his  arrival  in  California  he  was 
taken  sick,  and  spent  some  time  in  a  cmde  hospital,  where  later  he  acted 
as  an  attendant  for  a  brief  period  following  his  convalescence.  He  remained 
on  the  coast  until  1852,  when  he  retumed  to  Schuylkill  county  and  located  at 
Pottsville,  engaging  in  the  bottling  of  porter.  There  he  continued  to  live 
until  ten  months  after  his  marriage,  when,  Mrs.  Dormer  preferring  St.  Clair 
as  a  residence  and  business  location,  they  removed  thither,  establishing  them- 
selves at  what  was  known  as  the  "California  House,"  which  they  conducted 
for  one  year  and  nine  months.  Mr.  Dormer  continued  the  botthng  business 
and  also  took  up  the  wholesale  liquor  trade,  in  which  he  acquired  an  extensive 
connection,  becoming  yery  prosperous  by  close  attention  to  the  various  lines 
he  followed.     In  time  he  built  what  was  known  as  Dormer's  brewery  at  St. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  965 

Clair,  conducting  it  himself  for  four  years.  When  he  abandoned  this  industry 
he  returned  to  the  wholesale  liquor  business  for  a  time,  later  carrying  on  a 
saloon,  which  he  owned  and  operated  until  his  death.  He  purchased  a  valuable 
tract  of  land  in  Norwegian  township,  near  the  borough  of  St.  Clair,  and  seeing 
the  need  for  a  desirable  picnic  place  in  the  locality  there  laid  out  and  developed 
Dormer's  Parkiin  East  Norw^an  township,  which  became  a  popular  gathering 
place  for  pleasure  outings  with  all  the  residents  of  Schuylkill  county. 

Few  men  were  more  widely  known  than  Mr.  Dormer,  or  more  kindly 
thought  of  in  the  community.  He  was  a  man  of  generous  impulses,  kind  to 
the  poor,  and  affectionate  and  lovable  in  his  domestic  relations.  In  business 
he  was  most  successful,  and  owed  much  to  the  wise  counsel  and  assistance 
rendered  by  his  devoted  wife.  His  fellow  citizens  had  the  utmost  confidence  in 
his  integrity  as  well  as  faith  in  his  good  judgment,  and  chose  him  for  several 
local  offices,  whose  duties  he  discharged  to  their  entire  satisfaction.  For  twenty- 
eight  years  he  was  a  school  director  of  East  Norwegian  township ;  for  many 
years  he  filled  the  office  of  township  treasurer;  and  he  was  a  member  of  the 
county  board  of  poor  directors.  Politically  he  was  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  In  religious  connection  he  was  a  Catholic,  and  socially  he  belonged 
to  Catawissa  Lodge,  No.  178,  F.  &  A.  M.  Mr.  Dormer  passed  away  Jan.  9, 
1889,  in  his  sixty-fifth  year,  mourned  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, arid  he  is  buried  at  St.  Clair. 

On  Sept.  4,  1853,  Mr.  Dormer  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Br^nnan, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Margaret  Brannan,  and  she  survives  him,  continuing 
to  make  her  home  at  St.  Clair.  The  following  children  were  bom  to  this 
union:  Mary  married  Winfield  Fritz,  and  both  were  killed  by  Mexicans  on 
a  cattle  ranch  in  Arizona,  in  1884;  Thomas,  James  and  Margaret  died  young; 
Margaret  (2)  is  the  wife  of  George  J.  Fame,  a  prominent  merchant  of  the 
borough  of  St.  Qair,  and  their  children  are  Elsie,  Mai^aret,  Dorothy,  Catherine 
and  George;  Michael  is  deceased;  Virgie  is  deceased. 

In  July,  1915,  Mrs.  Dormer  visited  the  San  Francisco  exposition  in  company 
with  one  of  her  granddaughters,  Margaret  Fame.  She  has  many  friends  at 
St.  Clair,  sharing  fully  in  the  high  esteem  in  which  her  husband  was  held. 

JONAS  KUNKEL,  of  East  Brunswick  township,  is  making  a  reputation 
as  one  of  the  wide-awake  farmers  of  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county  who 
have  adopted  modem  ideas  and  methods  to  their  profit.  Though  he  is  en- 
gaged in  general  agriculture,  truck  raising  has  become  his  specialty,  and  by 
marketing  his  produce  in  the  nearby  coal  regions  he  has  solved  more  than 
one  difficulty  which  confronts  the  grower  of  perishable  crops.  By  patience 
and  industry  he  has  worked  out  his  own  problems  very  satisfactorily,  and  he 
well  deserves  his  prosperity. 

Mr.  Kunkel  is  a  typical  descendant  of  the  old  German  stock  which  formed 
so  large  a  proportion  of  Pennsylvania's  early  population.  He  is  a  native  of 
Berks  county,  this  State,  and  traces  his  line  back  to  Georg  Kunkel,  the 
founder  of  a  pioneer  family  of  Albany  township,  that  county.  He  lived  near 
Wessnersville,  on  land  now  occupied  by  one  of  his  descendants,  Nathan  Kunkel. 
Georg  Kunkel  (also  spelled  Kunckell  an4  Kungel),  a  native  of  Germany, 
located  in  Albany  township  some  time  prior  to  1754,  and  it  appears  that  he 
reared  a  large  family.  In  Rupp's  History  of  Berks  County,  his  name  appears 
on  the  list  of  taxables  of  1756  as  **Geoi^e  Kunckell."  In  1759,  according  to 
Montgomery's  History  of  Berk's  county  (1886),  his  name  is  listed  as  George 


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966  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Kungel ;  in  the  latter  year  he  paid  a  tax  of  six  pounds.  At  the  Kunkel  home- 
stead is  an  old  grandfather's  clock  that  bears  the  date  of  1772.  It  was  brought 
into  the  house  at  the  same  time  the  house  was  being  built,  and  is  the  work- 
manship of  George  Miller,  of  Germantown.  It  has  kept  good  time  all  these 
years.  On  the  brass  face  appear  the  letters  "I.  G.  K."  The  Kunkel  tract 
has  been  in  the  family  name  since  about  1754.  Georg  Kunkel  was  a  farmer, 
and  since  his  time  his  farm  has  been  divided  and  subdivided.  His  land  at 
one  time  included  all  the  upper  end  of  Stony  Run.  He  is  buried  at  Wessners- 
ville.    His  children  were  George  and  Peter. 

Peter  Kunkel,  son  of  Georg,  bom  Dec.  20,  1774,  in  Albany  township,  died 
Oct.  28,  1830.  After  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Lynn  township,  Lehigh  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  also  operated  a  distillery  on  his  farm.  Later 
he  lived  near  Wessnersville,  where  he  owned  a  tract  of  275  acres,  which  is 
now  owned  by  a  descendant,  Charles  Kunkel.  In  1797  Peter  Kunkel  married 
Maria  Magdalena  Rausch,  bom  Nov.  10,  1778,  died  April  12,  1846.  They 
had  fourteen  children,  eleven  of  whom  survived  their  parents  (sixteen  grancl- 
children  also  surviving).  Among  these  children  were :  Daniel,  David,  Andraes, 
Benjamin,  Joseph  (married  Catharine  Snyder  and  had  twelve  children),  Peter, 
Polly  (married  Jacob  Elbert),  Catharine  (married  John  Dietrich)  and  Sophia. 

Daniel  Kunkel,  son  of  Peter,  was  bom  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county, 
March  2,  1798,  and  died  Oct.  26,  1863.  He  was  a  farmer,  owning  two  tracts, 
one  of  two  hundred  acres,  the  other  of  sixty.  He  owned  and  lived  on  the  farm 
which  later  became  the  property  of  his  son  Jacob,  who  sold  it  to  Henry  Bau- 
scher,  his  brother-in-law,  in  1870,  for  $10,000.  It  comprises  127  acres  of  ex- 
cellent land,  situated  in  the  potato  belt,  and  is  now  tenanted  and  cultivated  by 
Daniel  Bauscher,  son  of  Henry.  The  present  bam  on  the  place  was  built  by 
Daniel  Kunkel.  He  married  in  182 1  Maria  Magdalena  Zimmerman,  born  Feb. 
27,  1797,  died  July  14,  1859,  and  they  are  both  buried  at  the  Frieden's  Church 
at  Wessnersville.  They  had  a  large  family,  thirteen  children,  among  whom 
were :  A  daughter  who  married  Daniel  Brobst ;  Catharine,  who  marned  Reu- 
ben A.  Dietrich;  Mary,  Mrs.  Derr;  Benjamin,  who  married  Sarah  Hartman; 
John,  who  lived  and  died  at  McKeansburg,  Pa.;  Jacob,  bom  in  1841,  died  in 
1900;  and  Sarah,  who  married  Henry  Bauscher. 

John  Kunkel,  son  of  Daniel,  was  bom  about  1823  in  Albany  township, 
Berks  county,  and  received  his  education  there.  He  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  until  1850,  when  he  left  Albany  township  and  removed  to  Bensingers 
valley,  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  locating  at  what  is 
known  locally  as  Schmaltzdale,  in  the  vicinity  of  McKeansburg.  There  he 
boug:ht  120  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  remained  the  rest  of  his  days,  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  the  raising  of  truck,  which  he  sold  himself,  having 
a  route  to  Middleport,  this  county.  He  married  Mary  Long,  daughter  of  Chris- 
topher Long,  a  native  of  Albany  township,  Berks  county,  and  she  survived  him 
many  years,  his  death  occurring  in  February,  1875,  when  he  was  fifty-two 
years  old,  hers  on  April  15,  iQOi,  at  the  a^e  of  seventy-seven  years.  They 
are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Frieden's  German  Lutheran  Church  at  New 
Ringgold,  to  which  both  belonged.  Mr.  Kunkel  was  one  of  its  prominent 
members,  filling  all  the  church  offices.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  The 
following  children  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife:  Sarah  married  Samuel 
Bolich,  who  is  deceased,  and  she  lives  in  Albany  township;  Jonas  is  next  in 
the  family ;  William  married  Mary  Nester ;  Mandus  married  Lena  Neiswender, 
and  they  reside  in  Nebraska;  Mary  died  young;  Levina  died  young;  Lewis 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  967 

married  Caroline  Leiby,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Henry  (deceased)  married  Ella 
Dundore,  who  survives  him  and  is  living  at  Springmont,  Berks  county;  John 
(deceased)  married  Lena  Merkel,  of  Lewistown,  Pa.,  and  is  now  living  at  Or- 
wigsburg;  Daniel  died  unmarried;  Emma  married  Joseph  Shoener,  of  Mc- 
Keansburg. 

Jonas  ICunkel  was  bom  March  3,  1846,  in  Albany  township,  and  grew  up  in 
Schuylkill  county,  obtaining  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  E^st  Bruns- 
wick township  (Bensingers  valley),  with  two  terms  subsequently  at  Freeland 
and  two  terms  at  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  at  Kutztown.  He  taught 
school  for  one  term  of  six  months  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county,  following 
which  he  settled  at  his  present  place,  which  his  father  had  bought  for  him.  The 
property  then  comprised  140  acres,  to  which  Mr.  Kunkel  has  added  thirty  acres 
since,  and  he  now  has  about  eighty  acres  under  cultivation.  He  managed  to 
pay  off  his  obligations  to  his  father  after  a  few  years,  and  he  has  prospered 
steadily.  Until  1894  he  operated  a  gristmill  on  his  property,  but  he  now  uses 
this  mill  as  a  storage  house  for  fruits  and  vegetables.  However,  he  still  con- 
ducts the  sawmill  on  his  property  which  he  has  operated  since  1870,  doing 
general  custom  work.  Mr.  Kunkel  has  changed  his  operations  from  time  to  time 
as  he  saw  opportunity  for  betterment,  and  he  is  now  making  a  specialty  of  the 
raising  of  fine  fruits  and  vegetables,  for  which  he  finds  a  ready  market  in  the 
coal  regions,  the  produce  being  conveyed  to  market  by  his  own  men.  His  suc- 
cess is  a  strong  argument  for  the  possibilities  of  intensive  farming  in  his 
neighborhood. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Kunkel  has  been  active  in  promoting  local  interests, 
being  a  member  of  McKeansburg  Grange,  No.  1256,  P.  of  H.,  and  of  Christ 
Lutheran  Church  at  McKeansburg,  in  whose  affairs  he  has  always  been  a  fore- 
most worker;  he  has  served  as  elder  and  in  all  the  offices.  His  political  con- 
nection has  been  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  held  the  office  of  school 
director. 

Mr.  Kimkel  married  Levina  Trexler,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Lydia  (Baus- 
cher)  Trexler,  and  five  children  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage :  Nathan  J., 
bom  Aug.  12,  1879,  lives  on  the  old  homestead ;  he  married  Hannah  Freeman, 
and  their  children  are  Florence,  Esther,  George,  Irwin  and  Harry.  Benjamin 
F.,  bom  July  9,  1881,  married  Annie  Buehler,  and  has  children,  Ethel  and 
Newton;  they  live  at  Tumbling  Run,  in  Blythe  township,  this  county.  Elmer 
H.,  bom  Jan.  7,  1883,  ^ves  on  the  old  Steigewalt  farm ;  he  married  Jennie  Sieg- 
fried, and  their  children  are  Albert,  Annie  and  Margaret.  Agnes  M.,  bom 
March  16,  1885,  married  Harry  Koch,  and  lives  at  Drexel  Hill,  near  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  and  their  children  are  Mildred,  Ruth,  Elma,  Harry  and  Catherine. 
Ellen,  bom  Jan.  16,  1890,  is  engaged  as  a  school  teacher. 

Mrs.  Levina  (Trexler)  Kunkel,  wife  of  Jonas  Kunkel,  was  bom  in  Albany 
township,  Berks  county,  Dec.  21,  1848,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Trexler  and  a 
granddaughter  of  Benjamin  Trexler.  The  Trexler  family  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  numerous  in  Berks  county.  It  has  numbered  in  its  ranks  not  alone 
the  honest  farmer  and  industrious  laborer,  but  men  in  every  profession,  in 
civil  and  military  life,  and  its  women  have  been  gracious  and  womanly.  Indus- 
try has  been  a  marked  characteristic  of  the  family.  Money  has  been  made, 
and  when  spent  spent  wisely,  even  lavishly  when  riven  to  tihe  less  fortunate. 
Ambition  coupled  with  ability  has  made  leaders  of  men,  and  temperate  lives 
have  riven  strengfth  to  meet  any  issue.  To  Berks  county.  Pa.,  came  Peter 
Trexler,  some  time  prior  to  1720,  settling  in  Oley  township.    As  early  as  Sept. 


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968  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

5,  1720,  he  was  one  of  the  petitioners  for  the  erection  of  the  township.  It  was 
but  a  short  time  afterwards,  however,  that  he  left  Berks  county,  and  moved 
to  wl^at  is  now  Upper  Macungie  township,  Lehigh  county,  a  territory  that, 
covered  with  brush  and  scrub  oak  as  it  was,  offered  very  Uttle  in  the  way  of 
attraction  to  the  early  settler,  other  than  an  abundance  of  water  with  which  it 
was  blessed.  He  settled  near  Breiniesville,  his  land  embracing  what  is  now 
the  John  R.  Gonser  farm.  On  Nov.  18,  1729,  he  obtained  from  Casper  Wister, 
the  patentee,  a  deed  for  this  land,  and  this  deed  is  one  of  the  earliest,  if  not 
the  earliest,  in  that  region.  A  seven-years'  residence  was  required  before 
naturaUzation,  and  Peter  Trexler  did  not  take  out  his  papers  until  1730.  He 
and  his  family  were  the  first  white  settlers  in  Macungie,  and  Dr.  Helf rich,  in 
his  history  of  the  various  congregations  of  Lehigh  and  Berks  counties,  says: 
"Way  down  in  the  valley  near  wluit  is  now  Breimgsville  lived,  before  the  gen- 
eral migration  into  this  neighborhood,  a  Trexler  family,  with  whom  the  Indians 
were  very  friendly.  Mother  Trexler  often  presented  the  Indians  with  gifts 
and  gave  them  bread,  and  in  return  they  brought  her  wild  skins  and  showed 
friendship  to  the  pale-faces." 

Peter  Trexler  died  in  1758,  and  his  will,  dated  Dec.  17,  1744,  divides  his 
estate  among  his  widow,  Catharine,  and  three  sons  and  three  daughters — ^Jere- 
miah, John,  Peter,  Anna,  Catharine  and  Margaret.  The  son,  Peter  (2),  was 
made  executor  of  the  will.  Peter  Trexler  and  his  wife  were  both  buried  in 
the  family  cemetery  on  their  farm,  but  the  grai^es,  originally  marked  by  soft 
sandstones  now  wasted  away,  cannot  be  definitely  located.  Steps  were  recently 
taken  by  the  Trexler  Family  Association,  in  Reunion  Aug.  28,  1907,  to  restore 
this  ancient  burial  place  of  their  ancestors,  and  to  place  a  tablet  to  the  memory 
of  Peter  Trexler  and  wife.  Of  the  daughters  of  Peter  Trexler  nothing  is 
known,  but  in  the  diary  of  Rev.  John  Casper  Stoever,  Nov.  9,  1732,  is  the  record 
of  the  marriage  of  John  George  Schumacher  and  Catharine  Trexler,  of 
Macimgie. 

Peter  Trexler,  son  of  Peter  the  emigrant,  was  bom  Feb.  11,  1721,  and  was 
bequeathed  the  homestead  near  Breinigsville,  which  had  been  deeded  to  him  in 
1748.  He  became  a  man  of  considerable  importance,  and  was  justice  of  the 
peace  from  1752  to  1776,  and,  as  such,  under  the  Colonial  system,  sat  \n  the 
courts  at  Easton.  The  first  election  in  Northampton  county  occurred  Oct.  i, 
1752,  many  of  the  voters  being  obliged  to  travel  twenty-five  miles  to  deposit 
their  ballots.  The  opposing  parties  were  the  Irish  and  German  settlers.  Peter 
Trexler  was  elected  one  of  the  three  county  commissioners.  He  was  a  frugal 
man  of  methodical  habits,  and  in  favor  of  education.  When  compelled  to  oe 
away  from  home  to  attend  court,  he  filled  his  saddlebags  with  provisions  so  he 
could  board  himself.  When  schools  were  established  in  Pennsylvania  by  the 
English  nobility  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  the  English  language,  Peter  Trexler 
was  made  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  William  Parsons  School  at  Easton.  He 
died  Aug.  25,  1798,  and  was  buried  in  the  family  cemetery  on  the  home  farm. 
He  married  Catharine  Winck,  bom  Aug.  7,  1728,  who  died  Aug.  14,  1815,  aged 
eighty-seven  years.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Casper  and  Gertrude  (Kemp) 
Winck.  According  to  the  Lehigh  Church  Book,  at  her  death  she  left  sixty-two 
grandchildren  and  seventy-nine  great-grandchildren.  Seven  children,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters,  survived  Peter  Trexler.  The  sons  were:  Peter, 
Jonathan  and  John.  The  daughters  were:  Maria  Christine,  bom  Nov.  3. 
1^53,  who  married  Aug.  13,  1776,  Peter  Haas,  and  died  Sept.  13,  1829.  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  969 

mother  of  ten  children ;  Mrs.  Philip  Fogel ;  Mrs.  Henry  Grim ;  and  one  of  whom 
there  is  no  record. 

Peter  Trexler,  son  of  Peter  of  Macungie,  and  the  third  of  the  name,  was 
bom  Aug.  15,  1748,  and  is  known  as  Mertztown  Peter,  and  frequently  in  the 
records  appears  as  John  Peter  or  Horn  Peter.  He  was  a  patriot  of  the  Kevolu- 
tion,  serving  as  captain  of  the  5th  Company  of  Colonel  Breinig's  second  bat- 
talion of  militia,  and  on  May  5,  1783,  was  made  lieutenant  colonel.  He  was 
elected  county  commissioner  in  1782;  representative  in  the  General  Assembly, 
1785-86-87-88,  thus  serving  four  years,  the  time  limit  set  by  the  constitution 
of  1776.  He  died  March  13,  1828,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  six  months,  twenty- 
eight  days,  and  was  buried  in  the  family  cemetery.    His  will  (see  Will  Book 

6,  p,  187)  was  made  Feb.  15,  1825,  and  entered  April  3,  1828,  his  sons  Peter, 
Jacob,  Reuben  and  Jonas  being  executors.  He  married  Catharine  Grim,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Grim,  youngest  son  of  Geittie  Grim,  the  ancestor  of  the  Grim 
family  so  prominent  in  that  section.    She  was  born  July  30,  1757,  and  died  July 

7,  1828,  aged  seventy-one  years,  less  twenty-three  days.  Eleven  children  were 
bom  to  Peter  and  Catharine  (Grim)  Trexler,  namely:  (i)  Maria  married 
John  Folk,  and  had  children,  Joshua,  John,  Reuben,  Anna  (Shuman),  Cath- 
arine (first  married  to  a  Keizer,  and  second  to  a  Hilbert),  Caroline  (Guise) 
and  Lydia  (Guise).  (2)  John  Peter  (Jan.  2,  1777-March  6,  1828)  married 
Rachel  Fo^el  (Sept.  11,  1784,  Jan.  i.  1867),  and  had  children:  Caroline 
(Horlacher),  Sarah  (Seiberling),  Maria  (Fogel)  and  Jonas.  (3)  Jacob  be- 
came the  father  of  Reuben,  David,  Peter,  Jacob,  Mrs.  James  Breinig,  Cath- 
arine (Breinig)  and  Mrs.  Stephen  Sawyer.  (4)  Reuben  (1782-1846)  was  an 
iron  master,  residing  in  Mertztown,  Longswamp  township,  where  he  also 
carried  on  farming  and  was  well  and  favorably  known.  He  married  Anna, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Lesher,  a  charming,  charitable  woman  of  refined  taste, 
and  they  lived  in  the  old  Trexler  mansion  in  Longswamp  township.  They 
had  children:  Col.  William  (1816-1905),  Horatio  (who  lived  at  Reading, 
>vhere  he  was  president  of  the  National  Union  Bank),  Dr.  Lesher  (of  Fort 
Wa)me,  father  of  Mrs.  Anna  Wertz,  of  Allentown,  and  Mrs.  Judith  Reno, 
mother  of  Claude  Trexler  Reno,  of  Kutztown),  Lucinda  (wife  of  Gen. 
James  Rittenhouse)  and  Caroline  (wife  of  William  Schall).  Mrs.  Anna 
(Lesher)  Trexler  died  in  1848,  aged  fifty-four  years,  (s)  Benjamin  (1784- 
1855)  is  mentioned  1>elow.  (6)  Catharine  married  a  Mr.  Haas,  and  had  chil- 
dren; Judith  (Gregory),  Nathan,  Leana  (Butz),  Kate  (Hoffman),  Tallie 
(HoflFman),  Jonathan  T.,  Reuben  T.  and  J.  P.  T.  (7)  Jonas  had  children: 
Jonas,  WiUoughby,  Abyle,  David,  Peter,  Sarah  (Ludwig),  Angeline  (Ahlum) 
and  Eliza  (Miller).  (8)  Anna  married  Philip  Dresher,  and  had  two  children, 
Nathan  and  Judith  (Reiter).  (9)  Nathan  lived  in  Longswamp  township, 
where  he  died  in  February,  1865.  His  will  is  on  record  in  Will  Book  11,  p. 
363.  His  wife  Phoebe  bore  him  four  children:  Edwin  H.,  Mary  (Mrs.  George 
Schall),  Amelia  (Mrs.  Jonathan  B.  Grim)  and  Sarah  (Esterly).  (10)  Daniel 
died  .leaving  no  children.  (11)  Judith  married  Rev.  Isaac  Roeller,  and  was 
affectionately  known  as  "Aunty  Koeller."  She  died  in  1885,  leaving  no  chil- 
dren. On  Aug.  17,  1809,  Peter  Trexler  bought  his  son  Benjamin  a  large  fam- 
ily Bible,  printed  in  1798,  costing  seven  dollars.  This  is  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Oliver  Trexler  (bom  Dec.  21,  1852),  son  of  Nathan  and  grandson 
of  Benjamin. 

Benjamin  Trexler,  son  of  Peter  of  Mertztown,  and  Catharine  (Grim), 
was  born  Feb.  2,  1784,  in  the  Catawissa  valley,  and  he  died  June  20,  1855, 


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970  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

aged  seventy-one  years,  four  months,  eighteen  days.  He  first  settled  in  the 
Qitawissa  valley,  but  in  1825  moved  to  Albany,  Berks  county.  He  married 
(first)  March  10,  1805,  Maria  Dresher,  and  became  the  father  of  nine  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Daniel,  bom  Nov.  30,  1805;  Benjamin,  Jan.  31,  1807; 
Amos,  April  27,  1808;  Fiana,  July  26,  1809  (died  young);  Jonas,  Dec.  16, 
1810;  Aaron,  May  3,  1812;  Jairus,  July  26,  1813;  Anna,  April  25,  1815;  one 
stillborn;  Nathan,  Jan.  11,  1818;  and  Peter,  May  22,  1820.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  May  23,  1820,  and  he  married  (second)  June  13,  1823,  Catharine 
Bolich,  who  bore  him  one  daughter,  Catharine,  Sept.  3,  1824.  Mrs.  Catharine 
(Bolich)  Trexler  died  Sept.  7,  1855,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  nine  months, 
twelve  days. 

Nathan  Trexler,  father  of  Mrs.  Jonas  Kunkel,  was  bom  Jan.  11,  1818, 
in  Albany  township,  and  obtained  his  education  there  in  the  pay  schools. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  owned  two  farms,  renting  out  the  larger  and  conducting 
the  smaller,  as  well  as  a  general  store  and  custom  mill.  He  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1879.  ^y  l^^s  marriage  to  Lydia  Bauscher  he  had  children  as  follows: 
Levina,  Mrs.  Jonas  Kunkel;  Emma,  who  married  Albert  Kistler  (both  de- 
ceased) ;  Oliver,  who  married  Mary  Kistler;  Mary,  deceased,  who  married 
Albert  Smith,  of  Lynnport,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.;  and  Benjamin,  deceased,  who 
married  Fannie  Seidel.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trexler  were  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  (Bethel)  Church  in  Albany  township,  and  they  are  buried  in  the 
cemetery  of  that  church.    Politically  he  was  a  Republican. 

JOHN  RENNINGER,  a  well  known  contractor  and  builder  of  Schuylkill 
Haven,  with  residence  and  place  of  business  on  West  Canal  street,  was  bom 
in  that  town  Aug.  2,  1873,  and  is  a  son  of  James  Renninger,  grandson  of 
John  Renninger,  and  a  descendant  of  an  old  Northumberland  county  family. 
His  great-grandfather  lived  and  died  in  Northumberland  county,  and  his  fam- 
ily was  reared  there. 

John  Renninger,  the  grandfather,  was  bom  in  Northumberland  county, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  boatbuilder,  being  one  of  the  early  boatbuilders  at 
Schuylkill  Haven  and  Landingville,  Schuylkill  county.  He  served  nine  months 
in  the  Civil  war,  under  Captain  Jones,  from  Schuylkill  coimty.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-eight  years,  and  is  buried  in  the  soldiers'  lot  in  the  Union  cemetery 
at  Schuylkill  Haven.  Mr.  Renninger  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Philip 
and  Sarah  Wolfinger,  and  their  children  were :  George,  living  in  Berks  county ; 
Edward,  residing  in  Pottsville ;  James,  mentioned  below ;  EUzabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Charles  Lloyd,  and  lives  at  Newberry,  Pa. ;  and  four  children  who  died 
in  childhood. 

James  Renninger,  the  father  of  John  Renninger,  was  bom  March  8,  1849, 
in  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Schuylkill 
Haven  and  Landingville,  Pa.  Following  the  example  of  his  father  he  became 
a  boatman  on  the  canal,  continuing  such  occupation  until  the  closing  of  that 
waterway.  He  then  turned  to  railroad  work,  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railway  Company,  in  whose  employ  he  remained  for  nineteen  years,  since 
when  he  has  been  working  in  the  borough  of  Schuylkill  Haven.  Mr.  Renninger 
married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Ryon)  Katerman,  and  they  had 
children  as  follows :  John,  mentioned  below ;  Charles  E.,  residing  at  Schuyl- 
kill Haven ;  Robert,  Lewis  and  Roy,  all  residing  in  the  same  borough ;  Eva,  wife 
of  William  Bitzer;  Mary,  at  home;  Lydia  married  Robert  Davis,  and  died  at 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  971 

the  age  of  twenty-seven  years;  Laura,  who  died  when  six  years  old:  and 
three  children  died  in  infancy. 

John  Renninger  attended  public  school  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  was  but 
a  youth  when  he  began  to  follow  the  occupation  of  his  father  and  grandfather, 
that  of  boatman  on  the  canal.  He  followed  the  work  until  the  canal  was 
closed  and  then  worked  by  the  day  for  a  time,  later  foll9wing  the  carpenter's 
trade  with  Irvin  Becker  for  six  years.  Then  he  began  doing  contracting  for 
himself,  and  has  continued  this  work  up  to  the  present  lime  with  much  success. 
He  has  an  up-to-date  establishment,  is  a  skilled  mechanic  and  builder,  and 
many  residences  in  Schuylkill  Haven  are  standing  evidences  of  his  ability  as 
an  architect.  Mr.  Renninger  married  Myra  Dnesbach,  daughter  of  Lewis 
Driesbach,  and  they  have  three  children:  Elmer,  Clarence  and  Albert.  Mr. 
Renninger  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

SAMUEL  KOENIG,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  is  one  of  the  oldest  liv- 
ing residents  of  East  Brunswick  township,  where  he  has  spent  all  of  his  four- 
score years  except  the  period  he  was  away  in  defense  of  the  Union.  He  was 
bom  in  East  Brunswick  township  Sept.  lo,  1835,  son  of  Samuel  Koenig  and 
grandson  of  Daniel  Koenig. 

Daniel  Koenig  was  a  farmer  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  where  he  owned  150  acres  of  land.  He  was  bom  in  the  county,  and 
spent  all  his  life  there,  clearing  his  land,  on  which  he  built  a  log  house  and 
bam.  He  married  Elizabeth  Widdowstone,  and  they  had  children  as  follows : 
Daniel  married  Sarah  Miller;  ElizaWh  married  George  Sassaman;  Peter 
married  Hettie  Riegel;  Frederick  married  Hannah  Schaffer;  Samuel  is  men- 
tioned below ;  all  are  now  deceased.  Daniel  Koenig  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
three  years,  and  he  is  buried  in  a  private  graveyard  on  the  farm  of  Samuel 
Behler,  at  Summer  Hill,  in  East  Bmnswick  township.  His  wife  died  aged 
eighty-one  years,  two  months,  and  is  buried  at  Frieden's  Church,  New  Ring- 
gold. He  belonged  to  the  Frieden's  German  Reformed  congregation,  and  at- 
tended services  regularly.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  a  Republican. 
He  held  the  township  offices  of  school  director  and  supervisor. 

Samuel  Koenig,  son  of  Daniel,  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township  April 
6,  1804,  and  attended  school  in  East  Brunswick  township.  He  worked  with 
his  father  until  he  married,  and  then  bought  a  tract  of  150  acres  at  Summer 
Hill,  East  Bmnswick  township,  part  of  which  farm — ^the  portion  on  which 
Mr.  Koenig  liyed — is  now  owned  by  John  Sassaman.  Mr.  Koenig  cleared  a 
great  deal  of  the  farm,  built  houses  and  barns  upon  it,  and  operated  the 
property  until  about  eighteen  years  before  his  death,  when  he  and  his  wife 
went  to  the  home  of  their  son  Samuel,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  While  living  with  his  son  Samuel  Mr.  Koenig  worked  with  him,  and  also 
did  wood  chopping,  until  a  few  years  before  he  died,  April  i,  1881.  His  wife, 
Esther  (Miller),  bom  Oct.  18,  1801,  died  in  November,  1868.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Miller,  a  native  of  West  Penn  township.  Children  as  fol- 
lows were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koenig:  William  died  unmarried;  Samuel  is 
next  in  the  family;  Rebecca  is  the  widow  of  George  Eckroth;  Caroline  mar- 
ried Hiram  Koch,  and  both  are  deceased;  Frank  went  West,  and  was  never 
heard  from;  Catherine. married  Daniel  H.  Koch;  Solomon,  deceased,  married 
Sarah  Houser.  The  father  was  a  Republican  and  took  an  active  part  in  local 
politics.    He  was  a  school  director  many  times,  and  was  also  elected  supervisor 


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972  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

• 

and  auditor.  He  belonged  to  the  Frieden's  Reformed  Church,  at  New  Ring- 
gold, and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  that  church. 

Samuel  Koenig,  son  of  Samuel,  above,  was  educated  in  East  Brunswick 
township  and  worked  there  with  his  father  until  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army. 
Enlisting  in  Capt.  John  W.  Kantner's  Company  G,  104th  Pennsylvania  Vol- 
unteers, under  Col.  William  H.  Davis,  he  was  enrolled  Feb.  4,  1865,  at  Har- 
risburg,  Pa.,  for  one  year  or  during  the  war,  and  was  sent  to  Portsmouth, 
Va.  In  the  assault  on  the  works  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  April  3  and  4,  1865,  the 
re^^ment  participated,  and  upon  the  rout  of  the  Rebel  army  followed  in  pur- 
suit as  far  as  Chesterfield  Station.  From  this  point  it  was  ordered  to  Peters- 
burg, thence  went  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and  after  a  halt  of  four  days  on  to 
Norfolk.  During  the  last  year's  service,  by  economy  in  tfie  management  of 
the  bakery,  the  regiment  accumulated  a  fund  of  nearly  $2,000,  and  $1,600  of 
this  money  was  appropriated  by  the  survivors  for  the  erection  of  a  monument 
in  memory  of  their  fellow  comrades.  This  monument  was  erected  in  the 
public  square  at  Doylestown,  P^.  Mr.  Koenig's  health  was  seriously  affected 
while  he  was  in  the  service,  and  he  suffered  three  and  a  half  months  of  illness 
while  in  the  army.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Portsmouth,  Va.,  Aug.  25,  1865. 
Returning  to  East  Brunswick  township  he  was  sick  with  malaria  for  about 
one  year,  living  with  his  father  durin^^  this  time.  Later  he  bought  his  present 
place  of  twenty- four  acres,  half  of  which  is  under  cultivation,  and  made  numer- 
ous improvements  on  the  property,  building  stables,  etc.  The  house  in  which 
he  lives  is  an  old  log  structure,  but  weather-boarded  and  in  a  good  state  of 
preservation.  A  few  years  after  settling  here  Mr.  Koenig,  in  connection  with 
his  duties  on  the  farm,  b^^n  work  as  a  section  hand  on  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  road,  and  after  a  time  hired  others  to  do  his  farm  work.  While 
with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company  he  served  under  section  foremen 
Abraham  Koch,  Daniel  Koch,  and  Frank  Reicheldeifer.  In  September,  1905. 
he  was  pensioned  by  the  company  after  a  service  of  thirty-three  and  a  half 
years.    He  is  now  living  retired. 

Mr.  Koenig  married  Caroline  Leiser,  who  was  bom  Jan.  i,  1843,  opposite 
New  Ringgold,  in  East  Brunswick  township,  and  attended  the  Hecla  school 
in  that  township.  She  is  the  mother  of  the  following  children :  Hannah  Re- 
becca, bom  May  6,  i860,  married  Geor^^e  Freed  and  has  had  three  children, 
Floyd,  Earl  (deceased)  and  Qayton;  William  H.,  bom  Dec.  30,  1865,  married 
Mabel  Alberta  Reed,  and  they  have  had  four  children,  Clayton  (who  is  mar- 
ried to  Annie  Weiss  and  has  one  child,  Alberta),  Harry,  Howard  and  Mary 
(deceased)  ;  Rosie  Louisa,  bqm  June  14,  1870,  lives  at  Weatherly,  Pa.,  the 
widow  of  Harry  Rehrig,  who  was  an  engineer  on  the  Lehigh  Valley  railroad 
(her  only  child,  Mary,  married  Harry  Wertman,  and  has  one  child,  Doris) ; 
Clara  Kate,  born  May  6,  1873,  married  Monroe  Rumble,  who  was  killed  at 
the  Potts  Powder  Works  (they  had  seven  children:  Charles,  who  was  killed 
at  the  Atlas  Powder  Works,  Kenvil,  N.  T. ;  Mary,  who  married  Fred.  Hay- 
cock, of  Kenvil,  N.  J.,  and  has  two  children,  Florence  and  Edith;  Maude, 
who  married  Artie  Houser  and  has  one  child,  Ethel ;  Iva ;  Clayton ;  William, 
and  Earl)  ;  Mary  Alice,  bom  Aug.  15,  1875,  resides  in  Lehigh  county,  the  wife 
of  Adam  ShoUenberger  (their  children  are  Myrtie,  who  is  married  to  Elmer 
Fink  and  has  one  child,  Lawrence;  Hilda;  Richard;  Harry;  Mabel;  Oscar; 
Ray,  and  Wayne)  ;  Annie  Christina,  bom  March  2,  1876,  is  married  to  Harry 
Moyer  and  resides  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa.  (their  children  are  Myrtle,  Harold, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  -  973 

Eddie,  Mildred,  Marian,  Nellie  and  Florence) ;  Harry  Samuel,  born  Aug.  28, 
1884,  died  Oct.  14,  1891. 

Mr.  Koenig  is  a  Republican  in  political  connection,  is  a  member  of  Double- 
day  Post,  No.  189,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Tamaqua,  Pa.,  and  belongs  to  the  Frieden's 
Reformed  Church,  of  Ncfw  Ringgold,  of  which  his  wife  is  also  a  member. 

Samuel  Leiser,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Koenig,  was  the  son  of  John  Leiser, 
who  came  from  Lehigh  county  and  settled  in  East  Brunswick  township,  where 
he  was  a  farmer.  He  married  a  Miss  Bock,  and  their  children  were:  John, 
Samuel,  Sarah  (married  Jonas  Bock),  Jonas  and  Jacob.  The  father  was  a 
Republican,  and  in  religious  connection  a  member  of  the  Frieden's  Church  at 
New  Ringeold.    The  parents  are  buried  there. 

Samuel  Leiser,  son  of  John,  was  bom  in  East  Brunswick  township,  and 
owned  a  tract  of  twenty-five  acres  there.  He  was  a  charcoal  and  lime  burner 
and  a  sawmill  worker,  following  these  occtypations  all  his  life.  By  his  mar- 
riage to  Mary  Heiser,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Sarah  ( Hoffman ^  Heiser,  he 
had  children  as  follows:  Isabella  married  George  Eckert,  and  ooth  are  de- 
ceased; Martin  married  Catherine  Knittle,  and  both  are  deceased;  Sarah, 
'deceased,  married  Joseph  Moyer;  Caroline  is  Mrs.  Koenig;  Daniel  married 
Eliza  Miller,  who  is  deceased;  Catherine  married  a  Mr.  Hennessy,  and  both 
are  deceased;  Samuel,  deceased,  married  Amanda  Yost;  Adam  died  unmar- 
ried. Both  parents  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and  they  are  buried 
at  Steigerwalts  Church,  the  Church  of  God  in  East  Brunswick  township,  to 
which  3iey  belonged.    Mr.  Leiser  was  a  Republican. 

REV.  JOSEPH  PELECHOVYCH,  of  Minersville,  present  pastor  of  St. 
Nicholas'  Ruthenian  Greek  Catholic  Church,  has  done  excellent  work  for  the 
^parish  during  the  two  years  he  has  been  established  there.  He  is  a  native 
of  Galicia,  Austria,  bom  at  Waniw,  County  Sokal,  March  18,  1870.  His 
literary  education  was  obtained  in  the  high  school  at  Lemberg,  Galicia,  and  in 
the  State  University  at  Vienna,  Austria,  from  which  institution  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1893.  After  a  theological  course  he  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood 
in  1895  at  Przemysl,  Galicia,  and  for  three  years  thereafter  served  as  assistant 
priest  with  his  father  at  Waniw.  He  then  became  parish  priest  in  the  Harmpua 
district,  Jaslo,  Galicia,  remaining  there  ten  years,  and  in  1910  came  to  America. 
His  first  station  here  was  at  Berwick,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  remained 
four  months,  after  which  he  was  at  Scranton  and  Chester,  Pa.,  for  brief 
periods,  for  about  two  years  at  the  *'01d  Forge,"  in  February,  191 3,  coming 
to  Minersville  to  assume  the  duties  of  his  present  charge.  Father  Pelechovych 
has  become  very  well  known  in  this  section  since  he  entered  upon  his  work  in 
the  St.  Nicholas  parish,  and  has  made  many  friends  in  all  classes  and  denomi- 
nations. He  is  interested  in  local  affairs  generally,  as  well  as  in  the  progress 
of  the  people  whose  spiritual  welfare  has  been  intrusted  to  him,  and  is  regarded 
as  a  citizen  whose  influence  in  the  community  is  serviceable  to  her  best 
interests. 

Father  Pelechovych  is  married  and  has  a  family  of  five  children,  two  sons 
and  three  daughters:  Rohdan,  Yaraslaw,  Nellie,  Irene  and  Mary. 

WILLIAM  BERGAN,  an  old  time  hotelkeeper  in  Heckscherville,  is  a 
most  respected  resident  of  Cass  township,  and  is  also  well  known  in  the  sur- 
rounding territory  in  Schuylkill  county.  In  the  course  of  his  business  he  has 
naturally  come  into  contact  with  an  unusually  large  number  of  his  fellow 


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974  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

citizens  there  as  well  as  the  traveling  public,  and  by  one  and  all  is  held  in  popu- 
lar esteem. 

.  Mr.  Bergan  was  bom  in  Heckscherville  in  1855,  son  of  William  Bergan,  a 
native  of  Kilkenny,  Ireland.  He  spent  his  early  life  in  that  country,  coming 
to  America  in  young  manhood  and  settling  in  Cass  township,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  among  the  early  residents  at  Heckscherville.  He  was  a  miner  by  occupa- 
tion. He  married  Ellen  Hunt,  who  survived  him,  his  death  occurring  at  the 
age  of  fifty-two  years,  hers  at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  They  are  buried  at 
Minersville.  They  had  the  following  children :  James,  Annie,  Mary,  Michael, 
Patrick,  William,  Elizabeth  and  Nellie. 

William  Bergan,  son  of  William  and  Ellen  (Hunt)  Bergan,  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Cass  township.  He  began  work  as  a  slate  picker  in  the  mines 
when  twelve  years  old,  being  first  employed  at  the  West  Pine  Knot  colliery. 
Later  he  drove  mules  and  filled  different  positions  about  the  mines,  eventually 
becoming  a  miner,  and  has  spent  in  all  about  twelve  years  at  this  line  of  work. 
He  then  engaged  in  hauling  for  a  period  of  about  fifteen  years,  and  for  the 
last  thirty  years  he  has  been  carrying  on  a  hotel  business  in  Heckscherville  val- 
ley, Cass  township.  Mr.  Bergan  built  a  fine  hotel,  which  he  operates,  and 
owns  the  property  as  well  as  the  business,  and  he  has  always  enjoyed  a  thriv- 
ing business.  His  steady  success  shows  him  well  adapted  for  his  chosen  line. 
Mr.  Bergan  has  always  been  zealous  in  the  interest  of  his  patrons,  providing 
them  with  the  best  possible  accommodation,  and  giving  obliging  services  to  all 
who  seek  his  hospitality.  His  neighbors  and  other  friends  in  Cass  township 
have  given  evidence  of  their  confidence  in  his  substantial  character,  and  years 
ago  he  was  elected  to  the  position  of  school  director,  which  office  he  held  from 
1883  until  1887,  as  a  fellow  member  of  Michael  J.  Brady,  the  veteran  school 
teacher  of  this  section  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Bergan  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  fraternally  is  asso- 
ciated with  the  Foresters  of  America  and  with  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles, 
belonging  to  the  Aerie  at  Pottsville. 

Mr.  Bergan  married  Eliza  Hoben,  daughter  of  Patrick  Hoben,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  Ireland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bergan  have  had  six  children :  Wil- 
liam, who  resides  at  home ;  Patrick,  who  married  Katie  Dullard,  and  has  three 
children,  William,  Mary  and  James ;  James  is  deceased ;  John,  who  died  when 
three  months  old;  John  (2),  who  also  died  in  infancy;  and  Nellie,  at  home. 

IRVIN  A.  EBLING,  a  most  successful  farmer,  trucker  and  dairyman  of 
North  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  June  16,  1866,  in 
West  Brunswick  township,  this  county,  son  of  Robert  Ebling.  The  family  is 
of  German  descent. 

Jacob  Ebling,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Oley  township,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  settled  in  West  Brunswick  township  about  1831.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  blacksmith  and  engaged  at  both  calling  there  for  a  few  years, 
afterwards  returning  to  Berks  county,  where  he  died.  Among  his  children 
were:  Jacob,  Gideon,  Kate,  SalHe  and  David.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  coming  to  America  and  settling  in  Berks  county,  where  he  lived  and 
died. 

Gideon  Ebling,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bom  in  18 13  in  Oley  township,  Berks 
county,  and  attended  the  public  schools  there.  He  came  with  his  parents  to 
West  Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  in  1831,  and  there  followed 
farming  for  the  remainder  of  his  days,  owning  the  tract  of  148  acres  upon 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  975 

which  he  made  his  home.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  religous  convictions,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Auburn,  which  he  helped  to  build  and  politi- 
cally he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Ebling  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Fahl,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Fahl,  of  West  Brunswick  township,  and  she  is  buried  in  a  private 
cemetery  at  Auburn.  Mr.  Ebling  died  on  his  farm  Oct.  24,  1892.  Nine  chil- 
dren were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gideon  Ebling:  Angeline  married  John  Hosier; 
Thotnas  is  living  at  Auburn;  Albert,  living  at  Tamaqua,  served  in  Company 
G,  28th  Pennsylvania  Vols.,  in  the  Civil  war;  Robert  is  mentioned  below; 
Elizabeth  married  Edward  Faust;  Polly  married  James  Meek;  James,  who 
lived  and  died  in  West  Brunswick  township,  served  in  Co.  K,  97th  Pennsyl- 
vania Vols.,  in  the  Civil  war;  Susan  married  Frank  Schwenk;  Gideon  resides 
at  Auburn. . 

Robert  Ebling,  son  of  Gideon  and  father  of  Irvin  A.,  was  bom  March  22, 
1842,  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  attended  the  pay 
schools  of  the  period  of  his  childhood.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm  until 
the  age  of  eighteen,  when  he  was  apprenticed  to  leam  the  blacksmith's  trade 
at  Aubum.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  West  Bmnswick  town- 
ship, which  he  cultivated  for  many  years.  Moving  to  Schuylkill  Haven  he 
there  conducted  the  "Spring  Garden  Hotel"  for  seven  years,  and  is  now  living 
retired,  occupying  the  home  on  Centre  avenue  which  he  erected.  Mr.  EbHng 
served  during  the  Civil  war  as  private  in  Company  G,  28th  Pennsylvania  Vols., 
under  Col.  J.  C.  Frick,  of  Pottsville,  and  again  during  the  emergency  of  1862. 
He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  has  been  delegate  to  a  number  of  county 
conventions.  He  was  elected  one  of  the  directors  of  the  poor  of  SchuvlkiU 
county.  Socially  Mr.  Ebling  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  at  Auburn, 
and  his  religious  connection  is  with  the  Reformed  Church.  He  married  Sarah 
De  Walt,  daughter  of  Joseph  De  Walt,  of  South  Manheim  township,  and  she 
died  in  1884,  the  mother  of  seven  children,  viz. :  Irvin  A.,  mentioned  below ; 
Annie,  wife  of  Morris  Kisler,  6i  Schuylkill  Haven;  Kate  and  Joel,  residing 
at  home ;  Ellen,  wife  of  W.  Wagner,  of  Schuylkill  Haven ;  John  M.,  a  promi- 
nent business  man  of  Schuylkill  Haven ;  and  Mary,  wife  of  George  W.  Butz, 
a  civil  engineer  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

John  Fahl,  father  of  Mrs.  Gideon  Ebling,  was  a  native  and  lifelong  resident 
of  West  Brunswick  township,  and  during  his  early  life  assisted  in  the  devel- 
opment of  this  region  from  a  primitive  wilderness.  He  lived  to  an  advanced 
age  and  was  a  highly  respected  member  of  the  community. 

Irvin  A.  Ebling  attended  school  in  West  Bmnswick  township  and  worked 
on  his  father's  farm  near  Pinedale,  which  he  afterwards  cultivated  on  his  own 
account  for  six  years.  He  then  farmed  near  Orwigsburg  for  three  years; 
for  five  years  back  of  Tumbling  run,  and  finally  came  to  North  Manheim 
township  in  1907  and  bought  the  old  Hamilton  farm  near  Pottsville.  This 
tract  of  fourteen  and  a  half  acres  he  is  now  cultivating  intensively,  doing  a  gen- 
eral tmckine  business  and  operating  a  dairy,  having  twelve  cows  which  supply 
a  large  number  of  customers  in  Pottsville.  Through  his  methods  and  industry 
the  farm  has  been  developed  into  one  of  great  productivity,  and  is  much  more 
valuable  than  when  he  purchased  it.  There  is  a  fine  spring  on  the  land.  Mr. 
Ebling  keeps  his  buildings  in  a  thorough  state  of  repair,  and  the  success  which 
he  has  achieved  in  the  vocation  of  agriculture  is  due  entirely  to  his  enterprise 
and  energy. 

In  October,  1888,  Mr.  Ebling  was  married  to  Annie  Miller,  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Sarah  (Nagle)  Miller,  of  Washington  township,  and  they  have  had 


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976  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

eight  children:  Bertha  (married  Earl  Spotts),  Elmer,  William,  Qayton,  Harry, 
Florence,  Charles  and  Ralph.  Mr.  Ebling  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  as 
school  director  of  West  Brunswick  and  Blythe  townships,  one  term  in  the 
latter.  In  religious  faith  he  is  a  believer  in  the  tenets  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
which  he  and  his  wife  attend. 

GEORGE  FRANKLIN  KNITTLE,  a  resident  of  the  borough  of  New 
Ringgold,  is  a  thoroughly  respected  young  man  of  his  section  of  Schuylkill 
county.  His  energetic  nature  has  led  him  to  spend  his  time  outside  of  business 
hours  in  the  promotion  of  the  movements  which  he  considers  valuable  to  his 
community,  and  he  has  come  to  be  r^^rded  as  a  highly  useful  citizen. 

Mr.  Knittle  was  bom  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
received  his  education  at  New  Ringgold,  in  that  township,  attending  school 
until  eighteen  years  old.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  Railway  Company,  learning  telegraphy  in  the  station  at  New  Ringgold, 
where  he  remained  for  one  year.  After  a  short  service  as  extra  operator  he 
was  appointed,  Oct.  i,  1904,  as  regular  operator  at  Kruger,  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  remained  for  three  years.  Thence  he  was  transferred  to  Sands 
Siding,  where  he  was  stationed  for  seven  years,  at  the  end  of  that  period  being 
returned  to  Kruger,  at  which  place  he  has  since  been  the  operator.  He  makes 
his  home  in  New  Ringgold,  and  is  at  present  serving  as  assessor  of  that 
borough.  On  July  i,  191 1,  he  was  appointed  by  Dr.  Samuel  Dixson,  head  of 
the  Pennsylvania  State  Health  Department,  as  State  health  officer  for  the  town- 
ships of  East  Brunswick  and  West  Penn  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  has  served 
continuously  since  in  that  capacity.  Mr.  Knittle  has  been  quite  prominent  in  the 
Republican  party  in  his  locality,  and  has  served  as  election  inspector.  He  has 
also  taken  an  active  part  in  social  and  church  work,  being  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Church  at  New  Ringgold,  in  which  he  formerly  held  the  office  of 
deacon.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Sunday  school  for  one  term.  He  is  a  past 
president  of  Washington  Camp  No.  100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  New  Ringgold;  a 
past  grand  of  East  Brunswick  Lodge,  No.  802,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  New  Ring- 
gold ;  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Union ;  and  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Railway  Employees,  whose  headquarters  are  at 
Reading. 

Mr.  Knittle  married  Carrie  Emma  Vetter,  who  was  bom  May  10,  1884, 
in  New  Ringgold,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  C.  (Hartzel)  Vetter,  and  they 
have  three  children,  bom  at  follows:  Robert  Franklin,  Oct.  9,  1905;  Ahna 
Catherine,  March  29,  1907;  Miriam  Rodella,  Aug.  17,  1908.  All  are  attending 
school  at  New  Ringgold. 

Hiram  Koch,  Mr.  Kitittle's  matemal  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  East 
Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  reared  and  educated  there. 
He  owned  a  fine  farm,  and  was  engaged  in  general  agriculture  throughout  his 
life,  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  His  wife,  Catherine  (Koenig), 
daughter  of  Samuel  Koenig,  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight* years,  and  both  are 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  the  Frieden's  Church.  They  were  regular  attendants 
at  the  services  of  the  Reformed  Church.  Politically  Mr.  Koch  was  a  Repub- 
lican. We  have  the  following  record  of  the  family  bom  to  them :  Ella,  mother 
of  Mr.  Knittle,  was  bom  in  East  Brunswick  township ;  Frank,  now  a  resident 
of  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.,  married  a  Miss  Betz ;  Amanda  married  Howard  Freed, 
and  lives  at  Weatherly,  Pa. ;  William,  of  Orwigsburg,  Pa.,  married  Rella  Light; 
Clara  married  Charles  Dennis,  and  resides  in  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  Annie  is  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  977 

wife  of  William  L.  Rogers,  and  lives  at  Mount  Olive,  Miss. ;  George,  of  New 
Ringgold,  married  Stella  Bachman ;  two  are  deceased. 

David  Vetter,  father  of  Mrs.  George  Franklin  Knittle,  was  born  Feb.  22, 
1843,  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  coimty,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Hetzel)  Vetter. 
His  grandfather,  John  Vetter,  was  bom  in  Germany,  and  passed  all  his  life  in 
that  country.  John  Vetter,  the  father  of  David,  was  born  Feb.  26,  1815,  "^ 
Baden,  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1828.  Soon  afterwards  he 
settled  in  New  York  State,  and  in  1840  moved  to  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  lived  imtil  1864.  That  year  he  settled  at  New  Ringgold,  this  county, 
where  his  wife  died  April  20,  1883,  and  his  death  occurred  Aug.  8,  1885.  He 
was  a  brickmaker  by  trade,  and  followed  the  business  for  a  number  of  years 
at  Pottsville,  later,  however,  turning  his  attention  to  farming.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  a  regular  attendant  at  its  services.  His 
wife  was  also  a  native  of  Germany.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 

David  Vetter  passed  his  boyhood  at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  there.  After  leaving  school  he  was  employed  on 
the  Schuylkill  &  Erie  canal,  following  boating  until  his  enlistment  in  the  army 
during  the  Civil  war.  On  Aug.  22,  1862,  he  left  home  and  enlisted  at  Kingston, 
N.  Y.,  in  Company  H,  120th  Regiment  of  the  New  York  Volunteers,  which 
was  attached  to  the  2d  Brigade,  2d  Division,  3d  Army  Corps.  He  served  with 
that  command  until  the  end  of  the  war  and  saw  much  active  service,  taking  part 
in  a  number  of  battles,  among  them  foremost  the  engagements  at  Chancellors- 
ville,  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg,  Cold  Harbor,  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania. 
Returning  to  Schuylkill  county  at  the  close  of  his  army  experience  he  learned 
telegraphy  at  New  Ringgold,  and  became  night  operator  in  the  station  there, 
being  so  engaged  for  twenty-one  years.  Then,  in  1891,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
position  of  station  agent  at  that  point,  continuing  to  fill  that  position  for  over 
twenty  years.  Mr.  Vetter  was  also  United  States  Express  agent  at  New  Ring- 
gold. He  has  been  a  prominent  figure  in  public  aflfairs  in  the  borough,  having 
served  several  terms  as  justice  of  the  peace,  to  which  office  he  was  first  elected 
m  1878.  He  took  a  leading  part  in  the  deliberations  of  the  borough  council, 
of  which  he  was  a  member  for  five  years,  and  for  thirty-five  years  he  held  the 
position  of  school  director,  for  this  time  also  acting  as  secretary  of  the  board. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican  in  sentiment,  but  reserves  the  right  to  think  for 
himself  on  all  questions.  He  has  been  a  leading  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  serving  the  congregation  in  the  office  of  deacon,  and  for  over  fifteen 
years  consecutively  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  Socially  he 
belongs  to  Doubleday  Post,  No.  189,  G.  A.  R. ;  and  to  Washington  Camp  No. 
100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  with  which  he  has  been  affiliated  for  over  forty  years; 
he  has  filled  all  the  offices  in  the  local  organization. 

On  June  15,  1863,  Mr.  Vetter  married  Mary  C.  Hetzel,  daughter  of  John 
and  Christina  Hetzel,  of  New  York  State,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  ei^ht 
children :  Sarah  E.,  who  married  Christian  Miller,  a  miner  of  Mahanoy  City, 
this  county;  Mary  R.,  wife  of  George  Sassaman,  a  farmer  of  Bamesville, 
this  county ;  Flora  L.,  married  to  Marvin  Fusselman,  a  carpenter,  of  Slatington, 
Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.;  John  H.,  of  Chica^^o;  George  W.,  a  telegrapher;  Katie  M.; 
Carrie  Emma,  wife  of  George  F.  Knittle ;  and  Lottie  P. 

SAMUEL  J.  EVANS  has  spent  practically  all  his  active  years  in  mine  work 
and  since  1013  has  been  engaged  as  inside  foreman  at  the  Oak  Hill  colliery, 
Vol.  n— 24 


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978  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

in  Cass  township.  His  father,  John  S.  Evans,  a  Welshman  by  birth,  was 
similarly  employed  throughout  his  life.  When  a  young  man  he  came  to 
America  and  settled  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  employed  at 
the  mines  here  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  became  a  mine  foreman  at  the  Glen- 
dower  colliery,  and  was  one  of  the  men  engaged  with  James  Kealy,  district 
superintendent  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company  in  this  district,  in 
tapping  a  large  body  of  water  in  the  old  Monterey  workings  connected  with  the 
Glendower  colliery,  very  hazardous  work.  He  died  at  Glendower,  this  county, 
in  1901,  and  is  buried  at  Minersville.  His  wife,  Mary  A.  (Pugh),  daughter  of 
Henry  Pugh,  died  the  same  year.  She  also  belonged  to  a  Welsh  family.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Annie,  Samuel  J.,  William,  Dora, 
Mary,  Elizabeth,  Harry  and  Sallie,  all  yet  living. 

Samuel  J.  Evans  was  bom  Oct.  10, 1869,  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
and  in  his  early  boyhood  had  such  advantages  as  the  public  schools  of  the  place 
afforded.  He  went  to  work  at  the  Glendower  colliery  when  nine  years  old, 
picking  slate,  and  was  engaged  in  that  work  and  in  other  duties  about  the  mines 
for  several  years,  until  he  became  a  regular  miner.  He  was  so  employed 
for  six  years,  until  he  became  fire  boss  at  the  Lytle  colliery,  whence  he  trans- 
ferred to  the  Pine  Hill  colliery,  becoming  inside  foreman  at  the  latter.  He 
spent  ten  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Pine  Hill  Coal  Company,  and  then  ven- 
tured into  business  on  his  own  account,  carrying  on  a  grocery  at  Minersville  for 
about  two  years.  Returning  to  mining,  he  was  night  boss  at  the  Buck  Run 
colliery  for  thirteen  months,  after  which  he  was  associated  in  plumbing  with  his 
brother-in-law  at  Minersville,  for  seven  months.  On  June  i,  1913,  he  took 
his  present  position  at  the  Oak  Hill  colliery,  where  he  is  giving  the  highest 
satisfaction.  In  the  course  of  his  long  experience  at  the  various  operations  Mr 
Evans  has  become  a  skilled  mine  worker,  and  he  has  proved  vigilant  and  faithful 
in  every  respect,  entirely  worthy  of  the  confidence  shown  to  him. 

In  1892  Mr.  Evans  married  Hannah  Richards,  daughter  of  Samuel  R. 
Richards,  who  was  bom  in  South  Wales,  and  settled  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa., 
on  coming  to  the  United  States.  Five  children  have  been  bom  to  this  union : 
John  S.,  Leroy  and  Thomas  W.  are  all  deceased;  Mary  E.  and  Ann  R.  are 
attending  school.  Mr.  Evans  is  well  acquainted  in  the  fraternal  and  other 
social  circles  in  the  vicinity,  belonging  to  the  Knights  of  Malta,  the  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Eagle,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  the  Independent  Hose  Company  at 
Minersville.     His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Congregational  Church. 

JOSEPH  R.  WHITE,  a  farmer  and  dairyman  of  Butler  township,  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  March  12,  1886,  at  Fountain  Springs,  this  county,  a  son 
of  James  A.  and  Jennie  (Thomas)  White. 

John  White,  grandfather  of  Joseph  R.  White,  came  from  England  at  an 
early  date  and  settled  near  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  later  moving  to  a  farm 
at  Fountain  Springs,  which  he  had  to  clear  of  timber.  He  remained  there 
until  his  death.  By  his  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Prosser  he  had  eleven  children, 
nine  of  whom  are  still  living. 

James  A.  White,  father  of  Joseph  R.  White,  was  bom  at  Wiconisco, 
Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1853.  Formerly  he  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
resided  for  a  number  of  years  at  Fountain  Springs,  in  1900  removing  to  Frack- 
ville,  this  county,  where  he  engaged  in  the  picture  business.  He  married  Jennie 
Thomas,  daughter  of  David  and  Susanah  Thomas,  and  they  had  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  eleven  survive :  John,  a  resident  of  Fountain  Springs ;  David, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  979 

a  resident  of  Frackville ;  George,  residing  at  Ashland ;  Joseph  R. ;  Arthur,  resid- 
ing at  Frackville;  Harvey,  residing  in  Butler  township  and  working  for  his 
brother  Joseph;  Cyril,  living  at  Frackville;  Eva,  wife  of  Harry  Rubright,  of 
Frackville;  Jennie,  wife  of  Joseph  Gibson,  of  Frackville;  Susan,  at  home; 
and  Hayden,  who  is  living  in  Frackville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  are  still  living 
in  Frackville. 

Joseph  R.  White  was  educated  in  the  township  schools  and  has  worked  on 
the  farm  from  childhood.  Having  spent  a  lifetime  in  this  occupation  he  has 
made  a  success  of  the  work,  and  now  owns  eighty-six  acres,  upon  which  he  is 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  dairying.  On  Sept.  21,  1912,  Mr.  White  was 
married  to  Edna  Lauer,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  EHzabeth  (Karbel)  Lauer, 
both  of  whom  are  still  living  in  Ashland,  where  Mrs.  White  was  bom.  She 
was  one  of  twelve  children,  the  others  being :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Charles  Seiler, 
of  Ashland ;  Frank,  who  is  a  resident  of  Ashland ;  Cora,  wife  of  Oscar  Nolte, 
of  Ashland;  Anna,  wife  of  Arthur  White,  of  Frackville;  Lillian,  at  home; 
Laura,  wife  of  George  Fisher,  of  Fountain  Springs;  Edward;  Florence,  wife  of 
ainton  Tiely,  of  Girardville ;  Charles,  living  in  Ashland ;  and  Helen  and  Mar- 
garet, at  home.  Mr.  Lauer  is  engaged  in  one  of  the  collieries  in  Ashland. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  are  both  church  members.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive 
men  of  his  township  and  county,  and  is  respected  and  honored  by  all  who 
know  him. 

AUGUST  MEISGEIER,  a  venerable  resident  of  Ashland,  Pa.,  where  he 
has  been  engaged  as  a  locksmith  for  many  years,  is  a  native  of  Germany,  but 
has  lived  in  this  country  since  1852.  He  was  born  Nov.  7,  1829.  son  of  Chris- 
tian and  Elizabeth  (Greaner)  Meisgeier,  and  the  family  came  to  America  in 
1852,  landing  at  Philadelphia.  They  resided  in  that  city  until  1865,  at  which 
time  the  parents  moved  to  Trenton,  N.  J.,  the  mother  dying  there  in  1870,  the 
father  in  1880.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  four  daughters  and  two 
sons,  and  August  is  now  the  only  survivor. 

It  was  in  1865  that  ^August  Meisgeier  came  to  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county. 
He  had  received  the  thorough  training  and  education  afforded  by  the  German 
institutions  of  learning,  and  was  taught  the  trade  of  locksmith  in  his  native  land, 
following  it  there  until  he  came  to  America.  After  removing  to  Ashland  he 
worked  for  a  time  in  the  foundry,  and  later  for  a  time  at  one  of  the  breakers, 
but  eventually  returned  to  his  trade,  which  he  has  continued  to  follow  ever 
since.  As  a  skillful  workman,  Mr.  Meisgeier  has  always  attracted  sufficient 
patronage  in  the  locality  to  keep  him  busy  and  afford  him  an  excellent  living. 
His  precision  and  thorough  understanding  of  his  work  have  made  him  one  of 
the  hiost  popular  tradesmen  in  this  community.  His  shop  has  been  a  con- 
venience well  appreciated  in  the  borough. 

Mr.  Meisgeier  was  married  in  Philadelphia  in  1852  to  Johanna  Horn,  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  with  her  parents ;  her  father  died  in 
Wisconsin,  to  which  State  he  had  moved,  and  the  mother  passed  away  in  1889 
at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meisgeier.  The  latter  had  a  family  of  three 
children :  Louisa,  the  wife  of  John  Blank,  of  Philadelphia ;  Henry  A.,  also  a 
resident  of  Philadelphia  (No.  1720  North  Twenty-sixth  street) ;  and  Anna, 
deceased.  Mrs.  Meisgeier  died  at  Ashland  Dec.  26,  1914.  Mr.  Meisgeier  owns 
the  comfortable  home  on  Center  street,  Ashland,  where  he  and  his  family  have 
resided.  He  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church  of  the  borough, 
to  which  his  wife  also  belonged,  and  is  one  of  its  most  highly  respected  citizens. 


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980  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ANTHONY  FERGUSON  has  been  holding  positions  of  responsibility 
about  the  anthracite  mines  in  Schuylkill  county  for  the  last  forty  years,  having 
been  an  outside  foreman  continuously  from  1877  ^^  1906,  and  since  then  timber 
inspector  at  the  Tunnel  Ridge  colliery,  Mahanoy  City.  He  is  a  Civil  war 
veteran  and  prominent  in  G.  A.  R.  circles,  the  present  commander  of  Severn 
Post. 

Mr.  Ferguson  was  bom  in  October,  1838,  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
where  his  father,  John  Ferguson,  a  native  of  Ireland,  settled  a  few  years  after 
coming  to  America  in  1831.  Later  he  moved  to  Wadesville,  this  county,  where 
he  died,  and  he  is  buried  at  Pottsville.  He,  worked  by  the  day.  To  his  union 
with  Rosie  Burk  were  bom  the  following  children :  Patrick  and  Edward,  bom 
in  Ireland ;  Annie,  bom  at  Reading,  Pa. ;  Matilda  and  Thomas,  bom  at  Potts- 
ville, Pa.;  Anthony;  May  and  John,  bom  at  Pottsville;  and  Rosie,  bom  at 
Wadesville.  During  the  Civil  war  Patrick  served  in  Company  B,  129th  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Infantry,  and  Edward  in  Company  L,  3d  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry. 

Anthony  Ferguson  was  reared  at  Wadesville  and  early  found  employment 
at  the  mines,  where  he  was  working  as  engineer  when  he  decided  to  give  his 
services  in  the  Civil  war.  On  Aug.  9,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  137th 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  served  for  nine  months. 
After  the  war  he  located  in  Ashland,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  ran  a  mine 
engine  until  1877,  ^^  which  year  he  was  made  outside  foreman  at  the  Otter 
colliery,  at  Branchdale,  this  county.  He  was  there  for  the  next  ten  years,  in 
1887  changing  to  a  similar  position  at  the  Elmwood  colliery,  where  he  remained 
about  eight  years.  He  was  then  transferred  to  the  Mahanoy  City  colliery  as 
outside  foreman,  for  three  years,  after  which  he  was  so  engaged  at  the  North 
Mahanoy  colliery,  Mahanoy  City,  for  a  period  of  seven  years.  In  1906  he 
became  timber  inspector  at  the  Tunnel  Ridge  colliery,  which  positicm  he  still 
fills.  His  work  is  highly  important,  involving  the  safety  of  many  workers  and 
the  inspection  of  valuable  workings,  and  he  has  given  evidence  of  his  fitness  in 
the  most  painstaking  service;  his  duties  carry  a  heavy  obligation  to  all  the 
workers  in  the  colliery  as  well  as  to  his  employers. 

Mr.  Ferguson  married  Mary  A.  O'Hara,  daughter  of  John  O'Hara,  and 
they  have  had  the  following  children:  John  (deceased),  Thomas  (deceased), 
Edward,  Thomas  (2),  Mary,  Rosie,  Joseph,  John  (2),  Frank  and  Nellie.  Mr. 
Ferguson  and  his  family  are  Catholics  in  religious  faith.  He  has  been  active 
in  Grand  Army  circles,  and  a  leading  member  of  Severn  Post,  No.  no,  of 
Mahanoy  City,  of  which  he  has  been  commander  for  several  years. 

CHRIST  F.  GABBERT,  of  Mahanoy  City,  is  considered  one  of  the  most 
progressive  citizens  of  that  borough,  his  services  on  the  school  board  and 
activity  in  church  work  stamping  him  as  one  of  the  public-spirited  element  who 
are  willing  to  give  personal  attention  to  promoting  the  general  welfare.  By 
occupation  he  is  a  blacksmith,  in  charge  of  the  shop  at  the  Tunnel  Ridge  col- 
liery. 

Mr.  Gabbert  was  bom  at  Mahanoy  City  in  July,  1865,  son  of  Adam  Gab- 
bert,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  this  country  in  young  manhood.  He 
first  located  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  afterwards  among  the 
early  residents  of  Mahanoy  City,  where  he  settled  in  1862  and  died  in  1885, 
at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  He  is  buried  at  Mahanoy  City.  Mr.  Gabbert  fol- 
lowed mining  at  both  Pottsville  and  Mahanoy  City,  and  was  well  and  favor- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  981 

ably  known  in  his  day.  He  married  Elizabeth  Erisman,  and  they  had  the  fol- 
lowing family:  John  is  deceased;  Elizabeth  married  Henry  Sherman;  Cath- 
erine, deceased,  was  the  wife  of  James  Williams ;  Christ  F.  is  next  in  the  fam- 
ily; Emma  is  the  wife  of  Augustus  Labas  and  resides  at  Wilkes- Barre,  Pa.; 
Jacob  is  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  Peter  died  when  four  years  old. 

Christ  F.  Gabbert  attended  public  school  in  Mahanoy  City,  but  he  was  still 
a  boy  when  he  went  to  work  picking  slate  at  the  breaker.  As  he  grew  older 
he  did  various  other  kinds  of  work  about  the  mines,  continuing  thus  until 
1885,  in  which  year  he  started  to  learn  blacksmithing  at  the  mines.  He  has 
followed  the  trade  ever  since,  now  having  charge  of  the  shop  at  Tunnel  Ridge. 
Mr.  Gabbert  is  a  proficient  mechanic  and  conscientious  workman,  and  his 
faithful  performance  of  all  the  work  intrusted  to  him  makes  him  a  valued 
employee.  He  is  thoroughly  respected  by  his  fellow  workers  and,  indeed^ 
wherever  known.  Seven  years  ago  his  townsmen  ^honored  him  with  election 
to  the  borough  school  board,  and  he  has  served  in  that  body  continuously  since, 
being  the  present  treasurer;  he  was  president  for  one  year.  He  is  an  en- 
thusiastic member  of  St.  Paul's  Reformed  Church  and  does  his  full  share  of 
church  and  Sunday  school  work,  being  a  member  of  the  church  consistory 
and  of  the  Sunday  school,  in  which  he  has  also  been  a  teacher.  Socially  he 
belongs  to^the  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 

Mr.  Gabbert  was  united  in  marriage  with  Nalena  Rhoads,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Rhoads,  of  Mahanoy  City.  They  have  had  four  children:  Catherine, 
Gerald,  and  two  who  di^d  in  infancy. 

1 

CHARLES  W.  GRUBE,  of  East  Brunswick  township,  who  owns  and 
operates  what  was  formerly  known  as  the  Kunkel  farm,  is  a  native  of  this 
section  of  Schuylkill  county  and  belongs  to  an  estimable  German  family 
founded  here  over  fifty  years  ago. 

Christian  Grube,  his  grandfather,  lived  in  the  Province  of  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, and  was  a  silver  miner  by  occupation.  He  died  at  the  comparatively 
early  age  of  thirty-six,  leaving  a  wife  and  five  children,  namely :  Charles,  who 
died  in  Baltimore  about  1909,  aged  seventy-seven  years;  Charlotte;  Louisa, 
Mrs.  Charles  Heberling;  Dorothy,  Mrs.  JohA  Weist;  and  William,  who  was 
one  year  old  when  his  father  died.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Hannah  Shear,  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  in  East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  at  the  home 
of  her  son-in-law,  Charles  Heberling.  She  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church,  and  is  buried  in  the  Frieden's  Church  cemetery.  Mrs. 
Grube  came  to  America  with  her  children  eighteen  years  after  her  husband's 
death,  the  family  settling  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  for  two  years,  and  removing 
thence  to  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania. 

William  Grube,  son  of  Christian,  was  bom  July  8,  1834,  in' Klausthal, 
Hanover,  Germany,  was  educated  in  his  native  country,  and  came  to  America 
with  his  mother.  They  first  settled  at  Baltimore,  and  later  he  came  to  Lewis- 
town,  in  Walker  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  engaged  at  wood  chop- 
ping for  some  time.  Thence  he  removed  to  East  Brunswick  township,  where 
he  bought  a  farm  of  thirty  acres,  cleared  most  of  it,  and  subsequently  bought 
several  tracts  aggregating  seventy-five  acres.  These  he  cultivated  to  the  end 
of  his  days,  carrying  on  general  farming.  He  died  Oct.  31,  1906,  and  is 
buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Frieden's  Church  at  New  Ringgold,  of  which  church 
he  was  a  Lutheran  member.    In  political  sentiment  he  was  a  Democrat.    Mrs. 


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982  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Grube  still  resides  in  East  Brunswick  township.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Sophia  Reidler,  and  she  was  born  in  Germany  Nov.  3,  1841,  daughter  of 
Conrad  and  Maria  (Knoblauch)  Reidler.  They  had  children  as  follows: 
Caroline  married  George  Schaffer;  Charlotte  married  Charles  Eckroth;  Wil- 
liam married  Catherine  Shellhammer;  Minnie  married  Adam  Schofield,  who 
is  deceased;  Lewis  John  married  Cordelia  Bachert;  Louis  is  next  in  the 
family;  Charles  W.  married  Emma  L.  Shellhammer;  Katie  married  Harvey 
Houser;  Henry  is  the  next;  Walter  married  Elsie  Frantz. 

Charles  W.  Grube  was  born  Aug.  15,  1875,  in  East  Brunswick  township, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until 
twenty-three  years  old,  at  which  time  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was 
employed  by  the  Philadelphia  Traction  Company  for  one  year.  Returning  to 
East  Brunswick  township  he  went  to  farming  in  Kleckners  valley,  where 
he  operated  a  tract  containing  fifty-six  acres,  forty-five  of  which  were  under 
cultivation.  His  stay  there  covered  nine  years,  at  the  end  of  which  period  he 
bought  his  present  tract  of  136  acres,  of  which  115  acres  are  cleared  ground. 
This  place  was  long  known  as  the  John  Kunkel  farm.  Mr.  Grube  at  one  time 
served  his  township  as  school  director,  in  that  position  giving  special  evidence 
of  his  public  spirit  and  sincere  interest  in  the  general  welfare.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  political  connection;  socially  holds  membership  in  McKeansburg 
Grange,  No.  1256,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  Washington  Camp  No.  100,  P.  O.  S. 
of  A.,  of  New  Ringgold,  and  East  Brunswick  Lodge,  No.  802,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of 
New  Ringgold;  and  is  a  Lutheran  in  religion,  belonging  to  the  Frieden's 
Church. 

Mr.  Grube  married  Emma  Louisa  Shellhammer,  who  was  bom  in  East 
Brunswick  township  Oct.  4,  1884,  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Sarah  Ann 
(Houser)  Shellhammer,  and  they  have  had  eight  children,  bom  as  follows: 
William  F.,  June  20,  1904;  Helen  M.,  Aug.  8,  1905;  Edna  May,  Dec.  8,  1906; 
Caroline  I.,  Feb.  27,  1908;  Lottie  A.,  Oct.  10,  1909  (died  Oct.  14,  191 1,  and 
is  buried  at  Frieden's  Church)  ;  Emma  L.,  Feb.  16,  191 1;  Carl  W.,  Nov.  18, 
1912;  Catherine,  Jan.  14,  1915. 

Michael  Shellhammer,  Mrs.  Grube's  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  in  West 
Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county.  He  ^  married  for  his  second  wife  Cath- 
erine Daubenspeck,  and  of  their  children  but  two  survive :  Mary  Ann,  widow 
of  James  Becker,  residing  in  Mahanoy  City;  and  Benjamin  F.  Michael  Shell- 
hammer  died  aged  thirty-six  years,  and  his  widow  married  (second)  Solomon 
Zimmerman,  by  whom  she  had  two  children :  Ellie  died  when  six  years  old ; 
Emma,  deceased,  married  John  Hill,  of  Weatherly,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shell- 
hammer  were  members  of  Zion's  Reformed  Church  in  West  Penn  township, 
and  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  that  church.  She  died  when  seventy  years 
old. 

Benjamin  F.  Shellhammer  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township,  Jan.  6,  1852, 
and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  township,  but  in  early  life  was  hired 
out  to  other  farmers  to  earn  his  livelihood.  He  finally  came  to  East  Bmns- 
wick  township,  where  he  rented  three  diflferent  farms  before  buying  his  present 
farm  of  over  forty  acres,  of  which  eight  acres  are  in  timber.  There  he  still 
resides,  engaged  in  general  farming.  He  married  Sarah  Ann  Houser,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  and  roily  (Kistler)  Houser,  and  they  have  five  children:  Wil- 
liam O.  married  Sallie  Frantz;  Oscar  James  (who  married  Netta  I.  Blue,  de- 
ceased), Polly  Catherine  (wife  of  William  Gmbe)  and  Thomas  Milton  (de- 
ceased) were  triplets ;  Emma  L.  is  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Grube.    Mr.  Shellhammer 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  983 

has  taken  some  part  in  the  administration  of  public  affairs  locally,  having 
served  as  school  director  and  supervisor.  His  political  allegiance  is  given  to 
the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  lOO,  P.  O. 
S.  of  A.,  at  New  Rin|^gold ;  Protection  Council,  No.  935,  Order  of  Independent 
Americans ;  and  of  Zion's  Reformed  Church  in  West  Penn  township. 

GEORGE  B.  ADAM,  a  progressive  citizen  of  West  Penn  township,  was 
bom  there  March  11,  1865,  son  of  Daniel  Adam.  He  belongs  to  an  old  Penn- 
sylvania family,  long  established  in  Berks  county,  where  his  grandfather, 
John  Adam,  lived  and  died,  passing  away  before  the  birth  of  George  B.  Adam. 
He  is  buried  in  Berks  county.  John  Adam  operated  the  clover  mill  (for  clean- 
ing clover  seed)  in  Greenwich  township.  He  was  married  twice,  and  his  chil- 
dren were:  Solomon,  who  married  Cordelia  Hendricks;  Jacob;  Daniel; 
Nathan;  Sallie,  who  married  Ephraim  DeLong;  and  Hattie,  Mrs.  Heffner. 
John  Adam  was  a  Republican  in  politics. 

Daniel  Adam,  son  of  John,  who  was  bom  May  12,  1829,  in  Greenwich 
township,  Berks  county,  and  died  Dec.  22,  1914.    He  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  county,  and  was  twenty-five  years  old  when  he  came  to  Schuyl- 
kill county,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of  tailor  until  he  entered  the  Union 
service  during  the  Civil  war.     He  enlisted  in  Company  A,  202d  Regiment, 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  nine  months,  and  besides  doing  his 
duty  as  a  soldier  repaired  clothing  for  his  comrades  until  obliged  to  give  up 
work  at  his  trade  because  of  the  loss  of  part  of  his  thumb,  which  had  to  be 
amputated  on  account  of  a  felon.    A  few  years  before  entering  the  army  he 
had  t)OUght  a  timber  tract  of  seventy  acres  in  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  returning  to  that  township  at  the  close  of  his  war  service  he  set- 
tled there  permanently.    Thereafter  he  devoted  himself  to  agricultural  work, 
in  which  he  prospered,  becoming  the  owner  of  217  acres  of  land,  of  which 
100  acres  are  cleared.    He  sold  a  part  of  his  land  to  John  Moyer  and  James 
Beltz,  and  also  sold  a  little  over  100  acres  to  Amandus  Houser,  who  operated 
it  for  a  few  years,  until  his  death.     Mr.  Adam  then  took  back  the  property, 
which  Milton  Houser  operated  for  him  for  a  period  of  four  years,  after  which 
George  Bollinger  rented  it.    The  latter  is  still  the  tenant  on  this  farm.     Mr. 
Adam's  estate  has  not  yet  been  settled.     He  married  Hannah   Hendricks, 
who  was  bom  in  Berks  county  Sept.  17,  1839,  and  died  in  June,  1905.    They 
are  buried  at  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township.    Mr.  Adam  was  a  Luth- 
eran member  of  that  church,  but  never  took  any  active  part  in  its  work.    At 
one  time  he  belonged  to  the  Odd  Fellows  f ratemity,  and  in  politics  he  stood 
with  the  Democratic  party,  though  his  brothers  were  all  Republicans.     To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adam  were  bom  the  following  children:     Amanda  Jane  was 
the  wife  of  Amandus  Houser  (both  are  deceased)  ;  James  Buchanan,  who 
now  resides  at  Rockport,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  married  Rosie  Sittler;  Amandus 
Wilson  married  Isadora  Shellhammer,  and  they  reside  at  Reading,  Pa. ;  Daniel 
A.  is  unmarried;  George  B.  is  next  in  the  family;  Milton  Alvin  was  killed  on 
the  railroad  (he  was  unmarried)  ;  Mary  Alice  died  when  nine  years  old;  Levi 
Henry,  now  a  resident  of  Walker  township,  Schuylkill  county,  married  Olivia 
Lotz;  Tilden  Gottlieb  married  a  Miss  Schlosser. 

George  B.  Adam  grew  to  manhood  in  West  Penn  township  and  received 
his  education  there  in  the  common  schools.  He  worked  for  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  thirty-two  years  of  age,  and  meantime  he  married.  Then  he  settled 
on  his  present  property,  a  tract  of  ninety-eight  acres,  which  he  bought  from 


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984  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

his  father-in-law,  John  S.  Zehner,  and  he  has  since  followed  general  farming, 
having  eighty  acres  cleared  and  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Adam  markets  hb  prod- 
ucts to  Tamaqua,  making  trips  to  that  point  all  the  year  round.  By  industry 
and  intelligent  management  he  has  kept  his  place  in  excellent  condition,  and  its 
productiveness  is  due  laiigely  to  his  careful  operation  and  good  judgment  in 
the  rotation  of  crops.  He  has  devoted  his  attention  almost  entirely  to  his 
work,  taking  no  part  in  public  affairs,  but  he  is  interested  in  various  lo(^ 
activities,  and  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  132, 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  Schwartz's,  which  organization  he  is  now  (191 5)  serving  as 
president.  He  is  a  Lutheran  member  of  Zion's  CJiurch  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship, but  has  never  filled  any  of  the  church  ofl&ces. 

Mr.  Adam  married  Louisa  Zehner,  who  was  bom  Oct.  20,  1869,  in  West 
Penn  township,  and  received  her  education  in  the  public  schools  there,  remain- 
ing at  home  imtil  her  marriage.  She  holds  membership  also  in  the  West 
Penn  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adam  have  one  child,  Oscar  Emory,  bom  Dec. 
28,  1893.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  West  Penn  town- 
ship, and  has  always  worked  with  his  father  on  the  farm.  He  lias  also  taken 
considerable  interest  in  township  affairs,  and  at  present  is  serving  as  tax 
collector  of  the  township.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  prominent  member  of 
Washington  Camp  No.  132,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  which  he  is  a  past  president 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  Lodge  No.  406,  of 
Chain,  this  county. 

Johannes  Zehner,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  George  B.  Adam,  was  bom  in  West 
Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  died  when  over  eighty- four  years 
old.  During  the  summer  season  he  engaged  in  farming,  owning  and  operatii^ 
the  place  wnere  Mr.  Adam  now  resides,  and  in  the  winter  time  followed  his 
trade  of  cooper,  making  barrels,  etc.,  continuing  both  lines  throughout  his 
active  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  served  as  supervisor  of  his  township. 
His  religious  connection  was  with  the  Lutheran  congregation  of  Zion's  Church, 
but  he  was  not  specially  active  in  its  work.  He  and  his  wife,  Christina 
(Steigerwalt),  daughter  of  Joseph  Steigerwalt,  are  buried  at  Zion's  Church. 
They  had  the  following  children :  William,  who  married  Polly  Houser ;  Moses, 
who  married  a  Miss  Schwartz;  Hettie,  wife  of  David  Halderman;  Gideon, 
who  married  Sarah  Houser;  and  John  S.,  who  married  Rebecca  BennighoflF. 

John  S.  Zehner,  son  of  Johannes,  was  bom  Sept.  17,  1836,  on  the  property 
in  West  Brunswick  township  now  owned  by  George  B.  Adam,  received  his 
education  in  the  local  schools,  and  spent  all  his  life  on  that  place,  which  he 
bought  from  his  father.  He  carried  on  general  farming  very  successfully, 
marketing  his  products  at  Tamaqua,  and  during  the  last  few  years  of  his  life 
lived  practically  retired.  Like  his  father  he  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
in  1901  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  supervisor.  At  one  time  he  held  mem- 
bership in  the  L  O.  O.  F.,  until  his  lodge  disbanded.  He  was  a  Lutheran 
member  of  Zion's  Church,  where  he  is  buried,  but  though  interested  in  its 
welfare  he  never  held  any  of  the  church  offices.  His  death  occurred  April  30, 
1908.  Mr.  Zehner  married  Rebecca  BennighoflF,  who  was  bom  Nov.  25,  1847. 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  (Qose)  BennighoflF,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Levi  Henry,  bom  June  5,  1865,  married 
Annie  Bachman,  and  now  lives  at  Tamaqua;  Matilda  Jane,  bom  Jime  19, 
1867,  died  July  25.  1868;  Louisa  is  the  wife  of  George  B.  Adam;  Wallace,  who 
lives  in  West  Penn  township,  is  married  to  Alice  Behler;  John  Daniel,  born 
Feb.  II,  1874,  died  Nov.  20,  1875;  Frank  Alvin,  bom  April  16,  1876,  died 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  985 

March  22,  1888;  Oliver  Jacob,  bom  Feb.  12,  1879,  died  March  26,  1888;  a 
daughter,  bom  Feb.  10,  1881,  died  Feb.  27,  1881 ;  Grant  Delwin,  bom  Feb. 
17,  1884,  died  March  26,  1888;  Harvey  Francis,  bom  Oct.  i,  1886,  died  Oct. 
I,  1888. 

GEORGE  B:  O'NEILL  has  but  recently  settled  at  Ashland,  where  he  has 
continued  the  line  of  business  which  he  formerly  carried  on  at  Reading,  Pa., 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  O'Neill  &  Faller.  A  little  over  a  year  ago  he 
established  his  bakery  at  Nineteenth  and  Centre  streets,  Ashland,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  Vienna  steam  pretzels. 

Mr.  O'Neill  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  bom  June  14,  1881,  at  Shen- 
andoah, son  of  Dennis  and  Catherine  (Huth)  O'Neill.  His  father  was  born 
in  Ireland,  came  to  America  when  a  young  man,  and  settled  at  Shenandoah, 
where  he  became  well  known.  At  one  time  he  was  superintendent  of  stores 
there,  and  he  was  one  of  the  first  telegraph  operators  at  that  point.  He  also 
managed  stores  at  Minersville  and  other  places  in  this  section.  His  death 
occurred  in  1894  at  Shenandoah.  His  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
died  in  1909  at  Reading,  Pa.  They  are  buried  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill 
county.  Of  the  fourteen  children  bom  to  them  we  have  record  of  the  follow- 
ing^: John,  the  eldest,  a  mechanic,  lives  at  Llewellyn,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.; 
Killian,  of  Shenandoah,  is  an  engineer;  Dennis,  of  Shenandoah,  is  an  engineer 
at  the  mines;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Reio,  of  Reading,  Pa.;  Sylvester  is 
a  resident  of  Reading;  Frank  lives  at  Camden,  N.  J.;  George  B.  lives  at  Ash- 
land. 

George  B.  O'Neill  received  a  public  school  education  at  Shenandoah,  this 
county,  graduating  from  the  grammar  school.  The  family  moving  to  Read- 
ing, Pa.,  he  found  employment  there  in  the  pretzel  bakery  of^  J.  S.  Bachman, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  ten  years,  learning  the  business  in  all  its  details. 
He  then  became  engaged  in  the  same  line  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Faller, 
with  whom  he  was  associated  for  sixteen  months,  until  he  came  to  Ashland 
and  started  the  business  to  which  now  he  gives  all  his  attention.  His  bakery 
is  a  two-story  building,  equipped  with  all  modem  machinery  for  the  production 
of  pretzels.  Mr.  O'Neill  is  looked  upon  as  an  enterprising  young  business 
man,  and  personally  also  he  deserves  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held.  His 
familiarity  with  the  business,  combined  with  energy,  are  fair  indications  that 
he  has  a  prosperous  future. 

In  November,  1912,  Mr.  O'Neill  was  married  to  Bridget  Toomey,  of 
Shenandoah,  this  county,  and  they  have  one  child,  Katherine.  Mr.  O'Neill 
is  a  Catholic  in  religious  connection  and  socially  he  holds  membership  in  Sarto 
council.  Knights  of  Columbus,  at  Ashland,  and  the  Knights  of  St.  George,  at 
Reading,  Pennsylvania. 

THOMAS  PATTEN,  hotelkeeper  at  Jonestown,  is  a  successful  business 
man  of  Cass  township,  and  belongs  to  a  respected  family  which  has  been  in 
this  section  of  Schuylkill  county  for  over  eighty  years. 

The  Pattens  are  of  English  extraction,  and  the  family  was  founded  here 
by  Thomas  Patten,  grandfather  of  Thomas,  who  was  bom  in  England,  and 
brought  his  family  to  America  in  the  year  1834.  Mr.  Patten  became  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  the  day  in  that  locality.  Settling  at  what  became 
known  as  Patten's  Valley,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Forestville,  Cass  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  he  cleared  most  of  the  land  above  Minersville,  where  Jones- 


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986  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

town  is  now  located,  and  for  a  time  was  extensively  engaged  in  sawmilling, 
running  two  mills  at  Jonestown  and  another  between  Forestville  and  Llewel- 
lyn. He  continued  in  the  activities  of  the  development  of  this  section  until 
his  death.  One  of  his  sons,  William  Patten,  ran  the  first  engine  over  the 
Mine  Hill  railroad  from  Schuylkill  Haven. 

James  Patten,  son  of  Thomas,  above,  was  bom  in  England,  and  came  to 
this  country  with  the  family  in  1834.  In  the.  early  days  he  hauled  cars  by 
horses  from  Schuylkill  Haven  to  Minersville  and  Branchdale,  but  mining  was 
for  many  years  his  principal  occupation.  Part  of  the  time  he  was  an  en^^neer 
at  the  mines.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  and  is  buned  at 
Minersville.  To  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Grooms  was  bom  a  large  family, 
namely:  William,  Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Robert,  Alice  and  Mary,  twins, 
Thomas,  CJeorge  (who  was  two  years  old  when  the  family  left  Barry  Town- 
ship), James,  Annie  and  Sarah. 

Thomas  Patten,  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Grooms)  Patten,  was  bom 
July  18,  1867,  in  Barry  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  four  years  old 
when  brought  thence  to  Cass  township,  in  1871.  He  had  ordinary  common 
school  advantages  and  began  work  at  the  mines  when  a  boy,  going  through  the 
usual  routine  of  picking  slate,  tending  door  and  driving  mules,  until  he  became 
a  regular  miner.  He  was  successfully  engaged  at  that  calling  until  1904, 
when  he  became  interested  in  the  hotel  business,  to  which  he  has  devoted  all 
his  time  and  attention.  He  has  an  up-to-date  establishment  at  Jonestown, 
which  has  become  very  popular  under  his  management,  and  he  numbers  many 
of  the  residents  of  Cass  township  among  his  friends.  He  has  been  associated 
with  public  affairs  to  the  extent  of  serving  as  assessor. 

Mr.  Patten  married  Martha  Jenkins,  daughter  of  William  Jenkins,  of  Cass 
township,  and  five  children  have  been  bom  to  this  union :  Susanna,  the  eldest, 
bom  Nov.  23,  1888,  who  is  deceased;  James,  bom  Dec.  9,  1890;  William,  bom 
Nov.  5,  1892,  who  married  Mamie  Rebuck,  of  Ashland;  Elizabeth,  bom  March 
23,  1902;  and  Thomas,  bom  Oct.  23,  1908. 

JAMES  M.  SEITZINGER,  engineer  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  rail- 
road, residing  at  Gordon,  Pa.,  was  bom  Nov.  24,  1846,  in  Potts ville,  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  a  son  of  Israel  Seitzinger  and  grandson  of  Jacob  Seit- 
zinger.    The  ancestry  of  the  family  is  German. 

Jacob  Seitzinger,  the  grandfather,  was  a  member  of  an  old  family  of 
Berks  county,  this  state,  and  came  to  Pottsville  during  the  days  of  its  settle- 
ment. He  was  very  active  in  politics  there,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  a 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the  War  of  1812.  He  died  in 
Pottsville  and  is  buried  there.  Of  his  eight  children,  only  two  are  living: 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bigler,  of  Anamosa,  Iowa,  and  Mrs.  Adelia  Hippie,  wife  of 
C.  D.  Hippie,  a  former  captain  of  the  96th  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  now  resid- 
ing in  Kansas. 

Israel  Seitzinger,  father  of  James  M.,  was  bom  at  Pottsville,  Aug.  27, 
1820,  and  there  gained  his  education.  Coming  to  Fountain  Springs  in  1850, 
he  conducted  a  hotel  there,  and  was  also  in  the  same  business  at  Gordon. 
He  married  Margaret  Heebner,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  they  had  ten  chil- 
dren :  John,  a  member  of  Company  L,  5th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  who  had  his 
left  foot  shot  off  in  a  battle  of  the  Civil  war,  and  is  now  deceased;  James  M.; 
Elizabeth,  Charles  and  Jacob,  deceased;  Isabella,  wife  of  Charles  Rice,  of 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  987 

Gordon;  Sarah,  wife  of  Elias  Thomas,  of  Mt.  Carmel;  William  O.,  residing 
in  Gordon;  and  Harry  and  Frank,  deceased. 

It  is  interesting  to  record  that  the  war  records  of  Israel  aiid  James  M. 
Seitzinger,  father  and  son,  are  closely  interwoven,  so  that  the  record  of  one 
is  part  of  the  other.  Israel  Seitzinger  organized  tfie  first  company  that  went 
from  Ashland,  April  i,  1861,  and  was  made  its  captain.  This  was  Company 
E,  6th  Pa.  Vols.,  which  saw  but  three  months'  service.  Then  in  1864  both 
father  and  son  enlisted  in  Company  G,  ii6th  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  both  served 
till  the  close  of  the  war,  the  father  being  mustered  out  in  July,  1865,  and  the 
son  in  May  of  the  same  year.  Both  took  part  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness, 
Cold  Harbor,  Spottsylvania  and  Petersburg.  The  son  was  wounded  at  Reams' 
Station,  near  Petersburg,  on  Aug.  25,  1864,  being  injured  twice  in  that  battle. 
At  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor  he  saved  the  colors,  and  for  this  was  presented 
a  gold  medal  by  Congress,  thus  making  him  a  member  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 
He  was  also  made  sergeant  of  the  company.  He  has  the  cap  and  other  articles 
he  wore  during  the  war.  At  the  close  of  the  war  father  and  son  returned  to 
Gordon,  where  the  father  died  in  1894,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 

Margaret  Heebner,  mother  of  James  M.  Seitzinger,  was  bom  near  Schuyl- 
kill Haven,  March  29,  1825,  and  died  in  October,  1909.  She  is  buried  in  the 
Fountain  Springs  cemetery. 

John  Heebner,  father  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Seitzinger,  was  a  native  of  Chester 
coimty.  Pa.,  and  was  a  pioneer  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  a  well  known  man  of 
his  time.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  died  in  1871,  and  his  wife  in 
1870,  both  being  well  along  in  age.  He  had  ten  children,  only  one  of  whom  is 
now  living,  residing  in  Iowa. 

James  M.  Seitzmger  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Pottsville  and  Gordon, 
Pa.  He  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company 
as  brakeman,  was  successively  promoted  to  conductor,  fireman  and  engineer, 
and  has  now  been  in  the  employ  of  the  company  for  fifty-two  years  (191 5). 
He  has  been  engineer  for  thirty-seven  years  and  is  still  running  on  different 
branches  out  of  Gordon.  On  Dec.  2,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Hannah  C. 
Evert,  daughter  of  William  Evert,  of  Ashland,  and  they  had  the  following 
children:  Stella,  wife  of  A.  D.  Miller,  of  Philadelphia;  Cora,  widow  of  Harry 
Gasken,  of  Shamokin ;  Madue,  deceased ;  Milton,  residing  in  Pottsville,  a  fire- 
man on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad;  Lucy,  wife  of  Harry  Dunkleberger,  of 
Philadelphia;  Henrietta,  wife  of  Charles  J.  Groff,  of  Pottsville.  Mrs.  Seit- 
zinger died  July  2,  1898,  and  in  1903  Mr.  Seitzinger  married  Mary  E.  Hop- 
kins, her  sister. 

Mr.  Seitzinger  is  a  member  of  Post  No.  170,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Catawissa, 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  has  been  commander  of  that  post.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Catawissa  Lodge,  No.  349,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the 
chairs,  and  is  connected  with  the  Methodist  Church. 

Milton  Seitzinger,  son  of  James  M.,  is  a  fireman  on  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road. During  the  Spanish-American  war  he  served  in  Company  C,  12th  Pa. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  discharged  after  contracting  typhoid  fever.  He  is  a 
member  of  Camp  No.  72,  Sons  of  Veterans. 

DAVID  G.  HUGHES  ranks  among  the  skilled  mine  workers  in  the  employ 
of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  having  charge  as  inside 
foreman  at  the  SuflFolk  colliery,  in  Mahanoy  township,  Schuylkill  county.  He 
has  been  employed  at  these  workings  continuously  since  1889,  and  has  worked 


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d88  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

his  own  way  up  to  his  present  position  from  a  humble  beginning.  Like  many 
expert  miners  of  the  locality  he  is  of  Welsh  origin,  having  been  bom  in  Wales 
March  2,  1853.  His  father,  Joseph  Hughes,  was  a  contractor  and  builder  in 
Wales,  and  died  there  when  a  young  man. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  reared  in  his  native  land^  and  began  to  work  in  the 
mines  when  between  eight  and  nine  years  old.  Mining  has  always  been  his 
occupation,  and  his  experience  has  been  entirely  in  coal  mines.  Since  he 
settled  in  this  country  he  has  been  employed  actively  in  the  Pennsylvania 
coal  fields.  In  1886  Mr.  Hughes  came  to  America  and  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
for  a  couple  of  years  worked  at  Glen  Lyon,  Luzerne  and  Nanticoke,  all  in 
Luzerne  county.  In  1888  he  located  at  Girardville,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company, 
mining  there  one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  came  to  the  Suffolk  colliery, 
in  Mahanoy  township.  There  he  built  two  large  fan  holes,  shafts,  etc.,  for  the 
mines,  and  when  this  work  was  completed  was  made  fire  boss,  which  position 
he  held  for  eight  years  and  four  months.  His  next  promotion  was  to  assistant 
inside  foreman,  and  after  four  years  and  four  months  in  that  capacity  he  was 
made  inside  foreman,  in  September,  1902,  his  long  familiarity  with  the  work- 
ings at  the  Suffolk  colliery  qualifying  him  thoroughly  for  such  responsibility. 
There  are  about  six  hundred  men  under  his  charge,  and  in  the  arrangement 
and  adjustment  of  their  work  he  has  shown  himself  well  fitted  for  his  duties, 
as  well  as  by  his  own  competence,  which  has  been  tested  to  his  credit  on  many 
occasions.  Personally  he  enjoys  as  high  standing  as  in  his  business  relations, 
because  of  his  manly  worth  and  reliable  character.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  695,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  Mahanoy  City,  and  of  the  K.  G.  E.  Castle  at  that  place. 

Sarah  Phillips,  the  companion  of  his  life,  was  also  bom  in  Wales,  and  he 
brought  her  with  him  to  the  United  States.  They  have  had  five  children: 
David  died  in  infancy ;  Miriam  is  the  wife  of  William  Davidson,  and  they  are 
living  at  St.  Nicholas,  Schuylkill  county ;  Matilda  is  the  wife  of  Richard  David- 
son, of  St.  Nicholas;  Annie  and  Gladys  are  deceased. 

GEORGE  W.  SCHAPPELL,  of  Palo  Alto,  is  one  of  the  oldest  employees 
of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company.  He  has  been  an  engi- 
neer for  over  thirty-five  years.  Mr.  Schappell  was  bom  Sept.  6,  1847,  ^^ 
Spring  Garden,  Schuylkill  county,  son  of  Samuel  Schappell,  and  the  branch 
01  the  family  to  which  he  belongs  was  established  in  this  country  by  his  grand- 
father, Jacob,  who  moved  here  from  Berks  county,  where  his  name  is  on 
record  from  the  days  of  its  settlement. 

In  Periy  township,  Berks  county,  which  until  i85;j  was  a  part  of  Wind- 
sor township,  Berks  county,  is  a  prominent  family  beanng  the  name  of  Schap- 
pelle,  Choppelle,  Schobbel  or  Schobel,  but  now  more  commonly  found  spelled 
bhappell,  Schappel  and  Schappell.  The  original  home  of  the  founder  was  in 
France,  but  through  religious  persecution  its  members  sought  refuge  in 
Germany,  making  tfieir  home  at  Wittenberg.  Among  the  108  passengers  on 
the  good  ship  "Patience,"  which  landed  at  the  port  of  Philadelphia  Sept.  17, 
1753,  was  a  Jeremie  Chappelle  and  one  Jean  Pierre  Chappelle.  The  kinship 
of  these  two  emigrants  is  unknown,  but  it  is  not  doubted  that  they  were  rela- 
tives. What  became  of  Jean  Pierre  after  landing  in  the  New  World  is  not 
known.  Jeremias  Schappelle  (as  it  appears  on  the  tombstone)  or  Schobel  and 
Eberhart  Schoppel,  brothers,  were  residents  in  Windsor  township,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  in  1754  (see  Rupp's  History). 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  989 

According  to  the  tombstone  inscription  at  Zion's  Church,  in  Perry  (for- 
merly Windsor)  township,  Teremias  Schappelle  was  bom  in  171 5,  and  he  died 
Oct.  15,  1804.  His  wife  C!atharine,  bom  in  17^4,  passed  away  June  8,  1801. 
The  will  of  Jeremiah  Shappel  (sic)  is  on  record  in  Berks  county  courthouse 
in  Will  Book  A,  page  505.  It  was  made  Feb.  11,  1803,  and  probated  Jan.  7, 
1805.  At  the  time  the  will  was  made  he  was  a  resident  of  Windsor  township. 
The  following  children  were  mentioned  in  the  will:  Jacob  (who  was  made 
executor  of  his  father's  estate),  Matthias,  Jeremiah,  Magdalena  and  Cath- 
arine. In  the  cemetery  at  Zion's  Church  is  a  tombstone  bearing  the  following 
inscription:  "Elizabeth  Schappelle,  wife  of  Jeremias,  formerly  of  Deutsch- 
land,  bom  Feb.  16,  1771,  died  July  9,  1817,  aged  forty-six  years,  five  months, 
twenty-three  days."  This  probably  refers  to  the  wife  of  Jeremias  or  Jeremiah, 
son  of  Jeremias  (i). 

Jacob  Schappell,  son  of  Jeremias,  was  better  known  as  "Jockey,"  a  nick- 
name evidently  taken  from  the  German  pronunciation  pf  his  name.  He  was 
bom  in  Wittenberg,  Germany,  Feb.  2,  1744,  and  died  Sept.  11,  1826.  As  stated 
above  he  was  the  executor  of  his  father's  will  in  1805.  His  wife  Susanna  was 
bom  Feb.  2,  1751,  and  she  died  July  24,  1828.  They  were  both  buried  at 
Zion's  Church.  Jeremias,  Eberhart  and  Jockey  were  founders  of  the  original 
Zion's  Church.  Tradition  says  Jacob  and  Susanna  had  a  large  family,  some 
of  their  children,  however,  dying  in  infancy  and  childhood.  Of  these  of  whom 
there  is  record  may  be  mentioned:  Peter,  bom  April  ip,  1770;  Col.  Jeremiah, 
bom  Marfh  20,  1774;  Daniel,  who  was  a  taxable  resident  in  Manheim  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  in  1790;  and  Hannah,  married  to  George  Hoffman, 
a  farmer  of  Perry  township. 

There  is  a  valley  in  Perry  township  known  to  the  local  residents  as  Schap- 
pell's  Dale,  because  of  the  many  Schappells  living  there. 

Peter  Schappell,  son  of  Jacob  and  Susanna,  was  bom  April  19,  1770,  and 
died  Nov.  18,  1851.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Windsor  township,  and  he  and  his 
family  all  belonged  to  Zion's  Church,  and  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  there.  His 
first  wife  was  Elizabeth  (Lenhart)  (1768-1790),  and  his  second  Annie  (Kosch) 
(1778-1841).  His  children  were:  Jacob,  who  located  in  Schuylkill  county; 
Benjamin,  who  died  young;  Daniel,  who  settled  in  Schuylkill  county;  Samuel, 
who  settled  in  Windsor  township;  John,  who  settled  in  Richmond  township, 
Berks  county;  Mary,  married  to  William  Miller;  Kate,  married  to  Martin 
Eisenhaur ;  Elizabeth,  married  to  Jacob  Boyer ;  a  daughter  married  to  Anthony 
Adam ;  and  Solomon. 

Jacob  Shappell  lived  at  Shartlesville,  in  Berks  coimty,  until  his  removal 
to  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  settled  in  North  Manheim  township  with  his 
family.  Purchasing  a  tract  of  land,  he  followed  farming  successfully  during 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  here,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at 
Schuylkill  Haven.  His  children  were  as  follows :  Jacob,  who  died  in  North- 
umberland county;  Samuel;  David,  who  died  in  Schuylkill  county;  Mary, 
who  married  John  Womer;  and  Lydia,  Mrs.  Long. 

Samuel  Shappell,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bom  in  1825  at  Shartlesville,  Berks 
county,  accompanied  his  father  to  Schuylkill  county,  and  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life  here.  After  working  several  years  as  a  boatbuilder  he  bought  the 
J.  Womer  farm,  in  North  Manheim  township,  comprising  twenty  acres,  and 
later  increased  his  holdings  by  the  purchase  of  part  of  his  father's  homestead, 
as  well  as  part  of  the  Pryor  estate.  He  also  acquired  part  of  the  Osewald 
farm  and  some  land  from  Fred  Hinckle,  having  a  total  of  108  acres.     He 


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990  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

carried  on  general  farming  and  the  timber  business  as  well  for  many  years, 
becoming  a  well  known  man  in  his  day.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  was  active,  holding  the  posi- 
tion of  deacon.  Mr.  Shappell  married  Sarah  Oswald,  who  was  bom  in  1823, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Oswald,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  dying 
in  1906.  His  death  occurred  many  years  before,  in  1884,  when  he  was  nfty- 
nine  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shappell  are  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at 
Schuylkill  Haven.  They  had  a  large  family,  namely:  George  W. ;  Henry, 
who  is  a  resident  of  Philadelphia ;  Sarah,  deceased ;  Maria,  Mrs.  Frank  Luck- 
enbill,  living  in  North  Manheim  township;  Samuel,  who  went  West;  Benja- 
min, of  North  Manheim  township ;  Hattie,  wife  of  Jonathan  Achey,  of  Allen- 
town,  Pa.;  Mahlon  and  Galen,  twins,  the  former  deceased,  the  latter  in  the 
West;  and  Isaac,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Reading 
Company. 

George  W.  Schappell  attended  public  school  and  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  He  then  went  to  learn 
the  blacksmith's  trade  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  he  followed  it  for  three  years, 
until  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company 
in  1873.  M*s  first  position  was  that  of  brakeman  and  he  was  afterwards  fire- 
man, until  promoted  to  engineer  in  1878.  For  many  years  he  was  on  the 
Frackville  grade,  and  he  is  now  engineer  on  the  Pottsville  shifter.  Mr.  Schap- 
pell is  a  man  of  reliable  character  and  steady  industrious  habits,  which  have 
S lined  him  the  respect  of  his  associates  and  the  confidence  of  his  superiors, 
e  is  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Relief  Association  and  of  the 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and  his  religious  connection  is  with  the  English  Lutheran 
Church.    His  home  is  at  No.  302  Savery  street,  Palo  Alto. 

In  1874  Mr.  Schappell  married  Clara  Burton,  daughter  of  George  W.  Bur- 
ton, a  member  of  an  old  family  of  Philadelphia.  Eleven  children  have  been 
bom  to  this  union,  namely:  Mary  L.,  now  deceased;  Samuel  E.,  deceased; 
Ida  M.,  the  wife  of  William  Nabholtz ;  George  B. ;  Charles  F. ;  Elwood  I. ;  Wil- 
liam H. ;  Bessie,  wife  of  Fred  Reinhart;  Maude  E.,  wife  of  George  Runkle; 
Clara  E.,  wife  of  William  Dewalt,  and  Ralph  F. 

,  MILTON  BARR,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  a  well  known  contracting  plasterer 
was  bom  Dec.  14,  1868,  in  that  borough,  son  of  David  S.  Barr,  grandson  of 
Jacob  Baer  and  great-grandson  of  Melchior  Baer. 

The  Baer  (Barr)  family  of  Pennsylvania  has  an  interesting  history.  The 
name  in  diflFerent  forms  is  common  in  both  Europe  and  America,  and  the 
Colonial  records  show  that  over  forty  immigrants  of  the  name  came  to  America 
prior  to  1750.  Those  of  the  family  in  eastern  Pennsylvania  have  their  origin 
in  three  distinct  branches  or  families ;  those  of  John,  Melchior  and  Christopher, 
or  StoflFel,  as  he  was  familiarly  called.  These  three  men  of  the  name  of  Baer, 
with  other  immigrants,  crossed  the  ocean  in  the  ship  "Phoenix,"  landing  at 
Philadelphia  Sept.  30,  1743.  Their  descendants  are  many  and  are  scattered 
through  the  counties  of  Berks,  Lehigh  and  Schuylkill.  The  German  spelling 
of  the  name  is  Bar,  and  in  various  sections  it  is  written  Baer,  Baehr,  Bahr, 
Bair,  Bare,  Bear  and  Barr. 

Melchior  Baer,  the  great-great-grandfather  of  Milton  Barr,  settled  in  Le- 
high county,  Pa.,  where  he  farmed  and  reared  a  large  family,  being  married 
twice.  He  died  in  Upper  Milford  township,  Lehigh  county.  Among  his  chil- 
dren was  a  son,  Melchior. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  991 

Melchior  Baer  (2)  was  a  farmer,  as  his  ancestors  had  been,  and  lived  dur- 
ing his  youth  and  early  manhood  in  Lehigh,  his  native  county.  Afterwards  he 
moved  to  Mercer  county,  Pa.,  where  he  died,  at  the  home  of  his  youngest 
daughter.  His  children  were:  Daniel,  Jacob,  George  and  Charles  (twins), 
Susan,  Henry,  Mrs.  Rice,  Mrs.  Jacob  Dieffenderfer  and  Mrs.-  Moses  Dieffen- 
derfer. 

Jacob  Baer,  grandfather  of  Milton  Barr,  was  bom  in  Lehigh  county,  Pa., 
and  was  a  stonemason,  following  that  trade  all  of  his  active  life.  He  died  in 
Macungie,  Lehigh  county,  in  1861,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  Snyder,  of  Berks  county,  and  they  had  twelve  children:  Wil- 
liam, Charles,  Henry,  Solomon,  Jonas,  David  S.,  Sallie,  Lydia,  Susanna,  Han- 
nah, Maria  and  Emma. 

David  S.  Barr,  father  of  Milton,  was  bom  in  Macungie,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa., 
June  7,  1838,  and  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  attending  the  country  schools  there. 
In  the  year  1854  his  father  moved  to  Schuylkill  Haven.  Until  then  he  spelled 
his  name  "Baer,"  but  his  brother  and  cousin  here  used  the  spelling  "Barr,"  and 
he  also  adopted  it.  It  has  continued  to  be  the  form  used  up  to  the  present 
by  this  branch  of  the  family.  David  S.  Barr  leamed  the  trade  of  plasterer, 
and  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  that  work  in  Schuylkill  Haven.  In  1894 
he  retired  and  tumed  his  contracts  and  work  over  to  his  sons.  He  now  leads  a 
quiet  existence  with  his  son  George  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  Mr.  Barr  served  in 
the  great  conflict  between  the  North  and  South,  having  early  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  i6th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  remained  in  the  army  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  participating  in  several  engagements.  He  was  mustered  out  in 
September,  1865,  at  Manchester,  Va.,  at  the  close  of  the  conflict.  He  is 
a  member  of  Jere  Helms  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Mr.  Barr  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Groh,  daughter  of  David  and  Anna 
Maria  (Degler)  Groh,  and  she  died  Nov.  18,  1907,  and  is  buried  at  Schuylkill 
Haven.  Of  the  childr^  bom  to  this  union  three  are  living :  Milton ;  Oscar,  a 
railroad  man  of  Schuylkill  Haven;  and  George,  who  is  a  partner  with  his 
brother  Milton  in  the  plastering  business  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  Mr.  Barr  is  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

Milton  Barr  attended  public  schools  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  later  learned 
the  plastering  business  with  his  father.  When  his  father  retired  in  1894  he 
and  his  brother  George  took  over  the  business  and  have  continued  to  take 
contracts  in  the  borough  since  that  time.  The  firm,  known  as  Milton  Barr  & 
Bro.,  is  noted  throughout  this  section  of  the  county  for  good  work  and  thor- 
oughness of  detail.  Both  of  the  brothers  are  skilled  mechanics,  and  they 
employ  from  five  to  ten  men  throughout  the  year  in  their  various  contracts. 

Milton  Barr  was  married  to  Mrs.  Cora  Jane  (Potteiger)  Deitrich,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Emeline  (Hicks)  Potteiger,  of  Shartlesville,  Berks  county; 
she  was  first  married  to  Irvin  Deitrich,  who  was  a  veterinary  surgeon  at 
Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he  died,  leaving  her  with  two  children,  Robert  and 
Alice.    No  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barr. 

Mr.  Barr  is  a  member  of  Page  Lodge,  No.  270,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Schuylkill 
Haven,  of  which  he  was  master  in  1897.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Jr.  O.  U. 
A.  M.,  the  Red  Men  and  the  Heptasophs.  He  attends  the  English  Lutheran 
Church.  A  Republican,  he  has  served  for  several  years  as  judge  of  elections 
in  his  district. 


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992  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

GEORGE  M.  SCHAyALM,  of  Porter  township^  is  one  of  the  leading 
figures  among  the  wide-awake  agriculturists  in  his  section.  The  fine  place  he 
occupies  and  cultivates,  adjoining  Reiner  City,  is  a  model  farm  and  residence' 
property,  improved  according  to  the  most  modem  standards,  and  its  condition 
is  typical  of  everything  Mr.  Schwalm  handles.  Progressive  and  aggressive,  his 
example  has  been  a  helpful  influence  in  promoting  the  advancement  of  farm- 
ing in  Schuylkill  county,  where  the  family  has  been  settled  for  several  genera- 
tions. Mr.  Schwalm  has  spent  practically  all  his  life  in  Porter  township.  He 
was  born  in  Hubley  township,  this  county,  Sept.  20,  1865,  son  of  Peter 
Schwalm  and  grandson  of  Frederick  Schwalm.  The  great-grandparents,  John 
and  Tillie  Schwalm,  came  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa., 
among  the  pioneers  in  what  is  now  known  as  Hubley  township  (then  Mahan- 
tongo),  in  tne  Hegins  valley.    They  were  farmers  by  occupation!^ 

Frederick  Schwalm,  grandfather  of  George  M.  Schwalm,  was  bom  in  what 
is  now  Hubley  township,  and  there  spent  all  his  life,  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
He  married  three  times,  and  by  his  first  wife,  Catherine  (Stein),  also  a  native 
of  Schuylkill  county,  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  all  now  deceased  except 
Daniel.  William  was  a  retired  farmer,  of  Valley  View,  this  county ;  Emanuel 
was  postmaster  at  Hegins ;  Daniel  is  a  farmer  in  Hubley  township ;  Peter  had 
a  twin  sister  Catherine,  who  resided  in  Indiana;  Louisa  lived  and  died  at 
Hoopeston,  111.  For  his  second  wife  Frederick  Schwalm  married  Sarah  Suf- 
ing,  who  died  leaving  no  children,  and  he  subsequently  married  Harriet  Dieter. 
By  the  last  union  there  were  three  children :  Otilla  and  Elizabeth,  both  now 
deceased ;  and  Jackson,  of  Hegins  township. 

Peter  Schwalm  was  bom  Aug.  21,  1836,  in  what  is  now  Hubley  (then 
Lower  Mahantongo)  township,  this  county,  and  there  passed  his  early  years, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  public  and  subscription  schools  which  flourished 
in  the  neighborhood  during  his  boyhood.  His  father  was  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  first  free  school  established  in  the  township.  Peter  Schwalm  remained 
at  home  until  twenty-five  years  old,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  farm  of  his 
brother,  Samuel,  who  had  entered  the  army  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  giving 
three  years  and  one  month  of  his  time  to  the  Union  cause.  He  was  thus  occu- 
pied for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  bought  the  Schrob  gristmill,  which  he  car- 
ried on  for  several  years,  selling  out  and  removing  to  Porter  township,  where 
he  had  acquired  property  in  the  meantime,  having  purchased  129  acres  in  the 
Williams  valley.  Though  the  land  was  not  all  cleared  and  the  buildings  were 
old,  he  had  paid  $5,500  for  this  place,  and  he  set  at  once  about  the  task  of 
improving  it,  which  was  no  small  matter.  Some  parts  were  so  wild  and  over- 
grown with  underbmsh  that  the  foxes  would  come  close  to  the  farmhouse  in 
broad  daylight  and  carry  off  the  chickens,  and  Mr.  Schwalm  trapped  thirty 
foxes  during  his  first  few  years  there.  He  continued  to  reside  on  that  farm 
imtil  1895,  when  he  built  a  home  in  Muir  to  which  he  removed,  living  in  retire- 
ment there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  25,  1908.  His  son  C^rge  then 
took  charge  of  the  home  farm.  In  1887  Mr.  Schwalm  had  purchased  another 
tract,  containing  about  118  acres,  in  Hegins  township,  which  before  his  death 
passed  into  the  ownership  of  his  son  Ellsworth.  The  village  of  Muir  is  built 
partly  upon  his  Porter  township  farm.  Mr.  Schwalm  was  a  man  of  active 
temperament,  enterprising  in  looking  out  for  the  welfare  of  his  locality  as  well 
as  his  own  interests,  and  he  served  his  township  in  the  public  offices  of  school 


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PUBLIC  LIBKARY 


A5TOR,   LENOX 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  993 

director,  tax  assessor  and  tax  collector.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  and 
his  religious  connection  was  with  the  Reformed  Church  at  Orwin. 

On  April  23,  1861,  Mr.  Schwalm  married  Maria  Schrob,  who  was  bom 
Oct.  29,  1843,  i"  Hegins  township,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Holde- 
mann)  Schrob,  who  had  a  family  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  attained  matur- 
ity: Jacob  died  when  sixty-five  years  old;  Amos  lives  at  Valley  View,  this 
coimty;  Catherine  lives  in  Kansas.  Mrs.  Schwalm  died  April  i,  191 1,  and  is 
buried  with  her  husband  in  the  Fairview  cemetery  near  ^uir.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schrob  were  among  the  early  settlers  in  their  section  of  Schuylkill  county, 
and  both  died  there.    They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.         ' 

Seven  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schwalm :  Elizabeth  married 
Alfred  Hand,  and  is  deceased;  she  had  two  children,  Harry  H.  and  Ira  W., 
the  former  dying  when  eleven  months  old;  the  latter  married  Elizabeth  Jobe 
and  has  two  sons,  Elbert  and  Ivan.  Ellsworth,  a  farmer  of  Hegins  township, 
married  Jane  Kessler,  and  their  children  are  Elmer,  Ralph,  Ruth,  Beulah, 
Effie  and  Lloyd,  surviving,  and  Claude,  who  died  in  infancy.  George  M.  is 
mentioned  below.  Albert  T.  is  a  teacher  of  long  experience  in  Porter  township, 
and  now  principal  of  schools  there.  William  O.  lives  near  Midland,  S.  Dak., 
where  he  is  engaged  in  agriculture  and  cattle  raising  on  a  large  scale;  he 
married  Annie  Bixler,  and  has  children,  Ira  and  Ray  (twins).  Merle,  Dorothy, 
Arthur  and  Ben.  Mary  E.  parried  Thomas  Moser,  a  teacher  of  Porter  town- 
ship, and  has  children,  Irma,  Clair,  Lyle,  Glenn,  Ruth,  Paul  and  Jpanette. 
John  P.,  who  has  long  been  carrying  on  a  hardware  business  at  Reinerton, 
married  Catherine  Lebo,  and  they  have  three  children,  Beatrice,  Harold  and 
Mark. 

George  M.  Schwalm  was  but  seven  months  old  when  the  family  moved  from 
Hubley  to  Porter  township,  and  there  he  grew  up,  obtaining  his  education  in 
the  local  public  schools.  He  was  trained  to  farming  from  boyhood,  but  for 
seven  years  during  his  youth  and  early  manhood  he  worked  at  the  mines. 
Returning  fo  the  homestead  farm,  he  has  continued  to  devote  his  energies  to 
agriculture  since,  and  in  1894  he  began  operating  the  place  on  his  own  account, 
renting  it  from  his  father.  In  1903  he  purchased  the  property  from  his  father, 
having  a  fine  tract  of  102  acres,  adjoining  the  town  of  Muir.  He  has  earned 
the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  up-to-date  farmers  in  his  neighborhood, 
not  only  because  of  his  actual  accomplishments  in  the  line  of  agriculture,  but 
on  account  of  the  ideal  condition  in  which  he  keeps  his  surroundings.  He  has 
built  a  fine  residence,  and  all  the  other  buildings  are  modern  and  well  cared  for, 
Mr.  Schwalm  believing  that  true  economy  consists  in  a  judicious  outlay  rather 
than  too  conservative  a  policy.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  com  and 
potatoes,  for  which  he  has  no  trouble  finding  a  market.  Mr.  Schwalm's  fellow 
citizens  have  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  integrity  and  judgment,  and  he  has 
been  elected  to  the  township  offices  of  auditor  and  supervisor,  in  both  of 
which  he  has  performed  his  duties  creditably  and  intelligently.  "  He  is  one  of 
the  best  known  residents  of  his  section.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  belonging 
to  Swatara  Lodge,  No.  267,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Tremont,  and  he  also  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 

Mr.  Schwalm  married  Agnes  Haertter,  daughter  of  Christian  Haertter,  and 
the  following  children  have  been  bom  to  them :  Lottie  B.,  who  is  now  living 
at  home,  graduated  from  the  Porter  township  high  school  and  later  attended 
the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  and  afterwards  taught  three 
terms  in  Porter  township;  Lillian  E.  graduated  from  the  township  hicrh 
Vol.  n— 25 


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994  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

school,  taught  three  years,  and  then  entered  the  normal  school  at  Kutztown, 
graduating  there,  since  when  she  has  taught  one  term  in  Monroe  county.  Pa., 
and  three  terms  in  Porter  township,  at  present  being  so  engaged  at  Hoopeston, 
111.,  where  she  took  her  present  position  in  191 5;  Corine,  who  graduated  from 
the  township  high  school  and  the  Wade  business  college  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
is  now  stenographer  for  the  grand  regent  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  at  Lancaster, 
Pa. ;  Elma  C.  graduated  from  the  township  high  school  and  subsequently  spent 
one  year  in  the  Mahanoy  City  schools  and  the  Wiconisco  school,  from  which 
she  was  graduated  in  191 5,  and  is  now  at  home. 

SAMUEL  KLECKNER,  of  New  Boston,  Schuylkill  county,  has  been  in 
the  employ  of  Jones,  Delano  &  Co.,  throughout  his  business  career,  being  at 
present  their  store  manager  at  New  Boston,  where  he  also  fills  the  position 
of  postmaster.  He  has  spent  all  his  life  in  this  part  of  the  county,  having  been 
bom  at  Mahanoy  City  Nov.  15,  1879,  and  the  family  is  of  long  standing  here. 
His  grandfather,  the  late  Joshua  Kleckner,  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township, 
this  coimty,  in  what  is  known  as  Kleckners  Valley,  came  to  Mahanoy  City  in 
1870,  and  was  employed  about  the  mines  during  his  active  years.  He  was  liv- 
ing retired  at  Mahanoy  City  at  the  time  of  his  death,  May  29>  191 5,  at  the 
venerable  age  of  eighty  years.  He  married  Mary  Follweiler,  and  they  had 
children  as  follows :  Frank,  Wallace,  Pierce,  Catherine  and  Dora. 

Frank  Kleckner,  father  of  Samuel  Kleckner,  was  born  in  Kleckners  Val- 
ley, in  West  Penn  township,  and  for  several  years  followed  mining  in  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  Company.  Later  he  was  engaged 
as  a  watchman  at  Park  Place,  SchuyUcill  county.  He  died  June  8,  1915.  He 
and  his  wife  Sarah  (Sassamen)  had  two  children:  Samuel  and  Norman,  the 
latter  a  clerk  in  the  colliery  at  Park  Place. 

Samuel  Kleckner  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Ma- 
hanoy City,  finishing  with  a  course  at  McCann's  business  collie,  in  that 
borough,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1897,  with  the  first  class  from  that  insti- 
tution. He  then  found  a  position  as  bookkeeper  with  Jones,  Delano  &  Co.,  at 
Buck  Mountain  colliery,  where  he  remained  for  nine  years.  His  next  work 
was  at  the  Vulcan  colliery,  where  he  was  coal  shipper  for  eighteen  months, 
and  since  1907  he  has  been  located  at  New  Boston,  as  store  manager.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  mercantile  duties  he  serves  as  postmaster.  Mr.  Kleckner  is  a  trust- 
worthy young  man,  and  his  ability  and  fidelity  to  his  duties  have  been  appar- 
ent in  the  prosperity  of  the  store  under  his  management.  His  services  have 
been  highly  satisfactory  to  his  employers  and  to  the  public,  and  he  is  a  citizen 
of  high  standing.  In  fraternal  connecticMi  he  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  Ma- 
hanoy City  Lodge,  No.  357,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Mizpah  Chapter,  No.  252,  R.  A. 
M.,  as  well  as  to  Washington  Camp  No.  124,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and  Lodge  No. 
69s,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  all  of  Mahanoy  City.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Refomled 
Church. 

Mr.  Kleckner  married  Elizabeth  Holman,  a  daughter  of  B.  I.  Evans,  of 
Mount  Carmel,  Pa.,  the  well  known  mine  inspector.  They  have  two  children, 
Frank  and  Elizabeth. 

WILLIAM  M.  DAMPMAN,  foreman  of  the  repair  shops  of  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Railway  Company  at  Gordon,  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom 
in  Lebanon,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  James  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Irons)  Dampn 
man,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.    The  father  is  of  German  descent. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  995 

James  M.  Dampman  was  bom  in  Reading,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  March  27,  1851, 
and  moved  thence  to  Lebanon  at  an  early  age.  He  has  been  connected  with 
the  Reading  Railway  Company  from  boyhood,  first  as  messenger,  then  at 
other  employments  until  he  was  made  an  engineer  at  Reading  in  1 875 ;  he  now 
holds  that  position  at  Mahanoy  Plane,  and  resides  in  Frackville,  Pa.  Mr. 
Dampman  married  Elizabeth  Irons,  and  they  had  four  children:  William  M., 
mentioned  below;  Jennie,  living  at  Lebanon,  Pa.;  Mary,  widow  of  George 
Kienzle,  of  Frackville;  and  Daniel,  a  resident  of  Frackville,  in  the  employ  of 
the  Reading  railroad.    Mrs.  Dampman  died  in  1884. 

James  Dampman,  the  grandfather  of  William  M.  Dampman,  was  a  native 
of  Chester  county,  Pa.  He  was  connect'ed  with  the  Reading  Railway  Com- 
pany from  its  earliest  days  of  existence,  and  had  the  honor  of  running  one  of 
the  first  hard-coal  burning  engines  used  on  the  road.  He  had  eight  children, 
five  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  four  are  living.  Philip  is  a  resident 
of  Point  Pleasant,  N.  J.  David  took  part  in  the  Civil  war,  was  afterwards 
employed  by  the  Reading  Railway  Company,  and  is  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Livingston  resides  in  Philadelphia;  Mrs.  Harry  Rippman,  in  Norris- 
town,  Pa.;  Mrs.  Harry  Bailey,  in  Philadelphia. 

William  M.  Dampman  attended  school  in  Philadelphia  during  the  time 
his  parents  resided  there,  completing  his  education  in  Frackville.  After  his 
school  days  were  over  he  came  to  Mahanoy  Plane,  and  on  the  ist  of  December, 
1889,  became  a  messenger  for  the  Reading  Railway  Company.  He  was  rapidly 
advanced  to  caller,  and  from  that  to  other  positions,  imtil  hi  1891  he  was  made 
stationery  engineer  at  Mahanoy  Plane,  in  July,  1894,  he  was  apprenticed  to 
the  machinist's  trade  at  that  place  in  the  shops,  working  thus  until  December^ 
1900,  when  he  was  transferred  to  his  present  position  of  foreman,  of  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Railway  shops  at  Gordon. 

In  1898  Mr.  Dampman  was  married  to  Harriet  Cobley,  of  Mahanoy  Plane, 
and  they  have  had  these  children :  James  M.,  Beatrice,  Samuel,  Douglas  and 
Jennie.  Mr.  Dampman  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  in  politics 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  president  of  the  school  board  of  Gordon  for 
four  years,  is  secretary  of  the  board  of  health  and  treasurer  of  Citizens'  Fire 
Company,  No.  i.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Ashland  Lodge,  No.  294,  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

Samuel  Cobley,  father  of  Mrs.  Dampman,  was  a  fire-boss  in  the  mines 
at  Mahanoy  Plane.  He  married  Elizabeth  Coles,  and  they  had  eight  children : 
James,  a  resident  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  Charles,  living  at  Mahanoy  Plane ;  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  James  Garraway,  of  Frackville;  George,  a  resident  of  Lansdale, 
Montgomery  county;  Mrs.  Dampman;  Elizabeth,  unmarried;  Samuel  and 
Elmer,  deceased. 

THOMAS  FRANKLIN  BLEILER  has  an  up-to-date  harness  shop  in 
West  Penn  township,  where  he  has  been  established  for  almost  twenty  years, 
having  moved  here  in  1897  from  Lehigh  county,  where  he  was  bom  and  where 
his  family  has  been  settled  for  several  generations.  He  is  a  son  of  David 
Bleiler  and  grandson  of  Jdhn  Bleiler,  the  latter  a  lifelong  resident  of  Lehigh 
county,  the  owner  of  a  tannery  and  farm  of  125  acres  in  Weisenberg  town- 
ship, both  of  which  he  conducted  successfully.  He  lived  to  be  over  sixty  years 
old,  and  is  buried  at  Siegel's  Church  near  Fogelsville,  Lehigh  county.  He  was 
a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church.    His  children 


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996  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANLA. 

were :  James ;  John ;  Thomas ;  William ;  David ;  Mrs.  Sallie  Smith ;  and  Mary, 
who  married  Dennis  Bachman. 

David  Bleiler,  father  of  Thomas  Franklin  Bleiler,  was  bom  in  1823  in 
Weisenberg  township,  Lehigh  county,  and  died  at  Lynnvillei  that  county,  in 
December,  1882.  He  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  the  home  local- 
ity, worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  also  learned  the  trade  of  harness- 
rnaker,  which  he  followed  in  connection  with  agriculture,  doing  well  in  both 
lines.  At  the  same  time  he  carried  on  a  hotel  at  Lynnville.  He  retired  about 
six  years  before  his  death,  and  spent  his  closing  days  in  Lynnville.  A  man  of 
public  spirit  and  enterprising  character,  he  took  an  interest  in  all  the  affairs  of 
the  community,  served  several  terms  as  school  director  at  Lynnville,  was  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party  in  politics,  and  was  a  leading  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church  at  Lynnville,  which  he  served  as  treasurer  for 
the  long  period  of  fifteen  years.  Mr.  Bleiler  married  Sarah  Seiberling,  who 
survived  him,  passing  away  Jan.  28,  1898,  aged  seventy-three  years,  eight 
months,  one  day.  She  was  the  youngest  of  ten  children  bom  to  John  Seiber- 
ling (whose  wife's  maiden  name  was  Bear),  who  was  of  the  same  stock  as 
the  well  known  Seiberlings  of  Ohio,  manufacturers  of  the  Buckeye  harvesting 
machinery.  John  Seiberling  made  an  unusual  official  record  as  postmaster  at 
Lynnville,  holding  the  office  for  sixty-five  years,  and  he  was  the  oldest  post- 
master in  the  United  States  in  his"  day.  He  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-four 
years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Bleiler  are  buried  at  the  L)mnville  German  Reformed 
Church.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children :  John  H.  died  unmarried ;  Eliza- 
beth died  unmarried ;  Thomas  Franklin  is  next  in  the  family ;  Dr.  Peter  Oliver, 
who  was  a  physician  at  AUentown,  Pa.,  now  deceased,  married  Emma  Kistler ; 
Mary  Amanda  died  unmarried ;  James  died  in  childhood ;  Dr.  Charles  Alfred, 
bom  Jime  24,  1859,  ^^  Lynnville,  now  deceased,  married  Alice  Kistler  (de- 
ceased) and  (second)  Carrie  Adams;  William  Frederick,  a  farmer  of  Lehigh 
county,  now  living  at  Lynnville,  married  Jane  Knerr. 

Thomas  Franklin  Bleiler  was  bom  Nov.  9,  1850,  in  Lynn  township,  Le- 
high county,  and  received  his  education  at  L)mnville.  He  leamed  hamess- 
making  with  his  father,  and  continued  to  follow  the  trade  at  Lynnville,  where 
he  had  a  thriving  shop  of  his  own,  until  his  removal  to  his  present  place  in 
West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  in  the  year  1897.  He  occupies  a 
nice  property,  which  he  purchased,  has  a  well  equipped  saddlery  shop  with 
a  desirable  tract  of  ground,  and  has  carried  on  a  prosperous  business  through- 
out the  period  of  his  residence  here.  Though  of  late  years  Mr.  Bleiler  has 
not  been  specially  active  in  public  and  church  aflFairs  he  is  a  citizen  whose  co- 
operation and  influence  in  such  matters  are  valued.  While  at  Lynnville  he 
served  two  terms  as  postmaster,  during  President  Cleveland's  administration, 
making  a  highly  creditable  record.  He  Nvas  a  promineiit  member  of  St.  Peter's 
Reformed  Church  there,  holding  the  office  of  deacon  for  six  years,  and  he 
joined  Council  No.  204,  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  at  New  Tripoli, 
Lehigh  county,  many  years  ago. 

Mr.  Bleiler  married  Louisa  Lydia  Swoyer,  who  was  bom  Nov.  18,  1857, 
in  Albany  township,  B^rks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  when  one  year  old  accompanied 
her  parents  to  Lehigh  county.  She  received  her  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Lynnville,  and  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage.  Mrs.  Bleiler  is  a 
Lutheran  member  of  St.  Peter's  Church  at  Lynnville.  To  this  union  have 
been  bom  three  children:     (i)  Addie  Louisa,  bom  Feb.  13,  1877,  died  Oct. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  997 

2T,  1889.  (2)  Elizabeth  Louise,  bom  April  6,  1880,  is  the  wife  of  George 
Sittler,  an  employee  of  the  Victor  Talking  Machine  Company,  of  Philadel- 
phia; they  have  one  child,  Thomas  Bleil^,  bom  July  28,  1909.  Mrs.  Sittler 
was  educated  in  Lehigh  county  and  at  the  Keystone  State*  Normal  School,  at 
Kutztown,  Pa.,  and  taught  school  for  seven  terms  in  West  Penn  township. 
(3}  George  Thomas,  born  Nov.  9,  1885,  died  Aug.  28,  1887. 

Killian  Swoyer,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Thomas  F.  Bleiler,  spent  all  his 
life  in  Albany  township,  Berks  coimty,  where  he  owned  a  large  tract  of 
land  and  followed  farming.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church  at  Stony  Run,  in  Albany  township,  and  he  and 
his  wife,  Barbara  (Merkel),  are  buried  there;  she  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.     They  had  one  child,  Ephraim. 

Ephraim  Swoyer  was  bom  Nov.-  9,  1804,  in  Albany  township,  Berks 
county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  worked  for  his  father  until 
the  latter's  death,  and  inherited  the  homestead  property.  When  his  daugh- 
ter Louisa  was  one  year  old  he  sold  the  place  and  removed  to  Lynnville, 
Lehigh  county,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  ninety-five  acres  which  he  operated 
for  a  number  of  years.  On  retiring  he  spent  his  closing  years  with  his 
daughter  Mrs.  Hermany.  He  married  Catherine  Smith,  like  himself  a  native 
of  Albany  township,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Bachman)  Smith. 
She  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  the  mother  of  children  as  fol- 
lows: Caroline  married  Henry  D.  Kistler,  of  New  Tripoli,  Lehigh  county; 
Sarah  Ann  married  Charles  Miller,  and  both  are  deceased;  Amanda  mar- 
ried Edward  Hermany ;  Alfred,  deceased,  married  Lucetta  Smith,  of  Hazleton, 
Pa. ;  Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  John  Shifferstine,  and  now  resides  at  Tamaqua, 
Schuylkill  county;  William  died  when  thirty  years  old;  Henry,  deceased, 
married  Sallie  Williams,  of  Philadelphia;  Mary  Ann  married  Henry  ShiflFer- 
stine,  of  Tamaqua;  Kate  married  William  Ettinger,  who  is  now  deceased, 
and  she  lives  at  Allentown,  Pa.;  Emma  died  young;  Levi  J.  married  Kate 
Smith,  and  they  reside  at  Hazleton,  Pa.;  Louisa  Lydia,  Mrs.  Bleiler,  is 
next  in  the  family;  James  D.  died  young.  The  parents  of  this  family  are 
buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  Lynnville.  Mr.  Swoyer  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  congregation  of  that  church,  and  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment. 

THOMAS  WILLIAM  PAUL,  of  East  Bmnswick  township,  is  a  sub- 
stantial citizen  of  the  region  where  his  family  has  held  a  respected  position 
for  several  generations,  his  great-grandfather,  John  Paul,  having  been  a 
pioneer  settler  in  the  township.  He  owned  the  farm  now  occupied  by  John 
Schoener,  built  a  Ic^  house  and  bam  upon  his  tract,  and  succeeded  in  clearing 
a  great  portion  of  the  land.  He  had  the  following  children:  Jacob;  John; 
Daniel;  Philip,  who  married  Sallie  Yeager;  Charles;  William,  who  married 
Sallie  Will;  Henry;  Diana,  Mrs.  Peter  Miller;  Kate,  Mrs.  John  Matz;  Mol- 
lie,  Mrs.  Andrew  Bai^kes;  Sallie;  and  Susan,  Mrs.  Reber.  The  parents  were 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Orwigsburg,  in  whose  cemetery  they 
are  buried.    Mr.  Paul  was  a  Republican. 

Daniel  Paul,  the  grandfather,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  East  Bmns- 
wick township,  and  remained  on  the  homestead  farm  all  his  life.  Before 
his  father's  death  he  boug^ht  the  farm  property.  Mr.  Paul  married  Kate 
Yeager,  a  native  of  West  Bmnswick  township,  daughter  of  Henry  Yeagfer,  a 
farmer  of  that  township,  and  to  this  union  were  bom  the  following  children : 
Hannah,  bom  Jan.  24,  1834,  married  George  GangloflF;  Sarah,  bom  July  25, 


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998  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

1835,  married  Charles  Matten,  and  is  deceased;  William  is  mentioned  below; 
Phoebe  bom  Jan.  12,  1841,  died  aged  nineteen  years;  Kate,  bom  Aug.  5, 
1843,  married  Samuel  Meek;  Mary,  bom  Feb.  5,  1845,  married  Joshua 
Schoener,  and  is  deceased;  John,  bom  Oct  9,  1846,  married  Emma  Leiby; 
one  child  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Paul  died  Dec.  5,  1893,  aged  eighty-three 
years,  seven  mcMiths,  two  days,  his  wife  at  the  age  of  seventy^two  ye^rs. 
They  are  buried  in  the  Steigerwalt  cemetery.  Mr.  Paul  adhered  to  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  his  religious  connection  was  with 
the  Church  of  God  at  Steigerwalt. 

William  Paul,  son  of  Daniel,  was  bom  March  20,  1839,  in  East  Bruns- 
wick township,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  township.  He  as- 
sisted on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty-seven  years  old,  when  he  mar- 
ried and  bought  the  tract  of  thirteen  acres  now  occupied  by  Thomas  Hartung, 
remaining  on  that  place  for  six  years.  Trading  farms  with  the  father  of 
Thomas  Hartimg,  he  removed  to  the  tract  now  owned  by  his  son,  Thomas 
W.  Paul,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since,  being  now  practically  retired.  His 
life  has  been  unassuming,  but  useful  and  commendable  to  such  a  d^ree  that 
he  has  the  unqualified  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  other  friends.  He  is  a 
valued  member  of  the  Church  of  God  at  Steigerwalt  and  has  served  the  con- 
gregation, for  years  as  trustee.     On  political  questions  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Paul  was  married  to  Emma  E.  Hartung,  born  Dec.  16,  1842,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Priscilla  (Bensinger)  Hartung,  and  they  became^  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Kate  Louisa,  bom  Feb.  12,  1866,  is  now  keeping 
house  for  her  father  in  a  part  of  the  dwelling  on  the  farm  which  his  son  now 
owns;  Thomas  William  is  mentioned  below;  Mary  Matilda,  bom  Aug.  25, 
1877,  is  the  wife  of  Harr>'  Frantz.  Mrs.  Paul  died  March  12,  1910,  and  is 
buried  in  the  Steigerwalt  cemetery. 

Thomas  William  Paul  was  bom  Sept.  7,  1872,  in  East  Bmnswick  town- 
ship, where  he  received  most  of  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  later 
attending  the  high  school  at  Palo  Alto  one  term.  He  taught  school  for  one 
term  in  West  Brunswick  township.  He  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  and 
continued  to  assist  his  father  in  its  operation  until  twenty-two  years  of  age. 
Then  he  married  and  entered  the  employ  of  Jonas  Kunkel,  as  a  farm  laborer, 
remaining  with  him  one  year,  after  which  he  retumed  to  the  home  farm, 
later  buying  the  place  from  his  father.  The  tract  contains  about  one  hun- 
dred acres,  seventy-five  acres  of  which  are  under  cultivation,  devoted  to 
general  farming.  Mr.  Paul  attends  market  at  Port  Carbon  and  St.  Clair, 
and  being  ambitious  and  diligent  has  taken  his  place  among  the  most  progres- 
sive agriculturists  of  the  neighborhood.  His  neighbors  have  given  practical 
evidence  of  the  high  opinion  they  have  formed  of  his  tmstworthiness  by  elect- 
ing him  to  the  township  school  board,  in  which  body  he  served  for  a  period 
of  sixteen  years,  until  the  new  code  went  into  effect.  He  supports  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  like  a  number  of  the  family  holds  membership  in  the 
Church  of  God  at  Steigerwalt,  of  which  he  is  elder  at  present.  For  some 
time  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Simday  school. 

Mr.  Paul  married  Amanda  Becker,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Stitzel)  Becker,  born  May  19,  1870,  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  and  their 
children  have  been  bom  as  follows:  Hilda  May,  Nov.  17,  1895;  Clarence 
Edward,  Jan.  24,  1897 ;  Emily  Cecelia,  July  30,  1900 ;  Ettie  Mildred,  June  20, 
1903.  died  Jan.  4,  1904;  Edward  Milton,  twin  of  Ettie  (died  May  26,  1904)  ; 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  999 

Mabel  Irene,  May  20,  1909.     All  the  surviving  children  are  at  home,  and 
attending  school  in  East  Brunswick  township. 

William  Becker,  father  of  Mrs,  Thomas  W.  Paul,  was  bom  in  West 
Penn  township  about  the  year  1829,  son  of  John  Becker.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  wood  chopper,  owned  a  small  tract  of  land  which  he  operated  and  also 
assisted  other  farmers  in  his  neighborhood.  His  first  wife,  Harriet  (Lutz), 
bom  in'  1834,  died  in  1862,  the  mother  of  children  as  follows :  Francis  mar- 
ried Hannah  Bachert;  James,  bom  in  1857,  died  in  1876;  Kate  married  John 
Coldren.  Mrs.  Harriet  Becker  was  buried  in  the  EvangeUcal  cemeteiy  at 
Drehersville,  Pa.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Becker  married  Cathierine  Stitzel, 
bom  in  1833,  who  died  in  1876,  and  by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Lizzie 
married  Abraham  Oswald;  Cordelia  married  James  Marburger;  Samuel  mar- 
ried Sallie  Hillegass;  Amanda  married  Thomas  W;  Paul;  Neda  married 
George  Moore.  The  mother  is  buried  at  Drehersville.  Mr.  Berker's  third 
marriage  was  to  Mrs.  CeceHa  (Dorward)  Reinert,  widow  of  Benjamin  Rein- 
ert,  and  to  this  union  were  bom  three  children:  Cora  married  Claude  Bach- 
ert; Charles  and  George  are  unmarried.  By  her  marriage  to  Benjamin  Rein- 
ert, Mrs.  Becker  had  the  following  children:  Agnes  married  Harry  Carey; 
Elmira  married  Jacob  Price;  Emma  married  Martin  Custer;  William  mar- 
ried Mamie  Sterner.  William  Becker  died  in  the  fall  of  191 3,  aged  eighty- 
four  years,  and  his  widow  now  resides  at  Skippack,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa. 
He  was  a  very  active  member  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church  at  Drehers- 
ville, serving  as  class  leader  and  in  other  church  offices,  and  he  is  buried  at 
Drehersville.     Politically  he  was  a  Republican. 

MARTIN  WITTMER,  deceased,  was  a  substantial  citizen  of  the  bor- 
ough of  Mahanoy  City,  where  his  widow  and  children  still  live,  ranking  as 
he  did  among  the  most  respected  residents  of  the  place. 

Mr.  Wittmer  was  a  native  of  Baden,  Germany,  bom  Nov.  28,  1854,  son 
of  Blasius  Wittmer,  who  was  a  farmer  in  that  cQuntry,  where  he  lived  and 
died.  Martin  Wittmer  learned  the  brewing  business  in  the  Fatherland,  and 
upon  coming  to  America,  in  October,  1^5,  first  found  employment  with 
Andrew  Kaier,  at  Dushore,  Sullivan  Co.,  Pa.  After  four  months  there  he 
came  to  Mahanoy  City,  Schuylkill  county,  and  entered  the  employ  of  Charles 
D.  Kaier,  working  for  him  until  May,  1886.  He  then  went  to  New  York 
City  to  meet  his  wife  and  three  children  coming  from  Germany,  and  the 
family  located  at  Katonah,  about  thirty  miles  from  the  metropolis,  where 
Mr.  Wittmer  carried  on  farming  for  seven  months.  He  then  returned  to 
Mahanoy  City,  bringing  the  family  with  him,  and  he  resumed  work  in  the 
brewery  of  Charles  D.  Kaier,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1901.  That  year 
he  became  the  local  agent  for  the  Rettig  Brewing  Company,  and  was  so 
occupied  until  he  purchased  a  hotel,  in  1905,  at  No.  1301  East  Mahanoy 
avenue.  He  devoted  all  his  time  and  attention  to  the  hotel  business  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  Dec.  29,  1913.  He  is  buried  at  Mahanoy  City. 
Mr.  Wittmer  became  very  well  known  here  in  his  various  business  connec- 
tions and  made  many  friends.  He  was  a  member  of  the  St.  Fidelius  Ger- 
man Catholic  Church,  exemplary .  in  his  domestic  life,  and  beloved  by  his 
large  family  as  he  was  esteemed  by  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances. 

In  Germany  Mr.  Wittmer  married  Mary  Maier,  who  was  bom  in  Baden, 
daughter  of  John  Maier,  and  they  had  three  children  bom  in  that  country, 
the  rest  being  natives  of  the  United  States,  namely:  Blasius,  now  employed 


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1000  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

by  the  Liberty  Bfrewing  Company,  living  at  Mahanoy  City ;  Charles  F.,  also  of 
Mahanoy  City,  agent  there  for  the  celebrated  Feigenspan  beer;  Susan,  wife 
of  Herbert  Evahs,  of  Mahanoy  City;  Josephine,  wife  of  John  Nolter,  of 
Mahanoy  City;  Martin,  John,  Mary,  Herman  and  Mathew,  all  living  at  home; 
and  Theresa,  who  died  Feb.  2T^  1906. 

OLIVER  MACHAMER  has  been  a  mine  worker  in  Schuylkill  county 
from  boyhood,  and  by  reason  of  his  sterling  character  and  attention  to  duty 
has  advanced  to  the  responsible  position  of  inside  foreman  at  the  Otto  col- 
liery, an  important  workmg  at  Branch  Dale,  in  Reilly  township.  Mr.  Macha- 
mer  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  old  Berks  coipty  stock.  His  father, 
Jonathan  Machamer,  was  bom  at  Bern,  Berks  county,,  where  he  followed 
farming.  Later  he  removed  to  Tower  City,  Schuylkill  bounty,  and  engaged 
in  the  butcher  business,  continuing  same  until  his  death.  He  passed  away 
at  the  age  of  sixty-four,  and  is  buried  at  Tower  City.  To  his  marriage 
with  Catherine  Merkel,  a  native  of  Tilden  township,  Berks  county,  were 
bom  'the  following  children:  Clara,  Ida,  Manetta,  Morris,  Oliver,  Reuben, 
Howard,  Mirty  alnd  Emily. 

Oliver  Machamer  was  bom  June  15,  1863,  at  Bern,  Berks  county,  and 
was  educated  at  Tower  City,  attending  public  school.  When  thirteen  years 
old  he  entered  upon  work  at  the  mines,  beginning  at  a  slate  picker  at  the 
Brookside  colliery,  where  he  was  employed  at  outside  work  until  nineteen 
years  old.  He  was  then  given  duties  inside,  remaining  until  he  was  made 
fire  boss  at  the  Brookside.  He  filled  that  position  for  fourteen  years,  at 
the  end  of  that  period  becoming  assistant  inside  foreman  at  the  East  Brook- 
side colliery.  After  four  years  in  that  capacity  he  was  given  his  present 
place,  in  1907,  inside  foreman  in  the  nest  section  of  the  Otto  colliery.  About 
two  hundred  and  forty  men  are  employed  at  these  workings,  and  Mr.  Ma- 
chamer has  made  a  creditable  reputation  among  his  fellow  workers  as  well 
as  with  his  employers.  Fratemally  he  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  Minersville 
Lodge,  No.  222,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Schuylkill  Chapter,  No.  159,  R.  A.  M.;  Con- 
stantine  Commandery,  No.  41,  K.  T.,  of  Pottsville;  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A. 
O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Reading.    He  also  holds  membership  in  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 

Mr.  Machamer  married  Ida  Vanhouten,  of  Tower  City,  this  county,  and 
they  have  the  following  children:  Ada,  Eva,  John,  Fred  and  Ruth.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

JACOB  F.  BROWN,  who  holds  the  position  of  baker  at  the  Schuylkill 
County  Home,  was  bom  at  St.  Qair,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  March  26,  i860, 
and  is  a  son  of  Michael  Brown.  The  family  is  of  German  ancestry,  the  name 
having  been  changed  in  spelling  since  their  arrival  in  Pennsylvania. 

Michael  Brown,  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  America  from  Ger- 
many, settled  first  at  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  one 
year,  moving  then  to  St.  Clair,  where  he  worked  as  a  teamster  for  Mr.  Price 
and  Mr.  Boone  during  the  remainder  of  his  active  days.  He  was  a  popular 
man  in  his  section  and  was  respected  for  his  honesty  and  industry.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  His  death  occurred  July  10,  1910.  and  he  is 
buried  at  St.  Clair.  Mr.  Brown  married  Mary  Magle,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Germany,  and  their  children  were :  John,  Jacob  F.,  George,  Charles,  Wil- 
liam (who  died  young),  Michael,  Mary  and  Kate. 

Jacob  F.   Brown  was  educated  in  the  public  schools'  of   St.   Clair,  and 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1001 

followed  tfie  work  of  slate  picking  at  the  coal  breakers  for  four  years.  Find- 
ing this  not  remunerative  employment,  he  entered  the  baking  business,  work- 
ing for  four  and  a  half  years  to  learn  the  trade.  He  then  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  St.  Clair,  and  continued  thus  until  1905,  when  he  was 
appointed  baker  at  the  County  Home.  He  has  proved  himself  well  qualified 
to  do  the  work  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  About  three  barrels  of  flour  are 
used  daily,  and  the  product  is  as  wholesome  and  palatable  as  that  of  any  of 
the  bakeries  in  this  section. 

Mr.  Brown  married  Angeline  Evans,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah 
(James)  Evans,  and  they  have  had  ten  children:  Etna,  married  to  George 
Wedemuth;  Charles;  George;  James;  Catherine;  Gladys;  John;  Margaret; 
Eleanora;  and  William,  deceased.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  Republican  in  political 
affiliation,  and  in  religious  connection  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  SHELLHAMMER  is  one  of  the  practical 
agriculturists  who  have  improved  conditions  in  East  Brunswick  townsnip 
during  the  last  generation  so  notably  that  the  locality  is  gaining  steadily  in 
farm  values.  He  has  been  settled  there  since  he  began  farming  on  his  own 
account,  and  was  bom  in  the  adjoining  township  of  West  Penn,  Schuylkill 
county,  Jan.  6,  1852,  son  of  Michael  Shellhammer.  His  grandfather,  also 
named  Michael,  was  a  native  of  West  Penn  township,  where  he  owned  about 
seventy-five  acres  and  followed  farming  all  his  life.  He  cleared  most  of  his 
land,  built  a  log  house  and  bam  thereon,  and  died  on  his  farm  about  1864, 
at  the  age  of  seventjr.  He  was  a  Democrat,  but  took  little  part  in  politics 
or  other  public  aflfairs.  In  religion  he  adhered  to  the  German  Reformed 
Church,  belonging  to  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township,  where  he  and 
his  wife  are  buried.  They  had  the  following  children:  Solomon;  Michael; 
Samuel,  who  married  Mollie  Bennekoff ;  David,  who  married  Sallie  Saxe; 
and  Mollie,  wife  of  Nathan  Hoppes. 

Michael  Shellhammer,  the  father  of  Benjamin  F.  Shellhammer,  was  bom 
in  West  Penn  township  about  the  year  1820.  He  was  educated  in  the  local 
schools,  and  assisted  his  father  on  the  homestead  farm  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  leam  the  blacksmith's  trade  with  Moses 
Bennekoff.  He  completed  an  apprenticeship  and  became  a  good  mechanic. 
But  after  following  his  trade  for  six  years  and  finding  he  could  not  stand 
the  work  he  bought  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  in  West  Penn  township,  from  a  Mr. 
Keplinger,  cleared  most  of  it,  built  a  house  and  operated  this  land  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  ip  June,  1857,  when  he  was  thirty-seven  years  old. 
Like  his  father  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  Zion's  German  Reformed 
Church  in  West  Penn  township.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  union  being 
with  Priscilla  Baer,  daughter  of  Daniel  Baer,  whose  wife's  name  was 
Houser.  Mrs.  Shellhammer  died  in  childbirth,  when  twenty-four  years  old. 
His  second  marriage  was  to  Catherine  Daubenspeck,  daughter  of  David  and 
Polly  (Baer)  Daubenspeck,  and  we  have  the  following  record  of  their  chil- 
dren :  Mary  Ann,  now  9.  resident  of  Mahanoy  City,  married  James  Becker,  at 
one  time  chief  burgess  of  Mahanoy  City ;  Benjamin  F.  is  next  in  the  family ; 
Moses  died  when  two  years  old;  David  died  when  about  three  years  old; 
Polly  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  who 
passed  away  at  a  comparatively  early  age,  Mrs.  Catherine  (Daubenspeck) 
Shellhammer  married  (second)  Solomon  Zimmerman,  a  son  of  George  Zim- 
merman, a  native  of  West  Penn  township.    There  were  two  children  of  this 


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1002  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

marriage :  Ellie  died  when  six  years  old ;  Emma  married  John  Hilf,  of  Weadi- 
eriy,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  who  after  her  death  married  (second)  Ida  Kemmerly. 
After  the  death  of  Michael  Shellhammer  his  widow  sold  the  farm  and  went 
to  live  with  her  mother  in  West  Penn  township.  When  she  remarried  she 
moved  to  East  Brunswick  township,  and  later  to  West  Penn  township,  finally 
returning  to  East  Brunswick  township,  where  she  died  at  the  home  of  her 
son  Benjamin  in  1902,  aged  seventy-four  years.  She  is  buried  at  Zion's 
Church  in  West  Penn  township. 

Benjamin  F.  Shellhammer  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  West  Penn  and 
East  Brunswick  townships.  Subsequently  he  worked  out  as  a  laborer  on  the 
neighboring  farms  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  when  he  married. 
Later  he  tenanted  David  Gottshall's  farm  in  East  Brunswick  township  for 
five  years,  the  Samuel  Dreisbach  farm  in  East  Brunswick  township  for  two 
years,  and  the  farm  of  Frank  McGovem,  now  the  Ernest  Grube  farm  in 
East  Brunswick  township,  for  fifteen  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he 
bought  his  present  place  of  forty-five  acres,  eight  acres  of  which  are  in 
timber.  Afterwards  he  made  another  purchase,  of  sixty-four  and  three- 
fourths  acres  (three  acres  of  which  are  brush),  from  Mary  Heiser,  operated 
this  tract  for  two  years,  and  has  since  sold  it  to  his  son  James  Oscar  Shell- 
hammer.  Mr.  Shellhammer  has  followed  general  farming  and  also  markets 
to  Mahanoy  City.  His  progressive  disposition  led  him  to  encourage  new 
ideas  which  promised  to  benefit  farmers,  and  he  was  at  one  time  a  member 
of  the  Farmers'  Alliance.  He  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  three  years  in 
the  capacity  of  supervisor  and  two  years  as  school  director,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  Socially  he  belongs  to  Washington 
Camp  No.  100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  New  Ringgold,  and  to  Protection  Council, 
No.  935,  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  of  McKeansburg.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Zion's  Reformed  Church  in  West  Penn  township,  and  was  baptized, 
confirmed  and  married  by  Rev.  Mr.  Zulick. 

Mr.  Shellhammer  married  Sarah  Ann  Hous^r,  and  they  have  had  five 
children,  namely:  (i)  William  Oliver  married  SalHe  Frantz,  and  they  have 
had  a  large  family:  Roy;  Harold;  Robert;  Mamie;  Alma,  deceased;  Florence; 
Milton,  deceased;  Edna;  and  one  daughter  that  died  in  infancy.  (2)  James 
Oscar  married  Annette  Irene  Blue,  who  is  deceased;  his  children  are  Wil- 
bert  James  and  Ralph  Franklin.  (3)  Polly  Catherine  married  William 
Grube.  They  have  one  adopted  child,  Harry.  (4)  Thomas  Milton  is  de- 
ceased, (s)  Emma  Louisa  married  Charles  W.  Grube,  and  has  children: 
William,  Helen,  Edna,  Caroline,  Lottie,  Emma,  Carl  and  Catherine. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Ann  (Houser)  Shellhammer  was  bom  in  Pottsville,  this 
county,  Aug.  i^,  1844,  was  educated  in  West  Penn  township  and  staved  at 
home  until  her  marriage.  Her  father,  Michael  Houser,  was  educated  in  the 
pay  schools  conducted  during  his  boyhood  and  became  a  farmer  in  East 
Brunswick  township,  operating  a  tract  of  sixty  acres,  nearly  all  cleared  land. 
He  built  a  new  house  and  barn  there.  Mr.  Houser  married  Polly  Kistler, 
who  was  bom  in  West  Penn  township,  daughter  of  "Squire"  Jonathan  and 
Mary  (Shellhammer)  Kistler;  her  father  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
for  the  long  i>eriod  of  thirty-six  years.  Mrs.  Houser  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years,  and  is  buried  with  her  husband  at  Zion's  Church  in  West 
Penn  township,  to  which  church  he  belonged.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat. 
They  had  a  family  of  eight  children :  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  Benjamin  F.  Shell- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1003 

hammer;  Emma  Louisa,  Mrs.  Joseph  Steigerwalt;  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Greafly;  Mary  Ann,  who  married  Aaron  IGeckner,  and  after  his  death 
(second)  Frank  Knaeflf;  William;  John  and  Michael,  twins,  who  died  young; 
and  Kate,  who  died  yoimg. 

MORGAN  MORGAN,  of  Gilberton,  Schuylkill  county,  has  filled  a  use- 
ful place  in  the  life  of  his  community,  giving  valuable  service  in  the  admin- 
istration of  its  public  affairs  and  taking  his  part  in  the  direction  of  various 
Tocal  interests  important  to  the  general  welfare.  His  occupation  has  been 
in  the  industry  for  which  this  region  has  become  famous,  and  as  outside  fore- 
man at  the  Boston  Run  colliery  for  a  long  period  he  has  had  his  share  in 
its  development 

Mr.  Morgan  is  a  Welshman  by  birth,  and  was  only  about  a  year  old  when 
his  father,  Richard  Morgan,  brought  the  family  to  America,  in  1861.  They 
first  settled  in  New  Jersey.  Richard  Morgan  had  followed  farming  in  Wales, 
but  after  settling  in  the  United  States  he  did  rock  work  in  the  mines  in  New 
Jersey,  where  he  remained  for  about  five  years.  He  then  moved  to  Mahanoy 
City,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  followed  mining  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  at 
Gilberton,  this  county,  aged  fifty-five  years,  eleven  months.  He  is  buried  at 
Frackville,  Schuylkill  county.  His  wife,  Mary  (Jones),  survived  him  many 
years,  dying  at  Gilberton  at  the  aee  of  eighty  years,  five  months  and  is  also 
buried  at  Frackville.  Their  children  were:  Margaret,  Morgan,  William, 
Susan,  John  (deceased),  David  (deceased)  and  Annie. 

Morgan  Morgan  was  bom  May  16,  i860,  and  was  a  mere  boy  when  the 
family  settled  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  attended  public  school  at  Gilberton, 
and  was  only  eight  years  old  when  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  colliery  there, 
continuing  at  that  work  for  six  years.  For  a  couple  of  years  following  he 
was  employed  at  the  mines,  at  tjie  age  of  sixteen  entering  the  blacksmith 
shop,  where  he  remained  three  and  a  half  years.  For  eight  years  he  labored 
with  his  father  in  the  mines,  doing  day's  work  for  him,  and  subsequently  min- 
ing in  partnership  with  him  one  year.  He  returned  to  the  blacksmith  shop  for 
one  year,  spent  another  year  mining  with  his  father,  was  engaged  in  tunnel 
work  for  about  eight  months,  and  then  commenced  mining  on  his  own  account 
at  the  Draper  colliery.  After  four  years  at  that  he  became  fire  boss  at  the 
South  Laurel  Ridge,  holding  the  position  eight  months,  resumed  blacksmith- 
ing  until  1894,  and  was  then  assistant  outside  foreman  at  the  Draper  colliery 
for  over  three  years  before  taking  his  present  position,  in  1897.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  outside  foreman  at  the  Boston  Run  colliery,  where  about 
four  hundred  men  are  employed.  His  long  retention  in  the  same  position  is 
sufficient  evidence  of  his  comi>etence  and  the  value  his  employers  place  upon 
his  work.  Personally  he  is  highly  regarded,  his  intelligence  and  honorable 
character  holding  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

Mr.  Morgan  has  been  an  influential  worker  in  the  Republican  party  in 
his  locality,  having  been  a  delegate  to  several  of  its  county  conventions.  His 
fellow  citizens  showed  their  confidence  in  him  by  electing  him  to  the  Gilberton 
borough  council  for  three  years,  and  during  one  year  he  presided  over  that 
body. 

Mr.  Morgan  is  married  to  Annie  Tregea,  daughter  of  Samuel  Tregea, 
and  eight  children  have  been  bom  to  them :  Abbie  L.,  wife  of  William  Randen- 
bush,  living  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa. ;  Amy  A. ;  Annie  Blanche,  wife  of  John  De- 


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1004  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Long;  Carrie,  who  di^d  young;  William  F. ;  Morgan  H.;  Qayton  Tregea, 
and  Richard  H.     The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Samuel  Tregea,  Mrs.  Morgan's  father,  was  bom  in  England,  and  com- 
ing to  America  when  a  young  man  first  settled  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa,  He  was  a  skilled  miner,  and  won  promotion  by  his  competence  and  fidelity 
to  duty,  acting  in  turn  as  fir^  boss  at  the  Phoenix  Park  colliery,  inside  fore- 
man at  those  workings,  and  inside  foreman  at  the  Boston  Run  colliery,  being 
the  second  man  to  hold  that  position  at  Boston  Run.  On  leaving  Boston  Run 
colliery,  in  1868,  he  went  to  the  Draper  colliery,  where  he  worked  for  a  few 
years,  and  he  was  retired  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he 
was  sixty-six  years  old.  He  is  buried  at  Minersville.  Mr.  Tregea  took  a  lead- 
in^r  part  in  the  work  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  Sunday  school  at  St 
Nicholas,  being  the  first  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  which  pre- 
sented him  a  gold-headed  cane  in  recognition  of  his  services.  His  wife,  Cath- 
erine Ferris,  daughter  of  Stephen  Ferris,  was  bom  in  England,  and  came  to 
America  when  thirteen  years  old.  She  now  makes  her  hcmie  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Morgan.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tregea  were  bom  nineteen  children,  among 
them  being:  Mary  Jane,  Catherine,  Emily,  Lydia  (who  died  in  1913),  James, 
Annie  (Mrs.  Morgan  Morgan)  and  George  (who  died  in  1915). 

WILLIAM  F.  DEIBERT,  one  of  the  younger  business  men  of  Schuyl- 
kill JIaven,  has  .reached  a  substantial  position  by  the  straightforward  policy 
he  has  followed,  dealing  honorably  with  all  his  patrons.  His  operations  have 
extended  gradually  but  steadily  until  he  now  commands  a  profitable  trade. 

Mr.  Deibert  is  a  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation  of  Michael  Deiver  (as 
his  generation  spelled  the  name),  who  was  the  founder  of  this  branch  of  the 
family  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  America,  the  family  settling  in  Bern  township,  Berke  county,  in  the 
then  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  near  Michael's  Church.  There  were  five  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  two  daughters:  Michael,  Christopher,  Wilhelm,  Mrs. 
George  Huntzinger  and  Mrs.  John  Devert.  When  the  sons  were  grown  they 
moved  to  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  married,  Wilhelm  to  a 
daughter  of  John  Renchler,  from  Bern  township,  Berks  county;  Michael  to 
Elizabeth  Waver.  In  the  year  1744  the  brothers,  Wilhelm  and  Michael,  bought 
in  partnership,  three  hundred  acres  of  land  in  North  Manheim  township,  at 
the  road  leading  from  Schuylkill  Haven  to  Landingville,  Wilhelm's  part  being 
at  the  location  occupied  by  Edward  Peale  in  1884,  and  Michael's  where  John 
Filbert  lived  at  that  time.  The  third  brother,  Christopher,  settled  in  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  beginning  Wilhelm  and  Michael  Deiver  had  the  Indians  for  their 
neighbors,  and  were  molested  considerably.  Deer  and  bears  were  plentiful  in 
the  region  at  that  day,  and  as  they  divided  the  meat  with  the  savages  when  they 
shot  any,  the  Indians  became  more  friendly.  In  the  pamphlet  published  in 
1884  by  Daniel  Deibert,  a  grandson  of  Wilhelm  Deibert,  we  find  this  para- 
graph: "My  grandfather  said  after  the  Indians  went  away,  some  of  them 
came  back  again  to  rob  them  of  their  planting  fruits.  My  grandfather  and  his 
brother  Michael  had  to  flee  over  the  Blue  mountain  to  their  father's  home. 
They  buried  their  implements  on  the  other  side  of  the  Schuylkill  river,  in  the 
woods,  that  the  Indians  could  not  get  them ;  but  when  they  came  back  they 
didn't  find  them  any  more.  And  they  didn't  find  them  till  the  Schuylkill  canal 
was  made,  then  they  dug  them  out  again." 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1005 

Michael  Deiver  (according  to  the  same  pamphlet)  had  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  but  only  two  daughters  are  named,  viz. :  Henry,  Andrew,  Michael, 
Christian,  John,  Catharine  and  Elizabeth.  Henry  married  Miss  Kriner;  An- 
drew, Miss  Luckenbill;  Michael,  Miss  Luckenbill  (they  had  no  children'); 
Christian,  Miss  Miller;  Catharine,  John  Dewald;  Elizabeth,  Daniel  Repp.  The 
father,  Michael,  died  on  his  property  in  North  Manheim  toWnship,  and  is 
buried  at  the  Red  Church  in  this  county. 

John  Deibert,  son  of  Michael,  was  bom  in  North  Manheim  township,  and 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Schuylkill 
Haven.  He  was  twice  married,  the  maiden  name  of  his  first  wife  being  Rench- 
ler,  of  his  second,  Wagner.  His  children  were  as  follows :  Daniel,  who  lived 
in  Schuylkill  Haven;  George;  Jacob,  who  died  at  Schuylkill  Haven;  John,  who 
died  at  Schuylkill  Haven;  Benjamin,  who  died  at  Potts ville;  William,  who  died 
in  the  Upper  Mahantongo  valley,  Schuylkill  county ;  Samuel ;  Hannah,  wife  of 
John  Humel,  of  Selinsgrove,  Pa. ;  and  Christine,  who  married  Henry  Shelly  and 
lived  at  Pottsville. 

George  Deibert,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of  Michael,  was  bom  at  the  old 
homestead  of  his  parents,  and  followed  farming  until  a  few  years  before  his 
death,  when  he  retired  to  Schuylkill  Haven.  He  died  when  about  seventy  years 
old  and  is  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  as  is  also  his 
wife.  He  had  many  interesting  experiences  in  the  early  days.  His  father 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land  where  Fishbach  is  now  located  ( near \ Pottsville), 
then  thickly  wooded.  When  the  timber  was  cut  it  was  floated  down  the  Schuyl- 
kill. One  day,  while  going  past  what  is  now  ki^own  as  Mount  Carbon,  he  was 
followed  by  a  wolf,  and  hastened  to  reach  the  river  that  the  animal  might  lose 
his  scent  when  he  forded  the  stream.  When  somewhat  older  he  had  another 
exciting  time  while  plowing  the  homestead,  on  the  Second  mountain.  A  deer 
ran  out  and  got  into  a  pond,  and  Mr.  Deibert,  thinking  he  could  kill  it,  went 
into  the  water  after  it,  but  the  animal  almost  drowned  him.  He  also  had  some 
adventures. with  panthers. 

Mr.  Deibert  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  German  Lutheran  in  religion,  belonging 
to  the  White  Church  in  North  Manheim  township.  He  married  Susanna  Reed, 
daughter  of  James  Reed,  and  she  survived  him,  living  to  the  age  of  seventy- 
one.  The  following  children  were  bom  to  them :  Charles  V.  B.,  of  Schuylkill 
Haven,  married  Emma  Sterner;  Sarah  married  Abraham  Sharadin;  Mahlon 
died  when  nine  years  old;  Amanda  married  Harrison  Berger,  and  both  are 
deceased;  James,  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  North  Manheim  township, 
married  Mary  Faust,  who  is  deceased;  Frank  is  mentioned  below;  George  R., 
living  at  Landingville,  married  Mary  Deibert;  Hannah  married  Edw.  Schap- 
pell ;  Elwin  is  living  at  Schuylkill  Haven ;  William  died  when  sixteen  years  old. 

Frank  Deibert,  son  of  George,  was  born  March  21,  1852,  at  Schuylkill 
Haven,  and  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  which  he  followed  all  his  life. 
He  made  his  home  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  was  an  active  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church  there,  holding  a  number  of  official  positions  in  that  or- 
ganization. This  was  his  principal  interest  aside  from  his  home  and  work,  for 
he  took  no  part  in  politics  or  other  public  affairs,  though  he  was  a  faithful 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  He  belonged  to  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp 
at  Schuylkill  Haven.  Mr.  Deibert  married  Mary  A.  Stump,  who  was  bom 
March  27,  185 1,  in  Washington  township,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  Joel 
and  Lydia  (Stoufenhauer)  Stump,  and  six  children  were  bom  to  them,  William 
Francis  being  the  only  son ;  Kate  E.  married  Oliver  Meek ;  Lydia  S.  married 


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1006  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Walter  Fisher ;  Mary  Gertrude  married  Elmer  Neiman ;  Tillie  E.  married  Harry 
Loy ;  Amanda  V.  died  when  eighteen  months  old. 

William  Francis  Deibert  was  bom  Oct.  24,  1883,  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  and 
obtained  most  of  his  education  in  the  public  schools  there,  later  "attending  the 
Pottsville  business  college.  After  leavmg  school  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  as  fireman,  and  was  assigned  to 
a  coal  run  between  Palo  Alto  and  Philadelphia.  He  continued  in  that  capacity 
for  six  months,  and  then  entered  the  car  shops  of  the  saine  company  at  Schuyl- 
kill Haven,  to  serve  an  apprenticeship  at  the  blacksmith's  trade.  He  remained 
in  the  shop  for  a  period  of  four  and  a  half  years,  and  next  entered  the  employ 
of  James  Schucker,  coal  dealer,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  as  driver  of  a  coal  team. 
He  was  with*  Mr.  Schucker  four  and  a  half  years,  until  he  b^an  the  general 
hauling  and  teaming  business  for  himself.  He  has  carried  it  on  successfully 
ever  since,  and  now  also  takes  contracts  for  digging  cellars.  Mr.  Deibert's 
success  may  be  attributed  entirely  to  his  own  industry  and  honesty.  He  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  several  local  fraternal  bodies :  Carroll  Lodge,  No. 
120,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  Schuylkill  Haven  Council,  No.  1105,  Royal  Arcanum;  Schuyl- 
kill Haven  Conclave,  No.  1087,  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs ;  and  the  Odd 
Fellows'  Fraternal  Protective  AssociaticMi,  of  Boston,  Mass.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  thj  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  Rev.  Mr.  Haynes 
is  pastor,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Bible  class.  Politically  he  supports  the 
Republicain  party. 

Mr.  Deibert  married  Emily  Rebecca  Shappell,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Eva  (Hummel)  Shappell,  and  they  have  had  three  children,  bom  as  follows: 
WilHs  Franklin,  Oct.  8,  1904;  Charles  Robert,  Nov.  5,  1906;  Mary  Magdalene, 
July  23,  191 1. 

Mrs.  Emily  Rebecca  (Shappell)  Deibert  was  bom  June  28,  1886,  in  Schuyl- 
kill Haven,  where  she  received  her  education.  Her  grandfather,  Frank  Shap- 
pell, was  a  boatman  on  the  Schuylkill  Navigation  Company's  canal.  He  mar- 
ried Rebecca  Reber,  and  they  had  the  following  children:  Frank  married  a 
Miss  Flammer;  Charles  married  Ellen  Long;  Robert  was  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Deibert ;  Mary  married  Charles  Keller.  The  mother  of  this  family  is  buried  in 
the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Robert  Shappell,  son  of  Frank,  was  bom  June  4,  1852,  in  Schuylkill  Haven, 
and  received  his  education  there.  He  followed  railroading  all  his  life,  becom- 
ing an  engineer  on  the  main  line  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  raijroad ;  for 
a  few  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  11,  191 1,  he  was  yard 
engineer  in  the  yards  at  Palo  Alto.  His  wife,  Eva  (Htunmel),  bom  May  30, 
1858,  daughter  of  Frank  Hummel,  died  Nov.  17,  1907.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shap- 
pell are  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  They  had  the 
following  children:  George  married  Kate  Heim  and  (second)  Lizzie  Boltz; 
Irene  is  next  in  the  family;  Robert  married  Kate  Rubright;  Laura  married 
George  Rumble;  Emily  Rebecca  is  Mrs.  W.  F.  Deibert;  Margaret  married 
Joseph  McGovem ;  Samuel  is  unmarried.  The  father  was  a  Republican,  and 
a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 

GOTTFRIED  KNOEDLER  has  gained  a^  place  among  the  most  substan- 
tial, thrifty  farmers  of  West  Penn  township  by  well  directed  industry  and  the 
painstaking  attention  to  his  work  characteristic  of  the  German  race.  He 
purchased  his  present  farm  there  some  fifteen  years  ago,  and  has  been  im- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1007 

proving  it  steadily  ever  since,  with  the  result  that  it  has  kept  increasing  in 
value  and  is  one  of  the  most  fertile  tracts  in  that  part  of  Schuylkill  county. 
Mr.  Knoedler  is  a  native  of  Germany,  bom  April  26,  1865,  in  the  kingdom  of 
Wurtemberg.  His  grandfather,  Bemhard  Knoedler,  also  lived  in  that 
section,  where  he  owned  a  small  farm  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  be- 
sides working  for  the  government  as  a  forester.  He  died  when  his  grandson 
Gottfried  was  a  small  ^y,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  Grunbach,  Wurt- 
emberg. In  religion  he  adhered  to  the  faith  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 
His  children  were :  Frederick,  who  became  a  farmer ;  Bemhard ;  and  Caroline, 
who  married  Jacob  Stoble,  a  stonemason,  of  Steinoch,  Wurtemberg. 

Bemhard  Knoedler,  son  of  Bemhard,  above,/  was  bom  Aug.  i,  1819,  in 
Wurtemberg,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated.  In  his  early  life  he  leamed 
the  trade  of  baker,  which  he  followed  until  his  marriage,  after  which  he 
secured  a  position  on  the  railroad  running  through  the  locality,  operated  by 
the  German  government.  For  twenty-five  ^ears  he  was  freight  agent  at  Grun- 
bach, and  died  suddenly  in  his  office  there  Aug.  10,  1887,  from  a  stroke.  He 
married  Susanna  Giddinger,  who  was  bom  in  the  Canton  of  Aarau,  Switzer- 
land, and  died  in  March,  1896,  aged  seventy-three  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Knoedler  were  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  are  buried  at 
Grunbach.  They  had  children  as  follows:  John;  Adolph;  Carl,  who  died 
while  serving  in  the  German  army;  Susanna,  who  married  Lewis  Gunch; 
Christianna;  Catherine;  Gottfried;  and  Carolina. 

Gottfried  Knoedler  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  near  his 
early  home,  attending  ilntil  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  Thereafter 
he  worked  out  among  farmers  until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  at  which 
time  he  came  alone  to  America,  landing  at  New  York  City.  The  day  after  his 
arrival  he  set  out  for  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  coming  to  Slateville,  where  he 
worked  in  the  slate  quarries  for  two  and  a  half  years.  He  next  hired  out 
to  William  Klingerman,  at  Steinsville,  Lehigh  county,  as  a  farm  laborer, 
and  remained  with  him  for  three  years,  following  which  he  worked  on  the 
farm  of  Daniel  H.  Greitz  for  three  years.  At  that  time  he  married  and 
returned  to  Slateville,  where  he  spent  another  year  at  work  in  the  quarries, 
leaving  to  enter  the  employ  of  Daniel  Feinhour,  at  Jacksonville,  Lehigh 
county,  as  farm  laborer.  When  he  had  worked  for  him  one  year  he  went  to 
Lewistown,  in  Walker,  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was  employed 
on  James  Faust's  farm  one  year  and  for  the  same  length  of  time  by  Daniel 
Leiby,  at  Lewistown.  Then  he  removed  to  Lynnport,  Lehigh  county,  where 
he  worked  on  Jacob  Hartman's  farm  for  three  years,  changing  to  the  farm 
of  Amandus  Zehner,  at  Zehner  station,  Schuylkill  county,  upon  which  he 
was  employed  for  five  years.  He  then  rented  that  fann  for  one  year,  moving 
from  there  to  his  present  place,  which  he  bought  fifteen  years  ago  from 
Mrs.  Sarah  Emst.  His  home  has  been  on  this  property  continuously  since. 
It  consists  of  seventy-one  acres,  fifty-two  acres  of  which  are  cleared,  and 
he  has  had  excellent  success  in  general  farming  and  tracking,  marketing  his 
crops  at  Tamaqua.  Mr.  Knoedler  is  highly  respected  in  his  neighborhood  as 
a  man  of  good  character,  and  he  is  an  esteemed  member  of  the  Lutheran 
congregation  of  Zion's  Church  in  his  township;  formerly  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Jacobs  Lutheran  Church  at  Jacksonville,  Lehigh  county,  where  he 
served  as  deacon.    In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Knoedler  married  Mary  A.  Schaller,  who  was  bom  Jan.  13,  1870,  in 
Weisenberg   township,   Lehigh   county,   daughter   of   George   and    Amanda 


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1008  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

(Wegknecht)  Schaller,  who  when  she  was  one  year  old  moved  with  their 
family  to  Lynnport,  where  she  received  her  education.  She  remained  at  home 
until  her  marriage.  Like  her  husband  she  is  a  member  of  Zion's  Lutheran 
congregation  i^  West  Penn  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knoedler  have  had 
seven  children:  Mary  Susanna,  bom  Feb.  15,  1889,  is  at  home;  Sadie  Annie, 
bom  April  II,  1891,  is  at  home;  Mabel  Victoria,  bom  Jan.  29, 1893,  is  at  home; 
Queenie  Amanda,  bom  March  21,  1895,  died  Sept.  22,  1898;  Frederick  George 
was  bom  Feb.  2,  1897;  Paul  Edwin,  Sept  4,  1899;  Ralph  Robert,  Oct.  3, 
1903.  All  this  family  have  had  the  best  educational  advantages  afforded  by 
the  township  schools. 

George  Schaller,  Mrs.  Knoedler's  grandfafher,  was  bom  in  Weisenberg 
township,  Lehigh  county,  had  a  small  farm,  and  was  also  an  excellent  me- 
chanic, working  as  a  carpenter,  wheelwright  and  pumimiaker;  he  first  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  threshing  machines,  later  tuming  out  pumps. 
He  died  in  Weisenberg  township,  and  is  buried  at  Seiberlingville,  Lehigh 
county.  In  politics  ^he  was  a  Democrat,  and  his  religious  connection  was  with 
the  German  Lutheran  Church.  After  his  death  Mrs.  Schaller,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Boger,  went  to  Mercer  county.  Pa.  They  had  children  as  follows : 
George,  Owen,  Jonathan,  Daniel,  Lydia,  Mary,  Rosie  and  Eliza.  All  moved 
west  except  George. 

George  Schaller  was  bom  May  28,  1828,  in  Weisenberg  township,  and 
died  Dec.  23,  1894,  at  Lynnport.  He  received  his  education  and  early  train- 
ing in  his  native  township,  teaming  the  various  trades  which  his  father  had 
mastered  and  following  them  in  much  the  same  way.  When  he  settled  at  Ljmn- 
port  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  pumps,  and  also  operated  a  small  tract 
of  land  which  he  owned,  working  steadily  until  a  year  before  his  death,  when 
he  retired  because  of  ill  health.  Like  his  father  he  was  a  Democrat  and  Lu- 
theran, belonging  to  the  church  at  New  Tripoli,  Lehigh  county,  where  he  and 
his  wife  are  buried.  Mr.  Schaller  married  Mary  Amanda  W^knecht,  who 
was  born  May  16,  1831,  and  died  Jan.  28,  1892.  They  had  a  large  family,  viz. : 
Joel  married  Flora  Rex,  and  both  are  deceased;  George  married  Charlotte 
Geiger,  and  they  reside  in  New  York ;  John  married  Sarah  Leiby,  and  is  liv- 
ing in  Walker  township,  Schuylkill  county;  Jonathan  married  Sarah  Ranch, 
and  their  home  is  at  Lynnport,  Lehigh  county ;  Edwin  married  Martha  Bush, 
of  Lakeside,  Schuylkill  county;  Sarah  Amanda,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
Frank  Grant,  of  Packerton,  Carbon  county;  Mary  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Gott- 
fried Knoedler ;  Eliza,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Fred  Speidle,  of  New  Phila- 
delphia, Schuylkill  county ;  Catherine  and  Rosie  are  deceased. 

HOWARD  WILLIAM  HESSINGER  is  a  well  and  favorably  known 
resident  of  East  Brunswick  township,  where  he  has  been  a  farmer  most  of 
his  life,  successful  in  business  and  active  in  the  higher  interests  affecting  social 
conditions  in  the  community.  For  three  generations  this  family  has  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  old  Frieden's  Church  at  New  Ringgold.  The  Hessingers  are  of 
German  origin,  and  Mr.  Hessin^er's  great-grandparents,  John  Philip  and 
Margaret  (Schmidt)  Hessinger.  lived  and  died  in  Germany,  where  they  are 
buried.  They  were  members  of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  They  had 
two  children,  John  and  Valentine,  the  latter  being  the  only  one  of  the  family 
to  come  to  America. 

Valentine  Hessinger  was  born  in  Germany  March  12,  1816,  in  the  parish 
of  Armsheim,  Woerstad  Canton,  Alzey  Circle,  Grand  Duchy  of  Hesse  Darm- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1009 

stadt  He  was  baptized  March  22,  1816,  by  Theodore  Wienkelbech,  Reformed 
minister,  was  educated  in  Germany,  and  learned  the  trades  of  carpenter  and 
miller.  Emigrating  to  America  in  1840,  he  first  settled  at  Kutztown,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.  In  1845  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Reinard,  bom  May  i,  1816,  in 
Germany,  and  they  had  the  following  children :  Lewis  was  killed  while  in  the 
arniy;  Frank  died  in  childhood;  Lucy  died  aged  twelve  years;  Catherine, 
widow  of  Joseph  H.  Kee,  resides  in  New  Ringgold  (they  had  seven  children, 
John  L.,  Lydia  M.,  Katie  E.,  deceased,  Annie  R.,  Hattie  B.,  Minnie  G.  and 
Harry  F.) ;  Emmanuel  L.  is  the  father  of  Howard  W.  Hessinger;  William 
married  Rosy  Yost,  and  they  have  had  children,  Lewis  (deceased),  Florence, 
May,  Preston  and  Ruth;  Lizzie  is  the  widow  of  David  Holtzman,  and  had 
children,  Alfred,  Abner  (deceased),  Leon  (deceased),  Esther  and  Carrie. 
In  1853  Valentine  Hessinger  moved  to  McKeansburg,  in  East  Brunswick  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  where  he  remained  one  year.  Then  he  removed  to 
New  Ringgold,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  days,  following  milling  and  later 
in  life  working  among  the  farmers,  until  he  retired,  a  number  of  years  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  April  16,  1894.  When  the  iron  furnaces  were  at 
New  Ringgold  he  was  employed  there  for  a  time.  He  became  a  well  known 
citizen  of  the  township,  holding  the  position  of  tax  collector  for  years;  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics;  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Frieden's  Reformed 
Church.  He  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  His  wife  died 
July  6,  1899,  and  they  are  buried  at  the  Frieden's  Church,  New  Ringgold. 

Emmanuel  L.  Hessinger  was  bom  at  New  Ringgold  July  7,  1857,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  there,  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  his 
brother-in-law,  the  late  Joseph  H.  Keefer.  He  has  followed  that  calling  all 
his  life,  and  has  been  with  the  Pennsylvania  &  Reading  Railway  Cwnpany, 
in  the  North  and  Green  streets  shop,  for  nearly  forty  years.  He  makes  his 
home  on  the  farm  he  owns  in  East  Brunswick  township,  a  property  of  130 
acres,  of  which  seventy-five  are  under  cultivation,  his  son  Howard  looking 
after  its  cultivation.  Mr.  Hessin^^er  married  Josephine  Freed,  who  was  bom 
Aug.  29,  1859,  daughter  of  William  and  Isabella  (Miller)  Freed,  and  they 
have  had  four  children :  Bessie  May,  bom  April  29,  1880,  a  milliner,  lives  at 
home;  Howard  William  is  mentioned  below;  Qarence  Edward,  bora  in  Octo- 
ber, 1892,  died  when  eight  weeks  old;  Walter  Morris,  born  May  3,  1895,  is  a 
student  in  the  Tamaqua  high  school.  Mr.  Hessinger  is  a  member  of  Protection 
Council,  No.  935,  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  at  McKeansburg;  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Pension  Life  Association ;  and  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Relief 
Association.  Though  not  a  member  he  is  a  regular  attendant  at  the  services 
of  the  Frieden's  Lutheran  Church.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Howard  William  Hessinger  was  bora  Dec.  24,  1881,  at  Hecla,  East  Brans- 
wick  township,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  township  principally, 
later  taking  a  commercial  course  in  Rev.  H.  V.  Stoner's  business  college,  at 
Reading,  Pa.  Retuming  to  the  farm  he  worked  there  five  years,  when  he  took 
a  position  as  signal  inspector  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad,  holding 
same  for  two  years.  Then  he  came  back  to  the  farm,  which  he  is  now  renting 
from  his  father.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  its  operation,  but  has  also 
found  time  for  other  affairs.  He  has  served  as  election  clerk,  filled  the  office 
of  township  auditor,  and  has  been  specially  interested  in  the  success  of  the 
Republican  party.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Reformed  congrega- 
tion of  the  Frieden's  Church,  in  which  he  has  long  been  a  prominent  worker. 
Formerly  a  deacon,  he  is  serving  in  the  office  of  elder  at  present ;  has  been  a 
VoLH— 26 


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1010  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

member  of  the  church  choir  for  fifteen  years;  and  is  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday 
school,  of  which  he  was  assistant  superintendent  for  six  years.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  Mr.  Hessinger  is  a 
member  of  the  Pittsburgh  Pension  Life  Association. 

Mr.  Hessinger's  wife,  Elizabeth  (SchaflFer),  was  bom  March  9,  1883,  * 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Savina  (Halderman)  SchaflFer.  They  have  one 
child,  Arlin  Stanley,  born  June  19,  1907,  who  is  attending  school  in  East 
Brunswick  township. 

Mrs.  Hessinger  is  a  granddaughter  of  Jacob  SchaflFer,  who  was  a  farmer 
and  stonemason  in  East  Brunswick  township.  He  learned  his  trade  early  in 
life,  and  later  he  bought  a  farm  of  forty-five  acres,  part  of  which  he  cleared. 
He  operated  his  farm  in  connection  with  work  at  his  trade,  and  when  his  chil- 
dren became  old  enough  they  took  care  of  the  land  while  he  gave  his  time  to 
his  trade  entirely.  He  died  on  the  farm.  His  wife,  Priscilla  (Sassaman). 
died  in  October,  1912,  aged  ninety-one  years.  Children  as  follows  were  bom 
to  them:  Jacob,  deceased,  married  Emma  Yoxhammer,  who  now  lives  in 
Chicago,  111.;  Henry,  deceased,  married  Sarah  Bachert,  who  resides  in  East 
Brunswick  township;  Benjamin  is  next  in  the  order  of  birth;  Priscilla  married 
Jacob  Marbach,  and  they  reside  at  Middleport,  Pa. ;  Amanda  married  Harry 
McMullin,  and  they  reside  at  Reading,  Pa. ;  Mary  married  Solomon  Bachert, 
and  they  are  residents  of  East  Brunswick  township;  Lizzie  married  a  Mr. 
Reed,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Emma  married  Frank  Halderman,  and  resides  at 
New  Haven,  Conn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  SchaflFer  are  buried  at  the  Frieden's  Church, 
New  Ringgold.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  of 
that  place,  which  he  served  as  elder,  deacon  and  in  other  capacities.  His 
political  sympathies  were  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  held  the  oflBce 
of  supervisor. 

Benjamin  SchaflFer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bom  in  East  Brunswick  township 
June  3,  1851,  was  reared  and  educated  in  that  township,  and  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Then  he  married  and 
bought  a  few  acres  in  East  Brunswick  township,  on  which  he  settled.  He 
leamed  the  trades  of  plasterer  and  stonemason,  which  he  followed  for  a 
few  years,  when  he  sold  his  little  place  and  bought  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  in 
West  Penn  township,  this  county,  and  cultivated  it  in  addition  to  working 
at  his  trades.  Later  he  sold  this  tract  and  came  to  East  Brunswick  town- 
ship, first  purchasing  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  and  later  a  tract  of  153  acres,  for 
his  son  Salem.  Up  to  1914  he  had  about  eighty  acres.  He  then  bought 
a  house  and  small  lot  and  is  now  living  retired,  his  son  Norman  Edward 
having  bought  his  home  farm,  and  his  son  Salem  having  bought  the  first  tract, 
which  now  contains  108  acres.  He  has  always  followed  plastering  and  stone- 
masonry  as  well  as  agricultural  work.  His  wife,  Savina  (Halderman),  now 
about  sixty-seven  years  old,  is  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Priscilla  (Zim- 
merman) Halderman,  and  children  as  follows  have  been  bora  to  them: 
Amanda,  who  died  in  infancy;  Harvey  Franklin,  who  died  young;  Salem  Ben- 
jamin; Claude,  who  died  young;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Howard  W.  Hessinger; 
Samuel,  who  married  Maude  DeLong ;  Maude,  living  at  home ;  and  Norman 
Edward,  who  married  Annie  Heiser.  Mr.  SchaflFer  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
been  elected  school  director,  and  is  a  devout  member  of  the  United  Evangelical 
Church  at  New  Ringgold ;  at  one  time  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1011 

EDWARD  BARR,  who  is  now  living  retired  at  Pine  Grove,  is  a  descendant 
of  one  of  the  most  honored  pioneer  residents  ^f  that  borough,  its  first  post- 
master, and  a  substantial  citizen  in  every  respect.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
fourth  generation  of  his  family  in  this  country,  and  each  generation  has  had 
a  representative  in  the  army,  assisting  in  the  defense  of  the  nation  whenever 
need  arose.  The  great-grandfather,  who  came  from  Switzerland,  was  a  sailor 
before  his  settlement  in  Pennsylvania.  It  is  possible  he  located  in  Berks 
county.  During  the  Revolution  he  served  as  a  supporter  of  the  Colonial 
cause. 

John  Barr,  Sr.,  grandfather  of  Edward  Barr,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  was  an  early  settler  in  Pine  Grove,  and  one  of  the  substantial  men 
of  his  day,  ov^^ning  ax  large  farm  which  he  cultivated  profitably  and  also  con- 
ducting what  is  known  as  the  "Eagle  Hotel."  When  the  Pine  Grove  post  office 
was  established,  in  1819,  he  became  postmaster,  and  his  son  Paul  afterwards 
filled  the  office  for  twenty-four  years.  John  Barr,  Sr.,  died  at  Pine  Grove. 
A  chair  used  in  his  household,  now  more  than  one  hundred  years  old,  is  one  of 
the  prized  possessions  of  his  grandson,  Edward  Barr. 

John  Barr,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Pine  Grove,  where  the  "Eagle  Hotel'*  now 
stands,  was  a  blacksmith,  and  besides  following  his  trade  carried  on  farming 
near  Pine  Grove.  He  died  in  1893.  During  the  Mexican  war  he  volunteered, 
but  the  war  closed  before  his  company  and  regiment  reached  the  front  and 
he  saw  no  active  service.  Mr.  Barr  married  Abbie  Fiddler,  who  was  bom  in 
what  is  now  Washington  township,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  John  Fiddler, 
who  came  here  in  the  early  days.  He  followed  farming,  and  there  was  a 
general  demand  for  his  services  as  a  general  mechanic,  his  skill  as  a  blacksmith, 
cabinetmaker  and  wheelwright  making  him  a  valuable  acquisition  in  the  pioneer 
community.  From  this  section  he  moved  out  to  Iowa,  where  he  died.  He 
was  of  English  ancestry.  Mrs.  Barr  died  in  1904,  when  ninety  years  old. 
She  was  the  mother  of  eight  children,  of  whom  but  three  survive :  Elizabeth, 
deceased ;  Elmira,  deceased ;  Amelia,  deceased ;  Edward ;  John  F.,  a  farmer  of 
Hegins  township,  this  county;  Sybilla,  widow  of  George  Sausser;  and  George 
and  William,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

Edward  Barr  was  bom  Feb.  8,  1845,  i"  Pint  Grove  township,  where  he 
was  reared.  He  was  educated  in  the  local  public  schools,  and  followed  farming 
from  boyhood,  also  learning  the  trade  of  millwright  in  his  young  manhood. 
He  was  only  a  youth  when  the  war  broke  out,  but  he  served  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  conflict,  enlisting  from  Pine  Grove  Feb.  17,  1865,  ^nd  going  to  the 
front  from  Auburn  as  a  member  of  Ccwnpany  B,  i6th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 
He  received  his  discharge  at  Richmond  Aug.  i  ith  of  that  year,  and  lost  no  time 
joining  the  regular  army,  as  a  member  of  Company  F,  2d  United  States  Cavalry, 
his  term  expiring  Sept.  27,  1868,  when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Fort  Russell, 
Wyo.  Returning  to  Pine  Grove,  he  has  since  made  his  home  there,  a  citizen 
whose  reliable  character  commends  him  to  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 
For  some  time  he  did  painting  and  paperhanging,  the  demand  for  his  services 
keeping  him  steadily  employed  until  his  retirement  several  years  ago.  He  is  a 
member  of  Wolf  Post,  No.  203,  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  serving  as  chaplain  of  that 
organization.    His  religious  connection  is  with  the  United  Brethren. 

On  April  9,  1870,  Mr.  Barr  married  Pollie  Ann  Hehn,  a  native  of  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  whose  parents,  Henry  and  Mary  (Naftsinger)  Hehn,  were  bom 
in  Schuylkill  and  Berks  counties,  respectively.  They  died  in  Washington  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county.     Mr.  Hehn  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  owning  a  large 


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1012  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

farm.  Five  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barr:  Melissa,  who 
married  Albert  M.  Idell  and  lives  at  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia  (they  have 
three  children,  Albert  E.,  AbWie  C.  and  Catherine  D.)  ;  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
Michael  J.  Donavin,  of  New  York;  John  H.,  deceased;  Amelia  and  Edward 
Jr.,  both  at  home. 

WILLIAM  A.  STARR,  proprietor  of  the  "Starr  Hotel"  at  Tuscarora, 
turned  to  his  present  business  some  years  ago  after  a  varied  experience,  in 
1906  buying  out  Elmer  Garber,  who  was  conducting  a  saloon  in  J.  F.  Rehm's 
property.  Mr.  Starr  was  bom  March  31,  1868,  at  Branch  Dale,  Schuylkill 
county,  son  of  David  Starr,  and  belongs  to  an  old  family  established  in  this 
county  by  his  great-great-grandfather,  who  settled  here  on  his  arrival  from 
Germany. 

Peter  Starr,  Sr.,  great-grandfather  of  William  A.  Starr,  was  bora  in 
Schuylkill  county.  He  learned  the  trade  of  tailor,  at  which  he  worked  in 
Branch  and  Reilly  townships,  and  was  a  well  known  man  in  that  section  in  his 
day.  He  lived  to  tjie  great  age  of  ninety-eight  years,  seven  months,  fifteen 
days,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  Frieden's  Church  cemetery  near  Llewellyn,  in 
Branch  township.  His  children  were:  Abraham,  Peter,  Jr.,  John,  Jacob, 
Elizabeth,  Susan',  Maria  and  Catherine. 

Abraham  Starr,  grandfather  of  William  A.  Starr,  was  bom  and  reared  in 
Schuylkill  county,  and  passed  all  his  life  here,  dying  when  sixty-eight  years 
old.  He  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Frieden's  Church.  He  always  worked 
by  the  day.  By  his  marriage  to  Rebecca  Zechman  he  had  a  large  family,  five 
of  whom  still  survive :    Charles,  William,  Jacob,  Abraham  and  David. 

David  Starr,  son  of  Abraham,  was  bom  Feb.  28,  1845,  ^i*  Llewellyn,  in 
Branch  township.  When  but  six  years  old  he  came  to  the  place  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home,  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  Peter  Starr,  Jr.,  who  reared  and 
educated  him,  having  no  children  of  his  own.  David  Starr  remained  with  his 
uncle  until  the  latter's  death.  He  assisted  with  the  farm  work,  and  is  still 
engaged  in  cultivating  what  he  retains  of  the  tract,  having  sold  the  part  upon 
which  the  famous  Black  Diamond  colliery  is  situated.  In  his  uncle's  day  it 
was  worked  by  independent  operators,  but  it  is  now  owned  by  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  who  acquired  it  at  sheriff's  sale. 

Mr.  Starr  has  been  township  treasurer,  and  succeeded  his  uncle  Peter  as 
supervisor  of  Branch  township,  holding  the  office  for  six  months.  He  has 
been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
elder.  He  married  Mary  M.  Henry,  and  they  have  had  a  family  of  nine  cliil- 
dren :  Sarah  R.,  unmarried ;  William  A. ;  Catherine,  wife  of  Fred  A.  Barrows, 
living  in  Boston,  Mass.;  Jane  G.,  wife  of  Milton  Starr,  living- in  Branch 
township ;  Samuel  O.,  at  home ;  and  four  who  died  young. 

William  A.  Starr  grew  up  in  Branch  township  and  attended  the  public 
school  at  Stine's  Mill.  Meantime  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  was 
so  occupied  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  when  he  went  to 
work  at  the  Atkins  rolling  mill,  remaining  there  one  year.  After  another  year 
at  home  he  found  employment  in  a  sawmill  at  Branch  Dale,  where  he  woriced 
three  years,  following  which  he  did  carpenter  work  at  the  Blackwood  colliery 
for  four  years.  For  the  next  six  months  he  was  engaged  in  a  planing  mill  at 
Reading,  Pa.,  spent  another  six  months  conducting  a  grocery  business  at 
Reading  on  his  own  account,  and  then  retumed  home  again  for  a  short  time. 
His  next  position  was  at  the  Otto  colliery,  where  he  was  timber  man  for  a 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1013 

time,  he  and  Charles  Shadel  becoming  partners  in  the  timber  business  there  and 
so  continuing  until  the  strike  of  1902,  after  which  Mr.  Starr  did  prospecting 
for  the  Black  Diamond  Anthracite  Coal  Company  at  Branch  Dale,  where  he 
subsequently  acted  as  outside  foreman  for  two  years.  From  there  he  changed 
to  the  Blackwood  breaker,  where  he  did  carpenter  work  for  eighteen  months, 
at  the  end  of  that  period  coming  to  Tuscarora,  where  on  Sept.  25,*  1906,  he 
rented  the  hotel  of  J.  Franklin  Rehm,  which  he  has  since  been  conducting.  He 
continued  to  rent  it  until  Dec.  31,  1910,  when  the  property  was  sold  by  the 
sheriff  to  M.  J.  Duffy,  from  whom  Mr.  Starr  ha§  smce  purchased  it.  In  his 
various  connections  he  has  become  very  well  known,  and  his  personal  popular- 
ity has  aided  him  greatly  in  making  a  success  of  his  hotel,  which  is  well 
patronized.  Mr.  Starr  has  taken  considerable  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of 
the  locality,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  election  board.  Socially  he 
belongs  to  the  Buffaloes  at  Tamaqua. 

On  Dec.  15,  1904,  Mr.  Starr  married  Lulu  Holwig,  daughter  of  John  Hol- 
wig,  of  Newton,  Schuylkill  county,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Louis  S.  and  Wilbert  H.  The  family  are  associated  with  the  Reformed 
denomination. 

JOSEPH  SCHEAFFER,  of  Frackville,  has  the  most  popular  ice  cream 
parlor  and  confectionery  store  in  the  borough,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in 
business  for  the  last  six  years.  A  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  he  was  born  at 
Pottsville  April  10,  1857,  son  of  Sebastian  and  Elisabeth  (Spotts)  Scheaffer, 
and  is  of  German  parentage. 

Sebastian  Scheaffer  was  bom  Oct.  i,  1822,  in  Germany,  whence  he  came 
to  the  United  States  just  about  the  time  he  attained  his  majority.  Left  an 
orphan  when  but  nine  years  old,  he  early  commenced  to  support  himself,  work- 
•  ing  for  various  farmers  in  the  home  locality  until  he.  set  out  for  America. 
Another  young  German  accompanied  him,  but  was  so  homesick  by  the  time 
they  reached  New  York  that  he  returned  to  the  Fatherland  at  once.  Mr. 
Scheaffer  proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  locating  at  Pottsville,  where  before  long 
he  was  doing  business  as  a  huckster,  and  he  continued  thus  for  a  period  of 
twenty-five  years.  In  the  year  1873  ^^  removed  with  his  family  to  Frack- 
ville, and  conducted  the  "Frackville  House"  for  ten  years,  and  he  carried  on  a 
wholesale  liquor  store  for  seven  years.  His  deaUi  occurred  at  Frackville 
July  18,  1887,  and  he  is  buried  in  the  Lutheran  cemetery  there.*  He  was  a 
member  of  Miners'  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Pottsville.  Nine  children  were 
bom  to  his  marriage  with  Elisabeth  Spotts,  all  still  living:  Joseph;  Margaret, 
wife  of  George  Hardesty;  Charles;  Emma,  widow  of  Oscar  Shirey;  Harry: 
Tillie,  wife  of  William  Eisenbise;  Elisabeth,  married  to  William  Stevenson; 
William ;  and  James. 

Joseph  Scheaffer  received  his  education  in  Pottsville,  attending  public 
schools.  When  twelve  years  old  he  became  employed  as  a  tobacco  stripper, 
and  from  that  work  naturally  went  into  cigarmaking,  which  he  followed  reg- 
ularly until  1889.  Meantime  he  had  moved  to  Frackville  with  his  parents,  and 
he  had  a  small  cigar  factory  of  his  own.  After  giving  up  that  occupation  he 
did  railroad  work  for  a  couple  of  years  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Com- 
pany, being  employed  at  Mahanoy  Plane,  just  adjoining  Frackville.  Then 
for  fourteen  years  he  was  in  the, dairy  business,  in  1909  changing  to  his  pres- 
ent line.  He  opened  up  a  new  and  attractive  ice  cream  and  confectionery 
establishment,  with  up-to-date  fittings  and  convenient  in  arrangement,  and  it 


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1014  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

has  been  liberally  patronized  from  the  start,  Mr.  ScheaflFer  controlling  the  best 
trade  in  the  borough.  In  his  turn  he  has.  endeavored  to  give  to  customers  high- 
class  products  and  convenient  service.  He  is  a  man  of  honorable  character, 
and  though  in  recent  years  he  has  not  taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs  he 
has  a  long  record  of  efficient  service  as  postmaster,  having  served  during  both 
the  Cleveland  administrations.  He  is  a  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  Jr.  O.  U. 
A.  M.  and  Royal  Arcanum,  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran. 

On  Aug.  'I3,  1878,  Mr.  Scheaffer  married  Sarah  Ella  Wagner,  and  after 
her  death  he  married  her  ^ister  Alphie.  He  has  three  children,  all  by  the 
first  marriage :    Harry  James,  George  Arthur  and  Anna  Susan. 

George  Wagner,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Joseph  ScheaflFer,  was  bom  in 
Bern  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  followed  the  milling  business.  Removing 
to  Cressona,  Schuylkill  county,  he  there  operated  a  mill  until  his  death,  in 
1867.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Boyer,  and  they  had  the  following  children :  George, 
Harrison,  Benjamin,  Reuben,  Daniel,  Andrew  and  Sarah. 

Reuben  Wagner,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Joseph  ScheaflFer,  was  bom  Nov.  18, 
1833,  in  Bem  township,  Berks  county,  and  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  was 
oi;e  of  the  early  residents  of  Frackville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  to  which  place  he 
came  in  1869.  He  did  contract  work  when  he  first  settled  there,  and  later 
was  employed  at  his  trade  at  the  collieries  near  by,  continuing  thus  until  his 
death,  April  14,  1903.  He  married  Susanna  A.  SchiflFert,  who  died  Dec.  29, 
1876,  aged  forty-two  years,  two  months,  four  days,  and  they  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Sarah  Ella  was  the  first  wife  of  Joseph  ScheaflFer;  Charlotte 
i^iarried  FredericK  Sanner;  Alphie  married  Joseph  ScheaflFer;  Elizabeth, 
deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Reber;  Katie  married  George  Yeager;  Wil- 
liam died  young;  Laura  died  aged  sixteen  years;  Frederick  is  living  in  Frack- 
ville. 

Reuben  Wagner  served  in  the  Civil  war  in  Company  L,  of  the  21st  Regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  Reserve  Cavalry.  Company  L  was  originally  a  militia 
organization,  called  the  Reading  City  Troop.  It  was  reorganized  by  Capt.  J. 
C.  A.  Hoflfeditz,  from  men  principally  of  Berks  county,  with  a  few  from  Lan- 
caster and  Lebanon  counties,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  serv- 
ice as  an  independent  company  of  cavalry,  July  30,  186 1.  The  company  was 
stationed  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  on  duty  at  headquarters.  Military  Depot, 
about  five  months.  It  was  attached  to  the  ist  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Reserve 
Cavalry,  Oct.  14,  1861,  and  joined  the  regiment  Jan.  5,  1862,  at  Camp  Pier- 
pont,  in  Virginia.  Mr.  Wagner  served  three  years  and  six  weeks,  and  during 
that  time  was  never  wounded,  nor  was  he  home  on  any  furlough. 

CLARENCE  H.  EVANS,  of  Tamaqua,  is  an  enterprising  young  business 
man,  and  has  shown  excellent  qualities  in  the  start  he  has  gained  towards  sub- 
.stantial  position.  He  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  R.  Evans,  with  whom  he  is  asso- 
ciated in  one  line  of  business,  and  a  grandson  of  Philip  Evans,  the  latter  a 
native  of  Wales  who  came  to  America  during  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  He  settled  at  Seek,  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  where  he  lived  and 
died,  and  his  occupation  was  mining.  His  children  were :  Jhoida,  Benjamin, 
Elizabeth,  Annie,  Philip,  Florence,  Windon  and  Jonathan  R. 

Jonathan  R.  Evans  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  county,  was  here  reared  and  edu- 
cated, and  in  his  younger  days  was  employed  at  the  mines.  I^ter  he  engaged 
in  the  machine  business,  which  he  still  follows,  he  and  his  son  Clarence  con- 
ducting the  Indian  Garage  at  Tamaqua,  which  they  own  in  partnership.    They 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1015 

have  the  agency  for  the  Indian  motorcycle  and  Buick  cars,  which  they  are  plac- 
ing successfully  in  this  section,  commanding  a  fine  trade  and  catering  to  many 
residents  of  the  locality  as  dealers  in  motor  supplies  and  repairmen.  Mr. 
Evans  married  Nancy  Walker,  daughter  of  James  Walker,  the  latter  a  pioneer 
resident  of  Tamaqua  and  for  thirty-five  years  superintendent  for  the  Lehigh 
Coal  &  Navigation  Company.  Mr.  Walker  died  at  Lansford,  Pa.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Evans  have  had  but  one  child,  Clarence  H. 

Clarence  H.  Evans  was  bom  Nov.  2,  1887,  at  Tamaqua,  where  he  acquired 
his^arly  education  in  the  public  schools.  Later  he  attended  the  University 
School,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  a  preparatory  institution  for  boys,  as  well  as  Mc- 
Cann's  business  collie  at  Mahanoy  City,  being  given  excellent  advantages.  In 
1907  he  entered  the  employ  of  Dr.  G.  A.  Wilford,  of  the  Chestnut  Ridge  Lum- 
ber Company,  and  for  several  years  has  acted  in  'the  capacity  of  assistant 
manager,  proving  a  trustworthy  and  capable  overseer.  In  April,  1914,  Mr. 
Evans  and  his  father  opened  the  Indian  Garage,  which  has  been  in  successful 
operation  since. 

Mr.  Evans  married  Clara  Bell  Allen,  daughter  of  Charles  F.  Allen,  of 
Tamaqua,  and  they  have  one  child,  Nancy  Katherine.  Socially  he  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks  and  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity. 

MICHAEL  V.  STILES,  of  Cumbola,  is  a  popular  citizen  in  his  section  of 
Schuylkill  county,  both  as  a  business  man  and  local  official.  At  present  he  is 
filling  the  office  of  tax  collector  in  Blythe  township,  which  he  has  held  for  seven 
years,  and  he  has  served  creditably  in  other  public  positions  of  trust,  displaying 
an  intelligent  and  public-spirited  interest  in  promoting  good  government. 

The  Stiles  family  has  lived  at  Cumbola  for  many  years.  John  Stiles,  the 
father  of  Michael  V.  Stiles,  was  bom  in  Ireland,  and  was  brought  to  America 
when  about  eight  years  old.  The  family  settled  at  Phoenixville,  Chester  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  for  four  years,  after  which  his  home  was  in  Schuyl- 
kill county.  He  became  a  stationary  engineer,  running  an  engine  at  Valley  Fur- 
nace for  a  time  and  later  going  to  the  ^*Shoo  Fly"  colliery,  where  he  was 
similarly  employed,  for  the  McQuails,  with  whom  he  continued  for  several 
years.  After  that  he  lived  retired  until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  21, 
1902.  He  is  buried  at  New  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Stiles  took  a  keen  interest  in 
local  affairs,  and  for  a  time  held  the  office  of  township  clerk.  He  married 
Catherine  Welsh,  whose  parents,  Michael  and  Julia  (Delaney)  Welsh,  were 
natives  of  Ireland  and  remained  in  that  country  until  after  their  marriage, 
coming  to  America  with  three  children.  They  settled  at  Cumbola,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  both  died.  Their  children  were:  Mary,  Eliza,  Ann,  Joanna, 
Margaret  and  Ellen  (twins),  John,  Thomas,  Luke  and  Catherine  (Mrs.  John 
Stiles).  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Stiles  were  bom  seven  children,  namely :  John, 
who  lives  at  Cumbola,  Pa. ;  Michael  V. ;  Luke,  of  Silver  Creek,  this  county ; 
James,  of  Pottsville ;  Margaret,  wife  of  James  Flood ;  Mary,  wife  of  Michael 
Devlin;  and  Joanna,  deceased.  Mrs.  Stiles  continues  to  make  her  home  at 
Cumbola,  where  she  is  highly  esteemed. 

Michael  V.  Stiles  was  bom  July  30,  1874,  at  Cumbola,  where  he  had  such 
advantages  as  the  public  school  afforded.  In  his  early  life  he  was  employed 
for  about  eight  years  at  the  Eagle  Hill  breaker,  where  he  began  work  as  a 
slate  picker,  and  subsequently  found  employment  at  the  colliery  as  fireman  and 
engineer.  From  there  he  changed  to  Kaskawilliam,  where  he  sank  the  Bore 
Hole  shaft,  the  deepest  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  when  it  was  ready  for  opera- 


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1016  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

tion  he  took  chaiige  of  the  en^ne  there,  running  it  for  ten  years.  Mr.  Stiles 
has  not  done  any  mine  work  since.  For  a  few  years  he  was  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness at  Five  Points,  in  Blythe  township,  conducting  what  was  known  as  the 
"First  and  Last  Chance  Hotel,"  which  he  gave  up  when  he  bought  the  fine 
property  he  is  now  operating  at  Cumbola,  which  is  also  in  Blythe  township. 
He  has  a  substantial,  convenient  building,  where  he  began  the  hotel  business 
in  1 9 14,  and  his  business-like  management  has  brought  hun  many  patrons,  who 
appreciate  the  comforts  and  excellent  service  he  provides.  Mr.  Stiles  has  made 
his  way  by  application  to  his  duties,  whatever  they  might  be,  and  the  high 
standing  he  enjoys  among  his  fellow  citizens  is  a  recognition  of  his  substantial 
qualities.  He  is  well  known  all  over  the  county,  and  has  been  specially  active 
in  the  workin|[s  of  the  Democratic  party,  which  in  the  fall  of  1915  honored  him 
with  the  nommation  as  candidate  for  clerk  of  the  courts  of  Schuylkill  county ; 
he  had  no  opposition  in  the  party.  Mr.  Stiles  has  given  evidence  of  ability 
in  the  services  he  has  already  rendered.  For  four  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Blythe  township  school  board,  and  held  all  the  offices  in  that  body ;  for 
the  last  seven  years  he  has  been  serving  as  tax  collector. 

Mr.  Stiles  married  Bridget  Purcell,  who  was  bom  at  Windy  Harbor,  in 
Blythe  township,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Convill)  Purcell.  They 
have  three  children,  I&tie,  Mary  and  Francis. 

ALFRED  B.  WAGNER  is  known  personally  to  a  very  large  percentage 
of  the  residents  of  MaJianoy  City,  his  duties  keeping  him  in  touch  with  most 
of  the  householders  there,  and  he  is  a  citizen  highly  respected  for  his  integrity 
and  upright  life. 

Mr.  Wagner  is  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  where  the  family  has  long 
been  settled.  His  grandparents,  George  Wagner  and  wife,  lived  and  died  in 
that  county.  He  was  bom  March  3,  1776,  and  died  Aug.  21,  1857;  she  was 
bom  May  5,  1777,  and  died  aged  forty- four  years,  nine  months,  three  days. 
They  lived  at  the  old  Wagner  homestead  about  five  miles  west  of  Hamburg, 
where  he  followed  farming.  He  was  married  three  times,  and  we  have  the 
following  record  of  his  children :  Solomon  died  in  September,  1898,  aged  ninety 
years,  nine  months;  Daniel,  bom  July  i,  1801,  died  July  12,  1882;  Mrs.  Salem 
died  Sept.  7,  i8$9,  aged  eighty-six  years,  ten  months,  five  days;  Benjamin, 
born  Aug.  29,  1804,  died  Jan.  3,  1892;  Samuel,  bom  Oct.  11,  1809,  died  in 
April,  I £§7,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  five  months,  twenty-five  days ;  William, 
bom  Oct.  14,  181 1,  died  March  27,  1888;  George,  bom  May  10,  1816,  died 
June  10,  1896;  Elias  was  bom  Jan.  25,  1820. 

George  Wagner,  son  of  George,  above,  was  bom  May  10,  1816,  on  the  oW 
homestead  in  Berks  county,  and  died  June  10,  1896,  at  Weissport,  Carbon 
county,  Pa.,  just  one  month  after  the  completion  of  his  eightieth  year.  For 
many  years  he  followed  farming,  and  he  also  engaged  in  the  pottery  business. 
His  wife,  Rebecca  (Boyer),  was  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Boyer  and  member  of 
a  prominent  family  of  Berks  county,  of  French  descent.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  children  as  follows:  Landon;  George;  Alfred  B.;  Lavina,  Mrs.  Isaac 
Backenstose;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Thomas  Wessner;  Sallie,  Mrs.  George  Faust; 
and  Luanna,  Mrs.  William  Phifer. 

Alfred  B.  Wagner  was  bom  Aug.  11,  1849,  at  Hamburg,  and  was  brought 
up  in  Berks  county.  His  education  was  begun  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
home  locality,  and  being  ambitious  he  later  attended  Lebanon  Valley  College. 
For  a  time  he  taught  school.    In  1873  he  located  at  Mahanoy  City,  Schuylkill 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANL^  1017 

county,  where  he  found  a  position  with  Wagner  Brothers,  merchants,  as  clerk, 
remaining  in  their  employ  seven  years.  He  then  spent  eight  years  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  late  Franklin  B.  Wagner,  after  which  for  nine  years  he  was  with 
the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company^  as  clerk.  His  next  connection  was 
with  the  Mahanoy  City  Light  Company,  with  which  concern  he  has  continued 
since;  it  is  known  as  the  Schuylkill  Light  and  Electrical  Company,  of  which 
he  was  secretary  for  a  time.  He  now  devotes  his  time  to  looking  after  the 
collections.  Outside  of  business  he  is  specially  interested  in  the  activities  of 
the  English  Lutheran  Church,  having  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
for  many  years,  and  also  choir  leader. 

In  1874  Mr,  Wagner  married  Susan  H.  Faust,  daughter  of  Dewalt  Faust, 
of  near  Auburn,  Schuylkill  county. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  LEIBIG,  proprietor  of  the  ''Pennsylvania 
House"  at  Quakake,  Schuylkill  county,  belongs,  to  a  family  of  successful 
hotelkeepers,  being  the  third  generation  to  follow  the  business  in  this  section. 
John  Leibig,  his  grandfather,  for  several  years  conducted  the  well  known  old 
"Stone  Tavern"  in  Rush  township,  where  he  also  owned  and  operated  a  farm. 
He  lived  retired  for  several  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he 
was  about  seventy  years  old.  He  is  buried  in  Quakake  Valley.  To  his  mar- 
riage with  Barbara  Kester  were  bom  the  following  children:  Harriet,  wife 
of  Reuben  Daubert ;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  John  Brobst ;  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Ammon  Eberts ;  Ellen,  who  married  Henry  Gearhart ;  and  Jacob. 

Jacob  Leibig,  son  of  John,  was  bom  in  Quakake  Valley,  in  Rush  town- 
ship, and  in  his  early  life  farmed  with  his  father,  afterwards  following  that 
vocation  for  a  few  years  on  his  own  account.  He  was  then  in  the  butcher 
business  at  Stone  Tavem  for  about  three  years,  removing  thence  to  Tamanend, 
this  county,  where  he  carried  on  a  hotel  for  eight  years.  For  the  next  three 
years  he  had  a  hotel  at  Hometown,  Rush  township,  where  he  died  in  1904.  He 
is  buried  in  Quakake  Valley.  He  held  the  office  of  tax  collector  in  Rush 
township.  Mr.  Leibig  married  Sarah  Catherine  Hauck,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Hauck,  whose  children  wer^:  Angeline,  William,  Stephen,  Samuel, 
John,  Benjamin,  Jeremiah,  Sarah  Catherine  and  Henry.  Two  children  were 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Leibig:  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Eva  May,  both 
living  at  Quakake.  The  daughter  is  the  wife  of  James  M.  Faust,  who  is  in 
the  employ  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company,  and  they  have  a  son. 
Marl  F.    Mrs.  Leibig  resides  with  her  children  at  Quakake. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Leibig  was  bom  March  28,  1882,  in  Rush  township, 
and  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  being  allowed  good  advan- 
tages. He  assisted  his  father  until  the  fetter's  death,  when  he  took  the  man- 
agement of  the  Hometown  hotel,  carrying  it  on  for  six  months.  Then  he 
came  to  Quakake  and  purchased  the  ''Pennsylvania  House,"  which  has  been 
greatly  improved  during  his  ownership  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  stop- 
ping places  in  that  part  of  Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  Leibig  has  the  faculty 
of  making  his  guests  comfortable  and  at  ease,  and  his  courteous  attention  to 
their  wants  has  held  all  the  old  trade  at  this  stand  and  won  many  new  patrons. 

ELMER  G.  REISEG,  of  Lakeside,  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  his  sec- 
tion of  Schuylkill  county,  having  been  proprietor  of  the  "Lakeview  Hotel," 
near  East  Mahanoy  Junction,  since  1910.  Mr.  Reiseg  was  bom  at  Mahanoy 
City,  this  coimty,  in  1871,  and  is  of  German  extraction,  being  a  son  of  Fred- 


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1018  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY;  PENNSYLVANIA 

erick  Reisig,  Sr.,  who  is  now  living  retired  on  a  small  tract  of  land  near  Lake- 
side, in  Rush  township. 

Frederick  Reisig,  Sr.,  is  a  native  of  Saxony,  Germany,  bom  Jan.  17,  1842, 
son  of  John  Reisig.  The  grandfather -was  also  bom  in  Saxony,  where  he  lived 
and  died,  but  the  grandmother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Leitenberger, 
came  to  America  and  died  at  Brandonville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  John  Reisig 
followed  farming  and  also  had  a  pipe  factory.  His  family  consisted  of  five 
children :  Frederick,  George,  Bertha,  Sophia  and  Casper.  The  last  named  was 
an  officer  in  the  German  army  during  the  Franco-Prussian  war  and  is  again 
serving  as  an  officer  in  the  present  conflict. 

Frederick  Reisig  came  to  this  country  when  fourteen  years  old,  and  first 
settled  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  blacksmithing 
and  huckstering.  He  made  his  home  there  and  at  Glen  Carbon,  this  county, 
until  twenty-five  years  old.  Then  for  about  fifteen  years  he  was  established 
at  Mahanoy  City,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  and  had  a  marble  yard.  His 
next  location  was  in  Ryon  township,  where  he  followed  farming  and  for  a 
period  of  eleven  years  also  conducted  a  store  and  hotel,  thence  in  1903  remov- 
ing to  Rush  township,  where  he  has  since  i-emained.  Here  he  did  considerable 
contract  work,  putting  in  building  foundations,  in  fact  he  laid  all  the  walls  for 
the  houses  at  Maryd,  but  he  withdrew  from  arduous  work  some  time  ago,  and 
now  occupies  a  small  tract  which  he  owr\s,  near  Lakeside.  Durin|^  the  course 
of  his  active  life  he  accuniulated  some  valuable  property,  ownmg  yet  221 
acres  of  farming  and  timber  lands  in  Ryon  and  Rush  townships,  induding  his 
home  property  of  one  acre,  with  house  and  bam. 

Mr.  Reisig  has  always  been  a  good  citizen,  ready  to  bear  his  share  of  the 
responsibilities  of  government,  and  intelligent  in  understanding  the  needs  of 
the  community.  He  was  a  school  director  of  Ryon  township  for  seven  years 
and  secretary  of  the  board ;  and  for  a  similar  period  filled  the  office  of  town- 
ship clerk  there.  Church  work  has  also  interested  him  and  had  his  warm  sup- 
port. He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  denomination  in 
his  locality,  was  Sunday  school  superintendent  for  sixteen  years,  and  is  still 
an  officer  of  the  church,  serving  as  trustee.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted 
from  Minersville  in  the  Pennsylvania  State  Militia,  serving  under  Colonel  Chest 
and  Capt.  Jacob  Lawrence,  and  was  orderly  sergeant.  His  company  was 
engaged  in  guarding  the  capitol  at  Harrisburg,  did  guard  duty  at  Philadelphia 
and  Hagerstown,  and  moved  the  army  wagons  at  Philadelphia  under  John 
Amold. 

Mr.  Reisig  married  Mary  Homberger,  of  Minersville,  who  died  in  Augiist, 
1908,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's  Church  in  Ryon  township.  They  had  a 
large  family,  viz.:  Emma,  who  became  a  physician,  practicmg  in  Philadel- 
phia, where  she  died  when  forty-two  years  old ;  Hettie,  deceased ;  Wilfred,  who 
died  young;  Frederick,  who  is  now  keeping  a  hotel  in  Ryon  township;  John, 
deceased;  Willis  Florence,  deceased;  Elmer  G. ;  Charles,  who  is  a  farmer  in 
Rush  township;  Edward,  deqeased;  Gertmde,  Mrs.  Krebs;  Maude,  Mrs. 
Freudenberger ;  and  Joseph,  a  farmer  in  Ryon  township. 

Elmer  G.  Reiseg  attended  school  at  Mahanoy  City  and  Locust  Valley,  the 
latter  in  Ryon  township,  and  subsequently  assisted  his  father  at  farming  until 
twenty-one  years  old.  At  that  time  he  married,  and  for  several  years  after- 
wards was  engaged  in  teaming  and  farming  at  Locust  Valley,  until  he  started 
in  the  hotel  business  in  Ryon  township,  which  he  carried  on  for  a  period  of 
eleven  years.    After  giving  that  up  he  was  in  Mahanoy  City  for  one  year  in 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1019 

the  same  line,  in  1910  coming  to  his  present  loqition  at  Lakeside,  in  Ryon 
township,  near  East  Mahanoy  Junction,  where  he  bought  the  **Lakeview 
Hotel"  and  six  acres  of  land  in  connection.  His  establishment  receives  a 
large  share  of  the  local  patronage,  which  has  increased  steadily  throughout 
his  ownership,  his  endeavor  to  please  all  his  guests  being  thoroughly  appre- 
ciated by  all  who  have  enjoyed  his  hospitality.  Mr.  Reiseg's  property  is 
admirably  located,  commanding  a  fine  view  "of  the  surrounding  country.  He 
is  a  man  of  substantial  character,  and  considered  thoroughly  reliable  in  all  his 
dealings. 

Mr.  Reiseg  maf ried  Laura  Blue,  daughter  of  William  and  Rosjanna  (Keller)' 
Blue,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children :  Lottie  is  now  the  wife  of 
Harry  Stegmeyer,  of  Tamaqua,  and  has  one  son,  Harry ;  Cora  married  David 
D.  Fusselman,  and  they  also  reside  in  Tamaqua;  Wilford  is  at  home.  The 
family  adhere  to  the  Lutheran  faith.  Mr.  Reiseg  holds  membership  in  the 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  to  which  he  has  belonged  for  the  last  sixteen  years. 

JOHN  BEVAN  has  spent  all  his  active  years  in  the  mines  of  Schuylkill 
county,  and  is  now  one  of  the  trusted  men  in  charge  at  the  Lytle  colliery, 
in  Cass  township.  His  conscientious  attention  to  all  of  his  duties  and  his 
competence  have  been  sufficient  to  justify  the  confidence  of  his  superiors. 
Mr.  Bevan  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  bom  at  Minersville  in  1866,  son 
of  Isaac  Bevan. 

Isaac  Bevan  was  bom  in  South  Wales,  where  he  passed  his  youth  and 
young  manhood.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  but  later  turned  to 
sailing,  and  followed  the  sea  for  about  ten  years.  It  was  during  the  Civil 
war  period  that  he  came  to  America,  and  he  enlisted  as  a  marine  in  the 
United  States  navy,  serving  about  four  years,  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
Subsequently  he  came  to  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and  resided  first  at  Miners- 
ville, where  he  was  located  for  about  one  year.  Taking  employment  at  the 
William  Penn  colliery,  near  Shenandoah,  he  remained  there  two  years,  then 
coming  to  the  Lytle  collieries,  where  he  had  been  employed  about  two  years 
when  he  was  killed  in  the  mines,  in  1874.  His  death  occurred  at  Packer 
colliery.  No.  3.  .  Mr.  Bevan  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Minersville.  He 
married  Elizabeth  McGuire,  daughter  of  Michael  McGuire,  and  she  is  also 
deceased.  Three  children  were  bom  to  this  union,  namely:  John;  Mary, 
unmarried,  who  lives  in  Philadelphia ;  and  Catherine,  wife  of  Richard  Forran, 
inside  foreman  at  the  Maryd  colliery,  in  Schuylkill  county. 

John  Bevan  was  but  nine  years  old  when  he  began  to  work  at  the  mines, 
and  he  was  employed  outside  for  about  five  years,  beginning  inside  work  at 
the  age  of  fourteen.  He  was  engaged  at  different  collieries  until  he  took 
employment  at  the  William  Penn  colliery,  near  Shenandoah,  where  he  spent 
twenty-two  years,  gaining  a  comprehensive  experience  of  all  the  details  of 
anthracite  mining.  In  1909  he  came  to  the  Lytle  colliery  in  Cass  township, 
where  he  has  since  been  inside  foreman.  The  position  requires  ability  and 
judgment,  steadiness  and  a  thorough  familiarity  with  mine  operations,  and 
Mr.  Bevan  has  shown  himself  well  qualified  for  its  demands.  Personally  he 
is  a  man  of  sterling  charactc. 

Mr.  Bevan  married  Bridget  Sweeney  of  William  Penn,  Pa.,  and  they  have 
three  children:  Elizabeth,  Margaret  and  John.  Mr.  Bevan  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Michael'and  Bridget  (Reynolds)  McGuire,  the  matemal  grandparents  of 


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.  1020  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

John  Bevan,  were  natives  of  Ireland.  The  grandfather  came  to  America  when 
a  young  man  and  settled  at  Phoenix  Park,  in  Cass  township,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  followed  mining.  He  died  in  Cass  township  at  the  age  of  forty- 
seven  years.  His  wife  long  survived  him,  dying  in  Cass  township  when 
seventy-three  years  old.  Their  four  children  were:  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Isaac 
Bevan),  James,  Mary  and  John.  Of  this  family  John  also  became  a  miner, 
and  he  is  still  residing  on  his  father's  homestead  in  Cass  township.  He  married 
Ellen  McCabe,  daughter  of  Francis  McCabe,  and  of  the  children  bom  to  this 
union  {our  are  still  living:  Michael,  Francis  Edward,  John  and  Mary.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  McGuire  also  reared  their  nephew,  John  Bevan,  who  was  but 
a  boy  of  eight  years  when  his  father  died. 

FRANCIS  J.  BUEHLER  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  young  men  in 
his  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  as  mining  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  at  Pottsville,  is  in  active  touch 
with  the  development  of  some  of  the  most  important  interests  of  this  vicinity. 
He  was  bom  at  Pottsville  Dec.  12,  1886,  son  of  John  J.  Buehler,  and  grandson 
of  Michael  Buehler,  who  was  one  of  the  best  known  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
Yorkville  district.  His  mother  was  Caroline  Allar,  of  Newtown,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.     The  grandparents  on  both  sides  were  natives  of  Germany. 

Francis  J.  Buehler  was  educated  in  the  German  parochial  schools  of  the 
borough  and  at  the  Pottsville  Business  Collie,  graduating  from  the  latter 
institution  in  1905.  He  began  work  as  an  employee  in  the  Pottsville  store  of 
Dives,  Potjieroy  &  Stewart,  doing  office  work,  and  was  subsequently  a  clerk 
in  the  office  of  the  Blackwood  colliery,  owned  and  operated  by  the  Lehigh 
Valley  Coal  Company.  In  1906  he  became  an  employee  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  as  a  clerk,  and  later  as  a  member  of  the 
en^neer  corps.  Since  1909  his  duties  have  been  in  and  outside  of  the  office, 
doing  practical  engineering  work,  etc.  He  has  shown  himself  both  skillful  and 
trustworthy,  and  has  won  the  confidence  of  his  superiors  by  his  conscientious 
attention  to  every  detail  and  responsibility. 

Mr.  Buehler  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  young  men  in  the  Yorkville 
district  of  Pottsville,  where  he  has  made  many  friends  in  church  and  social 
circles.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  Catholic  Church,  and  of  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  Knights  of  St.  George,  and  the  St.  John  Beneficial 
Society,  as  well  as  of  the  Holy  Name  Society,  of  which  he  is  secretary.  He 
is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the  Yorkville  Hose  and  Fire  Company,  which 
he  is  now  serving  as  recording  secretary,  and  is  foreman  and  chauffeur  of 
their  motor  apparatus ;  and  is  a  mehiber  of  the  Pottsville  Board  of  Fire  Trustees 
and  Firemen's  Relief  Trust  Association.  His  home  is  at  No.  1802  West 
Market  street.     . 

JOHN  H.  FELTY,  a  retired  farmer  of  Pine  Grove  township,  is  a  grand- 
son of  Martin  Felty,  one  of  the  pioneer  residents  of  that  part  of  Schuylkill 
county.  The  family  is  of  German  extraction,  and  the  name  was  formerly 
written  "Fallentine." 

Martin  Felty  was  bom  in  Pine  Grove  township,  and  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  there,  dying  in  1845,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  He  owned 
a  large  amount  of  land,  which  has  since  been  divided  up  into  a  number  of 
small  farms  and  is  still  for  the  most  part  in  the  possession  of  the  Felty  family. 
By  occupation  Martin  Felty  was  a  farmer.  He  was  the  father  of  seven 
children,  three  sons,  John,  Levi  and  another,  and  four  daughters ;  Levi  married 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1021 

Lavinia  Barshore.  Politically  Mr.  Felty  was  a  Whig,  in  religion  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

John  Felty,  son  of  Martin^  was  bom  in  Pine  Grove  township,  and  like  his 
father  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  remained  in  his  native  township  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1847.  He  married  Elizabeth  Hossler,  who  was 
bom  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  her  father  coming  to  this  county  at  an  early  time 
and  dying  here;  he  is  buried  in  Pine  Grove.  Mrs.  Felty  died  in  1890.  Six 
children  were  bom  to  this  marriage,  viz.:  Leo,  who  is  deceased;  Elizabeth, 
deceased;  Mary,  deceased;  John  H.,  living  retired  in  Pine  Grove  township; 
Levi,  deceased ;  and  Ferdinand,  who  lives  in  Pine  Grove  township. 

John  H.  Felty  was  bom  in  Pine  Grove  township  in  1840,  and  was  reared 
in  the  neighborhood  where  he  now  makes  his  home.  For  several  months 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  in  the  Union  army,  enlisting  in 
Company  C,  214th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  serving  until  ,the 
close  of  the  conflict.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
received  his  discharge  at  Alexandria.  His  regiment  was  under  the  command 
of  Col.  J.  H.  Brannan  and  attached  to  the  9th  Army  Corps,  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  It  was  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864,  where  Mr. 
Felty  lost  his  hearing;  Spottsylvania,  May  8  to  18,  1864;  North  Anna  River, 
May  23  to  27,  1864;  Petersburg,  June  15  to  30,  1864;  Cold  Harbor,  June 
I  to  12,  1864;  Mine  Explosion,  July  30,  1864;  Poplar  Springs  Church,  Sept. 
30-Oct.  I,  1864;  North  Sedgwick,  Nov.  5,  1864;  fall  of  Petersburg,  April  2, 
1865;  pursuit  of  Lee  and  conduct  of  prisoners  to  Appomattox,  April  9,  1865. 
Mr.  Felty  shared  the  fortunes  of  his  regiment  in  all  it^  movements  after  he 
joined  it,  and  was  taken  sick  while  in  the  service  with  typhoid  fever,  which 
kept  him  in  the  hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  for  three  weeks,  and  also  in  the 
hospital  at  Philadelphia.  He  was  honorably  discharged  July  17,  1865,  at 
Alexandria.  Returning  to  Pine  Grove  township  after  his  military  experience 
Mr.  Felty  has  since  resided  there,  for  a  number  of  years  engaging  in  farming. 
For  some  time  he  has  been  employed  by  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  in  the  latter  connection  belonging  to  Wolf  Post,  of  Pine  Grove. 
In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Lutheran. 

Mr.  Felty  married  Elizabeth  Behney,  daughter  of  John  Behney,  and  a 
native  of  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  member  of  one  of  the  old  families  of  that 
region,  whence  Mrs.  Felty's  parents  moved  to  Suedberg,  this  county.  Here 
they  remained  until  they  died.  Mrs.  Felty  died  in  1903  and  is  buried  near  the 
old  home.  Eleven  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Felty,  of  whom  Mary, 
the  eldest,  is  deceased:  two  died  in  infancy;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  John 
Hoster,  of  Pine  Grove  township;  Reuben  is  deceased;  John  is  a  farmer 
of  Pine  Grove  township;  William  E.  is  a  merchant  at  Outwood,  this  county; 
Frank,  twin  of  William, Js  living  in  Pine  Grove  township;  Jacob  also  lives 
in  Pine  Grove  township;  Clara  is  married  to  Andrew  Bohr  and  lives  in  Pine 
Grove  township. 

HENRY  REICHWEIN,  a  prosperous  farmer  and  dairyman  of  Barry 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  in  Germany  in  1861,  son  of  Frank 
Reich  wein. 

Frank  Reichwein  and  his  wife  were  natives  of  Germany.  In  1870  he 
came  to  America  with  his  children,  his  wife  having  died  in  the  old  country. 
They  landed  in  New  York,  and  from  there  proceeded  to  Locustdale,  Schuyl- 


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1022  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

kill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Reichwein  lived  for  a  time,  later  going  back  to  New 
York,  where  he  died.  Of  his  surviving  sons,  besides  Henry,  Joseph,  the 
eldest^  is  in  New  York;  John  is  living  in  Barry  township;  Anthony  is  in  New 
York.     Henry  Reichwein  has  two  step-brothers. 

Henry  Reichwein  was  but  nine  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  father 
to  America,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  he  entered  the  mines  at  Locustdale.  He 
continued  to  work  in  the  mines  until  he  began  farming  at  Rocktown,  this 
county,  at  which  place  he  remained  for  about  ten  years,  when  he  bought  his 
present  farm  in  Barry  township.  He  is  engaged  in  general  fanning  and 
dairying  and  has  made  a  success  of  his  venture. 

Mr.  Reichwein  was  married  in  1883  to  Elizabeth  Reichwine,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Margaret  Reichwine,  old  settlers  of  this  county  and  residents  of 
Fountain  Springs  until  they  died.  To  this  union  have  been  bom  seven 
children:  Katherine,  wife  of  Peter  Schuerer,  of  Barry  township;  Peter  J., 
also  a  resident  of  this  county,  engaged  as  a  farmer;  William,  Mary,  Anna, 
Raymond  and  Herman,  all  at  home.  Mr.  Reichwein  and  his  family  are 
members  of  St.  Mauritius'  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Gordon. 

RICHARD  W.  HOPKINS,  proprietor  of  a  plumbing  and  heating  establish- 
ment at  Gordon,  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  at  Ashland,  this  county,  in  1878, 
son  of  Richard  W.  Hopkins.  His  patemal  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Wales 
and  a  doctor  by  profession. 

Richard  W.  Hopkins,  Sr.,  was  bom  in  Cardiff;  Wales,  became  a  miner 
by  occupation,  and  after  coming  to  America  followed  that  vocation  at  Ash- 
land, Schuylkill  Co.,  ^a.  There  he  died.  He  married  Mary  Evert,  daughter 
of  William  Evert,  of  Ashland,  and  they  had  five  children:  Elvira,  wife  of 
Isaac  Sproats,  of  Ashland,  now  living  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J. ;  Thomas,  residing 
in  Mount  Pleasant,  Pa.;  George  and  Edith,  deceased;  and  Richard  W.,  the 
youngest  of  the  family.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Hopkins  his  widow  married 
James  M.  Seitzinger,  a  railroad  engineer,  of  Gordon. 

Richard  W.  Hopkins,  Jr.,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Ashland,  and  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years  went  to  Philadelphia  to  leam  the  trade  of  plumber. 
He  also  worked  for  a  time  in  Ashland,  later  coming  to  Gordon,  where  he 
entered  the  shops  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  remaining 
there  some  years  before  he  opened  his  present  place  of  business  in  Gordon. 
In  1897  Mr.  Hopkins  was  united  in  marriage  to  Martha  McAndrew,  daughter 
of  Thomas  C.  and  Sarah  (Dobson)  McAndrew.  Mr.  McAndrew  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  at  Ashland  and  came  to  Gordon  about  1869,  entering  the  employ 
of  the  Reading  Company,  and  serving  successively  as  fireman  and  engineer; 
he  has  been  retired  by  the  company  and  is  now  residing  in  Gordon.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Hopkins  was  bom  in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  died  in  Gordon  in  June, 
1914.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hopkins  have  had  three  children,  Thomas,  Marie  and 
Willard.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hopkins  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.     He  is  connected  with  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America. 

HENRY  KNAUBER,  now  living  retired  at  Newtown,  in  Reilly  township, 
was  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  that  section  of  Schuylkill  county  in  his 
active  years,  occupying  an  enviable  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  men.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  that  town  since  he  came  to  the  county,  in  the  year  1866. 

Mr.  Knauber  was  bom  in  Pmssia,  Germany,  in  1838,  son  of  Adam 
Knauber,  who  lived  and  died  in  Germany.     Henry  Knauber  came  to  this 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1023 

country  in  1863,  arriving  at  Castle  Garden,  New  York  City,  Nov.  27th,  and 
continued  his  journey  at  once  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  the  next  month  he 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  joining  Company  L  of  the  5th  Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry.  He  was  in  the  army  tuitil  June  15,  1865,  receiving  an  honor- 
able discharge  at  Philadelphia,  and  he  was  incapacitated  for  about  a  year 
thereafter,  having  been  injured  in  the  first  charge  at  Petersburg.  A  ball 
passed  through  his  right  wrist,  and  he  will  always  bear  the  marks  of  the  wound. 
Returning  to  Pittsburgh  after  the  war,  he  remained  there  tmtil  1866,  when  he 
settled  at  Newtown,  in  Reilly  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  for  over  thirty 
years  was  engaged  in  mining,  at  Sharp  Mountain,  the  Otto  colliery  and  Mid- 
dle Creek.  In  1898  he  gave  up  that  occupation,  and  became  interested  in  the 
hotel  business  as  proprietor,  conducting  the  "Washington  House,"  which  he 
still  owns,  though  his  son  has  taken  the  active  management,  Mr.  Knauber 
having  retired  a  few  years  ago.  The  hotel  has  always  been  popular  under 
his  ownership,  as  may  be  judged  by  the  niunber  of  its  regular  patrons.  He 
has  been  associated  with  the  administration  of  public  affairs  in  the  township 
to  some  extent,  having  served  six  years  as  school  director  and  nine  years  as 
constable.  He  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  belief.  Being  eligible  to  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  because  of  his  Civil  war  service,  Mr.  Knauber  belongs 
to  Williamstown  Post,  No.  280. 

Mr.  Knauber  married  Charlotte  Baune,  who  was  bom  in  Germany,  in  the 
same  town  as  he  was,  and  died  in  1902.  She  is  buried  at  Qouser's  Church. 
Seven  children  were  bom  to  this  marriage:  Matilda  married  David  Beyer; 
Catelina  married  John  Irving;  Ida  married  James  Biwle;  Louis,  deceased, 
served  in  the  Spanish- American  war ;  Henry  is  now  operating  the  "Washing- 
ton House"  at  Newtown  for  his  father;  Blanche  is  teaching  public  school  at 
Newtown;  Leo,  M.  D.,  graduated  from  the  Medico-Chimrgical  College,  Phila- 
delphia, and  is  now  an  inteme  in  the  Pottsville  hospital. 

MONCURE  R.  SPOHN,  late  of  Pottsville,  was  a  well  known  merchant 
there  for  many  years  and  his  widow  still  maintains  the  old  homestead  in  that 
borough.  Mr.  Spohn  was  a  descendant  of  an  old  Berks  county  family,  several 
of  whose  members  have  been  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  that  section.  The 
cemeteries  sfiow  some  of  the  early  records  of  the  family :  Henry  Spohn,  bom 
March  10,  1729,  died  Jan.  21,  1813;  and  his  wife,  Maria  Katharine,  born 
March  12,  1736,  died  Jan.  25,  1810.  Adam  Spohn  (son  of  Henry),  bom  Jan. 
25,  1758,  died  Jan.  18,  1831 ;  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  bom  Dec.  15,  1764, 
died  Sept.  23,  1829.  Maria  Katharine  Spohn,  wife  of  Henry,  was  a  famous 
nurse  in  her  day,  and  attended  the  births  of  1,114  children.  During  the  war 
of  the  Revolution  Philip  Spohn  became,  May  17,  1777,  first  lieutenant  in  the 
8th  Company,  Berks  county  militia;  on  May  31,  1781,  he  was  a  private  in  Col. 
Joseph  Hiester's  Battalion  and  Sebastian  Miller's  Company;  he  was  captain 
of  the  8th  Company,  6th  Battalion,  Lieut.  Col.  Joseph  Hiester,  May  2^,  1780. 
Henry  Spohn,  presumably  the  Henry  mentioned  above  as  bom  March  10,  1729, 
was  courtmartial  man  in  the  8th  Company,  of  which  Pbilip  Krick  was  captain. 
May  17,  1777. 

John  Spohn,  father  of  Moncure  R.  Spohn,  was  bom  in  Berks  county,  and 
moved  to  Schuylkill  county  shortly  after  his  marriage.  He  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  at  Broad  Mountain,  conducting  the  hostelry  well  known  in 
pioneer  days  in  this  section,  as  the  stagecoaches  stopped  there.  After  many 
years  at  that  place  he  removed  to  Pottsville,  locating  in  the  section  known  as 


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1024  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

the  Orchard,  and  here  too  he  carried  on  the  hotel  business.  He  built  one  of 
the  first  houses  in  this  vicinity  and  was  in  business  there  until  his  death.  His 
wife,  Margaret  (Harf),  was  a  native  of  Reading,  Berks  county,  and  their 
family  consisted  of  six  children,  namely:  Barbara;  John,  who  is  living  in 
Kentucky ;  Moncure  R. ;  Sarah ;  Eliza,  and  Frank; 

Moncure  R.  Spohn  was  bom  at  Broad  Mountain,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood.  When  a  young  man  he  learned  the  trade  of  butcher, 
which  he  continued  to  follow  all  his  life,  for  many  years  doing  business  on 
his  own  account.  His  meat  market,  on  Mahantongo  street,  Pottsville,  was 
one  of  the  best  known  in  this  part  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  is  not  only  one  of 
the  oldest  places  in  the  county,  but  also  one  of  the  most  popular.  Mr.  Spohn 
was  thoroughly  familiar  with  all  the  details  of  his  business  and  absolutely 
reliable  as  a  tradesman,  and  the  large  custom  which  his  market  enjoyed  was 
the  result  of  years  of  good  service  to  his  patrons  and  unimpeachable  business 
methods.  Socially  he  was  widely  known  and  esteemed  in  the  borough,  taking 
particular  pleasure  in  his  Masonic  associations,  having  been  a  member  of 
Cressona  Lodge,  No.  426,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Cressona,  this  county;  of  Mountain 
City  Chapter,  No.  196;  Constantine  Commandery,  No.  41,  K.  T.,  Pottsville; 
and  Lu  Lu  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S!  He  died  in  April,  1906,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three  years,  and  is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  Pottsville. 

In  1857  Mr.  Spohn  married  Eliza  Womelsdorf,  a  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Mary  (Nunnemaker)  Womelsdorf,  and  the  following  children  were  bom  to 
this  union :  Emily  married  George  F.  Seltzer ;  Fannie  is  the  widow  6i  W.  C. 
Ulmer;  Maggie  is  the  wife  of  R.  C.  Green,  a  prominent  jeweler  of  Pottsville; 
Maude  is  married  to  W.  S.  Cpwen,  a  successful  druggist  of  Pottsville.  Mrs. 
Spohn  continues  to  reside  on  the  old  homestead  at  No.  309  Mauch  Chunk 
street,  Pottsville,  and  she  is  affectionately  esteemed  by  a  large  circle  in  the 
borough. 

OSCAR  St.  CLAIR,  who  is  now  living  retired  at  Pottsville,  represents 
a  family  of  Scotch  extraction  which  has  been  settled  in  Pennsylvania  since 
the  early  days  of  the  Commonwealth.  His  grandfather,  a  weaver  by  trade,  was 
a  native  of  Berks  county,  and  lived  in  Reading  for  many  years,  later  removing 
to  Schuylkill  Haven,  this  county,  where  his  death  occurred.  His  children 
were:  Mary  married  John  Jenning  and  (second)  William  Koch,  and  died  at 
Schuylkill  Haven ;  Abraham  was  the  father  of  Oscar  St.  Clair ;  Reuben  mar- 
ried Susan  Christian  and  they  had  children,  Sarah,  Charles,  John,  Edw., 
Elizabeth,  Alice  and  Clara;  Jacob  settled  in  Illinois,  where  he  died,  leaving  a 
family;  Hartman  settled  in  or  near  Danville,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he 
became  a  well  known  farmer,  and  died  there. 

Abraham  St.  Clair,  father  of  Oscar,  was  a  tinsmith,  and  followed  his  trade 
for  many  years  at  St.  Clair  and  Pottsville,  where  he  died  in  1859.  He  is  buried 
in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  the  latter  place.  He  was  twice  married,  first 
to  Hannah  Cook,  and  his  second  wife  was  Lydia  Dries,  who  was  bom  at 
Maiden  Creek,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Dries.  They  had  one  son, 
Oscar. 

Oscar  St.  Clair  wias  bom  Dec.  i,  1855,  at  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
and  in  his  boyhood  attended  the  local  schools.  At  an  early  age  he  began  work 
in  a  rolling  mill,  and  was  employed  at  that  kind  of  labor  for  eight  years.  For 
two  years  following  he  was  engaged  at  a  blast  fumace,  and  then  followed 
railroad  work  for  a  period  of  five  years,  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  & 


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-J-.J  LIBRARY 

^^^rOH,  LENOX 
I'-l-iS   i"CUI^,DATIONS 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1025 

Reading  Company.  For  the  six  years  succeeding  he  was  in  the  hotel  business 
on  South  Centre  street,  Pottsville,  returning  thereafter  to  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  Company,  as  an  employee  in  the  blacksmith  shop  for  five  years.  He 
has  since  lived  retired,  residing  at  No.  1337  West  Market  street,  Pottsville,  in 
the  fine  home  he  built  some  years  ago.  Mr.  St.  Clair  is  well  and  favorably 
known  in  Pottsville.  Though  he  has  not  recently  taken  any  active  part  in 
public  affairs,  he  served  his  fellow  citizens  very  faithfully  as  councilman  for 
seven  years  when  Yorkville  was  jan  independent  borough,  and  during  three 
years  of  that  time  had  the  honor  of  being  president  of  the  council.  PoUtically 
he  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Good  Intent  Fire  Company  for 
the  last  thirty  years,  belongs  to  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  and  the  Owls, 
and  is  a  ipember  of  St.  John's  Catholic  Church  at  Pottsville.  His  fidelity  to 
duty  in  all  the  relations  of  life  has  had  its  reward  in  the  eood  wishes  of  friends 
and  acquaintances,  and  the  respect  of  every  member  of  the  community  with 
which  he  has  so  long  been  identified. 

Mr.  St.  Clair  married  Theresa  Weismiller,  daughter  of  Clement  Weis- 
miller,  and  she  died  Oct.  3,  1909.  One  child  of  this  union  is  living,  Elizabeth, 
now  the  wife  of  Rudolph  Wachter,  Jr.,  of  Pottsville;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wachter 
have  one  daughter,  Margaret 

MICHAEL  R.  BRENNAN,  a  resident  of  Heckscherville,  has  assisted 
actively  in  the  administration  of  public  affairs  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill 
county,  being  particularly  interested  in  promoting  the  efficiency  of  the  public 
school  system.  He  was  born  in  1867  in  Cass  township,  where  the  family  has 
resided  for  fifty  years  or  more,  his  father,  Patrick  Brennan,  having  settled  here 
when  he  came  to  America.  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  a  miner  by  occupa- 
tion. He  married  Mary  Kennedy,  and  both  died  in  Cass  township.  Of  the 
eleven  children  bom  to  them,  eight  are  still  living. 

Michael  R.  Brennan  attended  the  public  schools  of  Cass  township,  and 
with  a  brief  exception  has  been  employed  at  the  mines  ever  since  he  began 
work.  He  started  as  a  breaker  boy,  picking  slate,  and  did  inside  work  at 
the  mines  for  about  fifteen  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  engaging  in  the  hotel 
business  in  Cass  township.  After  three  years'  experience  in  this  line  he 
returned  to  mining  and  for  some  time  he  has  been  employed  at  the  Pine  Knot 
colliery,  where  he  has  charge  of  the  safety  lamps.  He  has  made  a  reputation 
as  a  man  of  reliable  habits,  intelligence  and  strict  regard  for  the  importance 
of  the  duties  intrusted  to  him,  and  he  stands  well  with  all  his  fellow  workers. 
He  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Cass  township,  at  present  making  his  home 
at  Heckscherville,  where  he  is  well  and  favorably  known.  Mr.  Brennan  is 
unmarried. 

Mr.  Brennan  has  been  closely  associated  with  public  affairs  in  his  town- 
ship for  some  time,  and  is  at  present  serving  as  president  of  the  school  board, 
of  which  body  he  has  been  a  member  for  the  last  seventeen  years. 

MONROE  HEADER,  a  well  known  mechanic  who  has  been  successfully 
established  in  business  at  Mabel  for  a  number  of  years,  has  been  a  lifelong 
resident  of  Barry  township,  Schuylkill  county.  His  father,  Joel  Header, 
followed  blacksmithing  there  for  many  years,  and  his  grandfather,  Jacob 
Header,  was  a  hatmaker  by  trade. 

Joel  Header  was  bom  at  Valley  View,  in  Hubley  township,  this  county, 
and  after  learning  his  trade  came  to  Mabel  and  started  blacksmithing  on  his 
Vol.  n— 27 


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1026  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

own  account,  carrying  on  a  shop  throughout  his  active  years.  He  died  in 
1902,  several  ^ears  after  his  wife,  Amelia,  who  passed  away  over  twenty  years 
ago.  She  was  bom  in  Barry  township,  daughter  of  Reuben  Yoder,  a  fanner. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Header  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  Monroe  being  the 
eldest:  Nora  is  the  wife  of  Ez.  EHeber,  of  Mabel;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of 
Edward  Hazen;  Calvin  lives  at  Valley  View;  Katie  is  the  wife  of  Alfred 
Brown,  of  Lavelle.  ^ 

Monroe  Header  was  bom  in  1870  in  Barry  township,  and  there  grew  to 
manhood,  receiving  a  commcm  school  education  and  leaming  the  trade  of 
blacksmith  under  his  father's  capable  guidance.  He  worked  several  years 
for  his  father,  and  eleven  years  ago,  not  long  after  the  latter's  death,  started 
the^shop  at  Mabel  which  he  has  since  conducted.  He  is  a  man  of  substantial 
qualities  and  much  respected  in  the  town,  wl\ere  his  industrious  life  and 
upright  character  have  gained  the  utmost  esteem. 

In  1892  Mr.  Header  married  Mary  Mosser,  a  native  of  Barry  township, 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Esther  (Morgan)  Mosser,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Four  children  have  been  bom  to  this  uaion :    Viola,  Alma,  Roy  and  Monroe. 

DAVID  C.  HUGHES,  as  inside  foreman  at  the  Phoenix  Park  colliery 
in  Branch  township,  holds  an  important  position  in  the  operation  of  one  of 
the  largest  coal  properties  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  was  assigned  to  that 
position  over  twelve  years  ago,  from  which  it  may  be  inferred  that  he  has 
made  a  record  of  competence  and  has  close  familiarity  with  the  workings 
and  local  mining  conditions.  Mr.  Hughes  has  spent  a  lifetime  in  the  mines, 
and  his  father,  John  D.  Hughes,  was  also  a  miner.  The  latter  came  to  this 
country  from  Wales  and  settled  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1869, 
following  mining  there  until  his  death. 

David  C.  Hughes  was  bom  in  Wales,  Oct.  6,  1862,  and  came  to  America 
in  1872,  with  his  mother,  two  brothers  and  one  sister.  He  attended  public 
school  at  Shenandoah  for  a  couple  of  years,  but  was  only  a  boy  of  twelve 
when  he  began  working  at  the  breaker,  picking  slate.  After  a  time  he  was 
put  to  work  inside  the  mine,  tending  door,  and  gradually  worked  his  way  up 
through  the  various  stages  until  he  became  a  regular  miner,  in  which  capacity 
he  was  employed  for  twenty  years.  For  seventeen  years  he  was  at  the  Shen- 
andoah City  colliery,  during  five  years  of  that  period  as  fire  boss.  Then  he 
was  made  assistant  inside  boss  at  the  Turkey  Run  colliery,  where  he  con- 
tinued for  two  years.  In  December,  1902,  he  was  made  inside  foreman  at  the 
John  Veith  colliery,  but  had  been  there  only  a  month  when  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Phoenix  Park  colliery,  taking  charge  of  the  inside  work.  As  there  are 
about  six  hundred  inside  employees,  his  duties  are  not  light,  but  he  has  come 
fully  up  to  all  requirements,  and  the  commendation  of  his  employers  has  been 
frequently  expressed.  Among  his  fellow  citizens  he  is  equally  respected. 
His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Methodist  Church,  and  for  many  years 
he  sang  in  the  choir.  While  at  Shenandoah  Mr.  Hughes  was  admitted  to  the 
Odd  Fellows  lodge  and  Masonic  blue  lodge  (No.  511,  F.  &  A.  M.),  and  he 
also  belongs  to  Philadelphia  Consistory,  l^ing  a  thirty-second-degree  Mason. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  married  to  Mary  MacLavan,  daughter  of  William  Mac- 
Lavan,  the  latter  a  native  of  Scotland  who  settled  at  Shenandoah,  this  county. 
Two  sons  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes :  Leroy,  a  druggist,  employed 
at  Camden,  N.  J. ;  and  James  A.,  who  is  employed  at  the  Phoenix  Park  col- 
liery.   They  also  have  an  adopted  daughter,  Evel3m. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1027 

JAMES  B.  MONAGHAN,  as  manager  of  the  general  store  owned  by  the 
estate  of  Michael  J.  Monaghan,  his  father,  is  carrying  on  an  old  established 
business  of  Ashland.  The  Monaghans  are  a  most  respected  family  of  Schuyl- 
kill county.  They  are  of  Irish  extraction,  Michael  J.  Monaghan  and  wife 
having  been  natives  of  Ireland,  whence  they  came  to  America  with  their 
people.  For  a  time  the  family  resided  in  New  York  State,  moving  thence 
to  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  and  settling  in  Centralia,  where  the  father  was 
employed  for  several  years  in  the  mines.  He  finally  located  at  Ashland,  where 
he  became  interested  in  business  as  proprietor  of  a  general  store,  since  owned 
by  the  family.  He  conti^iued  his  connection  with  the  business  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Feb.  19,  1908. 

Michael  J.  Monaghan  married  Mary  Monaghan,  daughter  of  Patrick  and 
Anna  (Conly)  Monaghan,  who  came  to  America  many  )rears  ago,  settling 
at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  Patrick  Monaghan  died  in  Ashland  in  1901. 
His  widow  still  survives.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  namely :  Edward, 
who  is  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Mary,  Mrs.  Michael  J.  Monaghan; 
Bridget,  deceased;  Patrick,  of  Ashland,  Pa.;  John,  deceased;  and  Catherine, 
deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  J.  Monaghan  were  also  bom  six  children : 
Ellen,  Mary,  Sallie,  James  B.,  Michael  J.,  and  Owen,  all  deceased  but  James  B. 

James  B.  Monaghan  was  borri  in  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  but  has  passed 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Schuylkill  county.  His  competent  management 
of  the  general  store  fotmded  by  his  father,  and  now  belonging  to  the'  Monaghan 
estate,  has  stamped  him  as  a  reliable  young  business  man  of  the  town,  and  he 
is  trusted  and  respected  by  all  his  associates.  Mr.  Monaghan  is  a  member 
of  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church  of  Ashland,  and  also  belongs  to  the  local 
council  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus. 

On  June  23,  1913,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Catherine  Staudenmeier/ 
of  Ashland,  who  was  bom  in  the  borough.  They  are  the  parents  of  one  child, 
Mary. 

DAVID  BEVERIDGE'is  one  of  the  expert  mining  engineers  in  the  Schuyl- 
kill county  coal  fields,  now  engaged  at  the  Lytle  colliery  in  Cass  township. 
He  is  a  man  who  has  achieved  his  present  success  entirely  through  ambition 
and  work.  Obliged  to  commence  work  in  early  boyhood,  he  has  combined 
study  with  practical  experience,  until  now  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
skillful  men  in  his  calling  in  this  region.  Mr.  Beveridge  is  of  Scotch  extrac- 
tion. His  father,  Robert  Beveridge,  was  bom  in  Scotland,  coming  to  America 
in  1850  and  settling  at  Llewell)m,  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  where  he  followed 
mining  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  killed  at  the  mines  in  1863  and  is  buried 
at  Llewellyn.  To  him  and  his  wife,  Margaret  (Pennman),  were  bom  seven 
children,  namely:  Elizabeth,  Robert,  Helen,  Jane,  Margaret,  William  and 
David. 

David  Beveridge  was  bom  March  i,  1863,  at  Branch  Dale,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  was  but  a  few  weeks  old  at  the  time  of  his  father's  accidental  death. 
The  youngest  of  a  large  family,  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  begin  work  early, 
and  from  the  age  of  seven  years  until  he  was  eleven  he  was  employed  picking 
slate  at  the  breaker  of  the  St.  Nicholas  colliery,  at  Branch  Dale.  As  he  grew 
older  he  was  engaged  at  loading  coal,  later  ran  an  engine,  and  then  followed 
mining  for  a  period  of  four  years.  However,  he  was  anxious  to  advance  him- 
self, and  he  began  to  study,  taking  a  special  course  under  Prof.  William  Owen, 
of  Shamokin,  Pa.    In  1887  he  became  a  member  of  the  engineer  corps  of  the 


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1028  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mineral  Railroad  &  Mining  Company,  at  Shamokin,  and  for  seventeen  years 
continued  work  in  that  section  .as  a  mining  engineer.  For  one  year  he  held 
the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Dodson  Coal  Company,  and  then  became 
borough  engineer  of  Mount  Carmel,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  being  so  engaged 
for  three  years.  On  Aug.  ii,  1907,  he  took  his  present  position,  becoming 
mining  engineer  at  the  Lytle  colliery,  in  Cass  township,  Schuylkill  county. 
His  attainments  and  comprehensive  experience  have  proved  highly  valuable  in 
the  discharge  of  his  important  duties  at  this  colliery.  The  self-reliance  which 
Mr.  Beveridge  exhibited  in  making  his  way  upward  has  also  carried  him 
through  many  difficult  situations  he  has  met  in  the  course  of  his  work,  and 
his  determination  has  been  quite  as  serviceable  an  asset  as  his  professional 
training  in  this  respect.  Fraternally  Mr.  Beveridge  is  both  a  Mason  and  an 
Odd  Fellow,  belonging  to  Mount  Carmel  Lodge,  No.  378,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  at  the  same  place. 

Mr.  Beveridge  married  Esther  Jones,  daughter  of  John  R.  Jones,  the  latter 
a  native  of  Wales.  They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Robert, 
Martha,  Norma  (deceased),  Davi4,  Margaret,  Esther  and  John. 

GOTTLIEB  BUCHSBICE  (deceased),  a  former  railroad  man  and  farmer 
of  Butler  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  in  Germany,  and  was  a  son 
of  Elias  and  Augusta  Buchsbice,  both  also  natives  of  that  country.  The  par- 
ents came  to  America  and  settled  at  Ashland,  Pa.,  where  they  remained  a  short 
time.    They  died  on  the  farm  of  their  son. 

Gottlieb  Buchsbice  worked  in  the  mines  at  Ashland  for  a  short  time  and 
then  moved  to  Gordon,  Schuylkill  county.  For  many  years  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  in  his  later  years 
working  in  the  shops.  He  died  Sept.  21,  1908.  He  bought  a  farm  in  Butler 
township,  near  Gordon,  which  is  now  owned  by  his  widow.  On  July  26,  1874, 
Mr.  Bushsbice  was  united  in  marriage  with  Dorothy  Klineleine,  and  to  them 
were  bom  the  following  children :  William,  a  resident  of  Bath,  Pa. ;  Hannah, 
wife  of  William  Seybrecht,  of  Detroit,  Texas;  Rudolph,  a  resident  of  Schuyl- 
kill county ;  Laura,  wife  of  Oscar  Wallauer,  residing  in  Utah ;  Fred,  living  in 
Ashland;  Edward,  living  in  Utah;  Christian,  of  Ashland;  August,  deceased; 
Anna,  Louis  and  Ehner,  at  home;  John  and  Lawrence,  deceased;  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Buchsbice  was  always  a  faithful  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  to  which  his  widow  also  belongs. 

Jonathan  Klineleine,  father  of  Mrs.  Buchsbice,  was  a  native  of  CJermany, 
as  was  also  his  wife,  Christiana.  They  came  to  America  in  March,  1863,  and 
settled  first  at  Ashland,  later  moving  to  Locustdale,  the  father  working  in  a 
colliery  in  the  vicinity.  He  died  at  Ashland  in  1900;  his  wife  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1914. 

CHARLES  J.  MONAGHAN,  ex-member  of  the  State  Legislature  and 
resident  of  Girardville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  Dec.  p,  1874,  in  that 
town,  a  son  of  Charles  and  Anna  Monaghan.  The  family  is  of  pure  Irish 
descent.  Both  of  the  parents  died  when  Charles  J.  was  very  young,  so  he  was 
obliged  to  make  his  way  unaided  through  this  world.  He  attended  public 
school  in  Butler  township  until  he  had  attained  his  seventh  year,  when  he 
went  to  work  in  the  mines,  continuing  to  labor  in  the  coal  region  until  his 
service  in  the  Spanish- American  war.  In  1898  he  enlisted,  in  Company  F, 
8th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  which  was  sent  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  where  they 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1029 

remained  until  the  close  of  the  war,  without  having  taken  any  direct  part  in 
the  struggle,  but  suflFering  from  sickness  and  poor  food.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  the  company  was  mustered  out  at  Augusta,  and  Mr.  Monaghan 
returned  to  Girardville. 

For  a  few  years  Mr.  Monaghan  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  business, 
in  1902  opening  his  present  saloon  in  Girardville.  In  1908  Mr.  Monaghan 
was  elected  from  Schuylkill  county  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  served  until 
1910.  In  1914  he  was  again  nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  the  same 
position. 

In  1900  Charles  J.  Monaghan  was  married  to  Mary.  Tiemey,  daughter  of 
Patrick  and  Ann  (Ryan)  Tiemey,  natives  of  Ireland  and  early  settlers  of 
Girardville,  where  they  are  yet  living.  The  father  was  for  some  years  a 
miner  there.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monaghan  were  bom  seven  children :  Harold, 
John,  Anna,  Mary,  Leo,  Charles  and  William.  Mr.  Monaghan  is  a  member 
of  Ashland  Lodge,  No.  284,  B.  P.  O.  Elks;  was  the  first  president  of  Aerie 
No.  446,  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles;  belongs  to  The  Foresters  of  America; 
to  Division  No.  4,  Ancient  Order  of  Hibemians,  of  Girardville;  the  Girard 
Hose  Company  No.  i,  and  the  Catholic  Legion.  All  of  Mr.  Monaghan's 
family,  as  well  as  himself,  are  members  of  St.  Joseph's  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  of  Girardville. 

IRWIN  DEWALD,  who  is  engaged  in  the  bakery  business  in  Aubum, 
Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  in  that  town  Sept.  2,  1875,  son  of  Samuel 
Dewald.  His  grandfather,  Edward  Dewald,  who  was  of  German  descent, 
was  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  county  in  the  days  of  its  early  development.  He 
was  a  farmer  by  training,  but  spent  many  years  as  a  boatman  on  the  Schuyl- 
kill Navigation  Company's  canal.  While  chopping  wood  upon  the  farm  of 
his  son-in-law,  Benjamin  Dewald,  he  was  suddenly  stricken  with  a  fatal  illness, 
his  body  being  found  later.  He  was  married  to  Catherine  Steinbach,  who 
was  bom  Jan.  i,  1823,  daughter  of  Philip  Steinbach,  and  was  killed  on  the 
railroad  April  25,  1895.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dewald  were:  Sarah 
(deceased)  married  Benjamin  Dewald;  Abraham  married  Kate  Schoener; 
Benjamin  married  Hannah  Becker;  Samuel  is  mentioned  below;  Mildred 
married  Amandus  Miller;  Edward  married  Ida  Rollman;  George  married 
Emma  Miller;  John  married  Mary  Bartlett.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dewald  were 
members  of  the  Summerhill  Lutheran  Church,  and  both  are  buried  in  St. 
John's  cemetery,  at  Aubum,  Pennsylvania. 

Samuel  Dewald  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  South  and  North  Manheim 
townships,  and  became  a  boatman  on  the  Schuylkill  canal,  first  as  a  station 
driver.  When  the  telegraph  was  introduced  into  the  canal  service  he  4)ecame 
an  operator.  Later  he  worked  on  the  Schuylkill  &  Susquehanna  railroad  as 
a  brakeman  on  the  Broad  Mountain  division,  putting  in  the  empty  cars  and 
taking  away  the  loaded  ones.  Then  he  went  to  Aubum  to  work  on  the  main 
line  of  the  Reading  road.  The  total  time  he  served  as  a  railroader  was  twen- 
ty-seven years,  divided  as  follows :  Brakeman,  eight  years ;  conductor  on  coal 
trains,  four  years;  fireman,  four  years,  engineer,  eleven  years.  When  he 
retired  from  the  railroad  work  he  opened  a  bakery  at  Aubum,  conducting  it 
for  twelve  years,  and  in  1909  selling  out  to  his  son  Irwin.  Mr.  Dewald  is 
now  serving  the  borough  of  Aubum  as  tax  collector  and  supervisor,  having 
held  the  former  office  for  fourteen  years,  and  the  latter  office  for  four  years. 


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1030  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

He  previously  served  three  years  as  school  director  of  Auburn.    Politically  he 
is  a  Republican. 

Samuel  Dewald  was  iharried  to  Emmaline  Bachert,  who  was  bom.  July  ii, 
1852,  in  Drehersville,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Sarah 
(Kramer)  Bachert.  By  this  union  there  were  bom  three  children :  Morris,  bom 
Sept.  17,  1872;  Irwin,  bom  Sept.  2,  1875;  ^"^  Carrie,  bom  Feb.  28,  1878,  who 
married  Charles  Huntzinger,  a  railroader,  of  Auburn.  Mrs.  Dewald  died  at  the 
age  of  forty-three  years  and  is  buried  in  St.  John's  cemetery,  Auburn.  Mr.  De- 
wald later  married  (second)  Sabina  Bachert,  bom  Oct.  2^^  1868,  in  Pine  Grove 
township,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  to  this  union  have  been  bom  four  chil- 
dren: Leroy  Samuel,  bom  Oct.  18,  1894;  Frederick,  bom  Nov.  17,  1890, 
who  died  Oct.  29,  1906;  Edith  Catherine,  bom  Jan.  9,  1893,  who  died  Sept. 
22,  1893;  and  Raymond  Edward,  bom  Jan.  21,  1900,  who  died  Aug.  p,  1900. 
Mr.  I>ewald  is  a. member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  45,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of 
Auburn,  and  of  Aubum  Castle,  No.  168,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  and  is 
now  a  past  chief  and  keeper  of  the  exchequer,  having  filled  the  latter  position 
for  the  last  twenty-five  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dewald  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at  Aubum. 

Irwin  Dewald  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Aubum,  Pa.,  and  upon  com- 
pleting his  studies  entered  the  employ  of  Jones  &  Moyer,  brick  manufacturers, 
for  a  time.  He  next  went  to  work  for  D.  J.  DriscoU,  in  the  bolt  and  nut 
works  at  Aubum,  where  he  labored  at  various  occupations  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  finally  becoming  a  rougher  on  the  rolls.  He  then  entered  the 
bakery  conducted  by  his  father,  continuing  with  him  until  July,  1909,  when 
he  acquired  the  business  by  purchase.  He  has  a  store  in  connection  with  the 
bakery,  in  which  he  carries  a  good  stock  of  confectionery,  and  he  commands 
a  fine  trade.  Mr.  Dewald  married  Estella  Augusta  Meek,  who  was  bom  in 
July,  1877,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Luckenbill)  Meek. 
The  following  children  have  been  bom  to  this  union:  Floyd  Irwin,  bom 
Aug.  28,  1898,  graduated  from  the  Aubum  high  school  before  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age,  subsequently  taking  the  course  in  the  Pottsville  high  school; 
Faye  Estella,  bom  Sept.  30,  1903,  is  a  student  in  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  Dewald  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  affiliation,  and  has  served  the 
borough  as  school  director  for  five  years,  and  as  auditor  and  clerk  of  elections. 
He  is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  45,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  which  he  has 
served  for  a  number  of  years  as  financial  secretary;  of  Aubum  Castle,  No. 
168,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  of  which  he  is  a  past  chief,  and  has  been 
master  of  records  for  the  last  sixteen  years ;  and  of  Black  Diamond  Command- 
ery,  No.  466,  Knights  of  Malta,  of  Pottsville.  Mr.  Dewald  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Reformed  Church  of  Aubum,  which  he  is  now  serving  as  deacon. 

Mrs.  Estella  Augusta  (Meek)  Dewald  was  bom  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Aubum,  Pa.,  after  the  death  of  her 
mother  living  with  her  aunt,  Mrs.  John  Berger,  until  her  marriage. 

John  Meek,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Dewald,  was  a  resident  of  Pinedale, 
West  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  lived  to  an  honored 
age,  and  is  there  buried  beside  his  wife.  They  had  the  following  children: 
William,  Samuel,  David,  John,  Hiram,  Levi,  Daniel  and  Missouri. 

John  Meek,  father  of  Mrs.  Dewald,  was  bom  in  West  Branswick  township, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1853,  and  attended  the  township  schools  while  assist- 
ing his  father  on  the  farm.  When  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Susquehanna  &  Schuylkill  Railroad  Company,  as  freight  brake- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1031 

man  between  Harrisburg  and  Auburn.  After  two  years  he  moved  to  Harris- 
burg,  where  his  wife  died.  He  then  went  to  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  and  became  a 
conductor  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  between  Bethle- 
hem and  Philadelphia.  Later  he  was  made  yardmaster  at  the  Reading  Termi- 
nal Station,  Philadelphia,  and  finally  transferred  to  the  Third  and  Berks  street 
station  of  the  same  company,  as  assistant  trainmaster,  holding  the  position  for 
twenty-five  years,  only  relinquishing  it  when  ill  health  interfered  seriously  with 
the  performance  of  his  (duties.  He  was  then  retired  and  pensioned  by  the 
company. 

Mr.  Meek  was  first  married  to  Sarah  Luckenbill,  bom  in  1858,  a  daughter 
of  Emanuel  Luckenbill,  and  they  had  these  children:  Carrie  Rebecca,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  three;  and  Estella  Augusta,  Mrs.  Dewald.  Mrs.  Meek  died 
in  May,  1882,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  and  is  buried  at  Auburn,  Pa. 
Mr.  Meek  married  for  his  second  wife  Euphemia  Hoffman,  who  was  bom  at 
Norristown,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  two  children :  Irwin,  a  student  at  Mount 
Airy  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary,  ordained  in  1915;  and  Marian,  who  mar- 
ried William  Frederick  and  lives  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Meek  is  a  Republican, 
a  member  of  Lulu  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Philadelphia,  and  an  attend- 
ant of  the  English  Lutheran  Church. 

WILLIAM  P.  EIFERT,  a  prosperous  and  progressive  farmer  of  North 
Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  June  5,  1865,  i^  Danville, 
Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  John  Henry  Eifert,  Jr.,  of  Grovania,  that  county, 
and  grandson  of  John  Henry  Eifert,  a  native  of  Germany. 

John  Henry  Eifert,  the  founder  of  the  American  branch  of  the  family,  was 
bom  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  as  was  also  his  wife,  Mary  Rausch. 
Mr.  Eifert  became  involved  in  an  insurrection  against  the  reigning  grand  duke 
and  was  compelled  to  leave  suddenly,  coming  to  America.  With  him  came 
his  sons,  John  Henry  and  Peter,  and  they  landed  at  Baltimore,  where  they 
made  their  home,  the  father  residing  there  until  his  death. 

John  Henry  Eifert,  Jr.,  became  infatuated  with  the  hfe  of  a  sailor  and 
enlisted  as  a  landsman  in  the  United  States  navy  in  1862,  when  but  sixteen 
years  of  age.  To  do  go  he  had  to  run  away  from  home,  owing  to  parental 
opposition.  He  was  assigned  to  the  steam  sloop-of-war  "Maratansas,"  which 
was  detailed  to  shell  the  intr^nchments  of  the  Confederates  along  the  James, 
York,  Rappahannock  and  Potomac  rivers.  After  this  work  the  vessel  sailed 
along  the  Atlantic  coast  down  through  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  Galveston, 
participating  at  various  times  in  some  of  the  lesser  engagements  of  the  war 
on  the  water.  Mr.  Eifert's  brother  Peter  enlisted  in  the  famous  "Black 
Horse  Cavalry'*  on  the  Confederate  side.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr. 
Eifert  returned  to  the  North,  going  to  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
worked  for  a  time  on  the  old  Catawissa  railroad,  and  was  promoted  to  sec- 
tion foreman.  Having  amassed  a  moderate  competence  he  bought  a  farm  in 
Montour  county,  near  Grovania,  where  he  is  now  spending  his  declining 
years.  He  still  does  part  of  the  farm  work.  Mr.  Eifert  married  Mary 
Lazarus,  a  native  of  Montour  county;  and  they  have  had  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Ida,  now  the  widow  of  Daniel  Smith,  of  Shamokin,  has  ten  children ; 
William  P.  is  mentioned  below ;  John,  living  in  Bloomsburg,  Columbia  county, 
has  eight  children;  Thomas  is  deceased;  Mary,  widow  of  George  Hartzell, 
has  six  children;  Phoebe,  wife  of  William  Washant,  resides  at  Tamaqua; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Frank  Delsart,   of  Danville,  Montour  county,  has  one 


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1032  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

child;  Annie,  wife  of  Charles  Knorr,  of  Danville,  Montour  county,  has  five 
children;  Daniel  Tobias,  also  residing  in  Danville,  has  three  children;  Sam- 
uel, residing  on  the  home  farm,  married  Bertha  Kiiapp,  of  Danville,  and  has 
one  child. 

William  P.  Eifert  attended  the  public  schools  and  for  two  terms  was  a 
student  at  the  Bloomsburg  State  Normal  School.  He  then  engaged  in  rail- 
road work  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  and  was 
located  for  a  time  at  Catawissa,  Pa.,  later  being 'transferred  to  Tamaqua, 
from  there  to  Gordon,  and  subsequently  to  Cressona.  He  was  with  this 
company  for  a  period  of  nineteen  years  and  nine  months,  resigning  in  1906. 
Having  purchased  a  farm  in  Panther  valley,  near  Cressona,  consisting  of 
sixty-seven  acres,  he  settled  there,  and  has  greatly  improved  the  place.  He 
is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  trucking,  attending  the  markets  at  Potts- 
ville.  Mr.  Eifert  was  married  to  Uphaina  Hubler,  daughter  of  the  late  John 
Hubler,  who  for  twenty-nine  years  was  connected  with  the  Reading  Railway 
Company.  To  this  union  have  been  born  nine  children:  Norman,  of  Cres- 
sona; Grace,  wife  of  Robert  Brineth,  of  Tamaqua;  Gertrude,  wife  of  Ray 
Ramsay,  of  Reading;  Carrie;  Albert;  Lulu;  Chester;  Emanuel,  and  Leroy. 
Mr.  Eifert  is  independent  in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Grange 
and  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers.  He  is  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

ELMER  E.  ARTZ  is  outside  foreman  at  the  Pine  Knot  colliery,  situated 
in  the  Heckscherville  valley,  where  he  is  widely  known  and  respected.  His 
honorable  character,  shown  in  the  most  conscientious  regard  for  his  duties, 
makes  him  thoroughly  deserving  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 

The  Artz  family  came  to  this  country  from  Germany,  and  was  established 
in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  in  the  vicinity  of  Womelsdorf,  at  an  early  day.  A 
number  of  the  name  were  prominent  farmers  in  that  region.  Simon  Artz, 
grandfather  of  Elmer  E.  Artz,  was  an  early  settler  in  Hubley  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  died  upon  his  farm  there 
Dec.  6,  1908,  aged  eighty-nine  years.    He  had  two  sons,  Preston  and  Daniel  E. 

Daniel  E.  Artz,  son  of  Simon,  was  bom  and  reared  on  the  homestead  place 
in  Hubley  township,  and  in  his  early  years  was  employed  at  farm  work.  Later 
he  owned  and  conducted  a  store  at  Sacramento,  Hubley  township,  but  even- 
tually he  returned  to  the  home  farm  and  resumed  agricultural  pursuits.  A 
short  time  before  his  death  he  went  to  live  with  his  daughter  at  Gratz,  Pa., 
and  there  he  died  June  10,  1913.  He  and  his  wife  Esther  (Umholtz)  are 
buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the  well  known  Artz  Church  in  Hubley  township. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children:  Lillie,  a  daughter  that  died  in 
infancy,  Elmer  E.,  Edwin,  Sidney,  Dora,  James  and  Lottie. 

Elmer  E.  Artz  was  bom  Oct.  9,  1867,  at  Pine  Valley,  in  Hubley  township, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood,  meantime  attending  public  school.  When  sixteen 
years  old  he  went  to  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  the  home  township,  and 
in  1888  entered  the  employ  of  the  Reading  Company  as  a  carpenter,  working 
thus  until  January,  1905,  when  he  became  foreman  in  the  Kalmia  Washery  for 
the  Reading  Company.  In  January,  1906,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Anchor 
Washery,  in  the  same  capacity,  remaining  there  until  he  entered  on  his  duties 
as  outside  foreman  at  the  Otto  colliery,  situated  at  Branch  Dale,  in  ReiUy 
township,  in  December,  1909.  There  he  had  about  two  hundred  and  forty 
hands  under  his  direction  doing  outside  work  at  the  mine,  where  employment 


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I 
SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1033 

is  aflforded  to  a  large  proportion  of  the  population  of  the  vicinity.  On  June  8, 
1915,  he  was  transferred  to  the  mammoth  Pine  Knot  colliery,  owned  by  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  situated  in  the  Heckscherville 
valley,  where  three  hundred  and  twenty  men  are  employed.  Mr.  Artz's  prompt 
attention  to  every  detail  of  the  work  in  his  care  has  gained  him  the  appreciation 
of  his  employers,  and  the  men  under  his  charge  are  united  in  respect  for  his 
judgment  and  loyal  personal  esteem.  He  is  regarded  as  a  valuable  citizen,  and 
is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Modem  Woodmen  and  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, in  the  latter  connection  belonging  to  Minersville  Lodge,  No.  222,  F.  & 
A.  M.;  Schuylkill  Chapter,  No.  159,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Minersville;  Constantine 
Commandery,  No.  41,  K.  T.,  of  Pottsville;  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M. 
S.,  of  Reading.  , 

Mr.  Artz  married  Qara  Smeltz,  by  whom  he  has  had  six  children:  Eva, 
now  the  wife  of  George  Gottschall;  Laura;  Harry;  Sadie;  Edna,  who  died 
young ;  and  a  son  that  died  in  infancy.  The  family  are  of  the  United  Brethren 
faith. 

HENRY  E.  GABLE,  of  Hegins  township,  is  a  creditable  representative 
of  a  much  respected  family  of  old  standing  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county. 

The  first  ancestors  of  this  Gable  family  in  America  came  to  the  New  World 
from  Germany.  Daniel  Gable,  grandfather  of  Henry  E.  Gable,  was  a  mason 
by  trade.  His  son,  Charles  Gable,  was  bom  in  Hegins  township,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  farmed  in  that  township  all  his  life,  owning  and  operating  the 
place  where  his  son  Henry  now  lives.  He  died  on  the  home  farm  May  6,  1894, 
His  widow,  Ellen  (Zerbe),  lived  to  be  eighty-eight  years  old.  She  was  bom 
at  Newtown,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  John  Zerbe,  who  died  at  Llewell)m, 
this  county.  Nine  children  were  bom  to  this  couple :  Sarah,  the  eldest,  is  the 
wife  of  Noel  Geist,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  and  they  live  in  Barry  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county;  Charles  is  a  resident  of  Ashland,  Pa.;  William  is 
deceased;  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Yoder;  Mary  is  married  to  Charles 
Miller,  of  Valley  View ;  Daniel  resides  in  Hegins  township ;  Henry  E.  is  men- 
tioned below ;  Kate,  twin  of  Henry,  is  the  wife  of  Elias  Buffington,  of  Ashland; 
Emma  is  the  wife  of  Marcus  Herb,  of  Mount  Carmel,  Pennsylvania. 

Henry  E.  Gable  was  bom  in  1864  in  H^ns  township,  and' spent  his  boy- 
hood on  the  home  farm  there,  receiving  his  education  in  the  local  public 
schools.  .  For  two  years  he  was  located  at  Klingerstown,  this  county,  but  with 
that  exception  has  lived  in  the  township  where  he  was  bom.  Farming  is  his 
principal  occupation ;  but  he  also  works  in  the  collieries,  arranging  his  employ- 
ment so  that  he  is  kept  busy  all  the  time.  His  industry  and  fidelity  to  all  his 
obligations  have  gained  him  the  respect  of  all  who  come  in  contact  with  him, 
and  he  is  a  citizen  of  recognized  worth.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  God 
at  Hegins. 

On  Jan.  19,  1891,  Mr.  Gable  married  Amanda  Schucker,  of  Hegins  town- 
ship, who  was  bom  at  Fountain,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of 

and  Lucinda  Schucker,  old  residents  of  the  county;  both  her  parents  are 
deceased.  The  following  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gable: 
Emma,  Elmer,  Kate,  Maude,  Henry,  Dorothy  and  Armer.  The  eldest  son 
died  recently,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 

HARRY  J.  BRACHMAN,  of  Brockton,  Schuylkill  county,  has  been  a 
resident  of  that  place  all  his  life,  having  been  bom  there  July  10,  1876,  and  he 


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1034  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

has  been  closely  identified  with  the  administration  of  its  public  aflfairs  as  well 
as  its  business  interests  from  early  manhood.  He  is  indeed  a  representative 
member  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the  town,  where  his  father,  Frederick 
W.  Brachman,  settled  in  the  early  forties. 

Frederick  W.  Brachman  was  born  in  Germany  July  13,  1823,  and  spent  his 
early  years  in  that  country,  coming  to  the  United  States  when  a  young  man 
of  nineteen.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Patterson  (now  Brockton  post 
office),  in  Schuylkill  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life,  at  first  doing  mine  work  there,  until  1864.  Then  he  engaged  in 
the  hotel  business,  carrying  on  the  "Schuylkill  Valley  Hotel,"  which  he  con- 
ducted until  his  death,  Sept.  18,  1888.  He  is  buried  in  the  Lutheran  cemetery 
at  Middleport.  A  man  of  intelligence  and  progressive  ideas,  he  took  a  genuine 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  community  and  the  proper  administration  of  local 
government,  and  himself  served  as  tax  collector  and  school  director,  holding 
the  latter  office  for  many  years.  He  was  a  Lutheran  in  religious  doctrine. 
Mrs.  Brachman  died  March  20,  1910,  and  is  buried  at  Brockton.  They  were 
^  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Caroline  died  in  infancy ;  Kate  married 
Richard  McBreen ;  John  is  a  resident  of  Middleport,  this  county ;  Mary  is  mar- 
ried to  Frank  Wadlinger;  Sophia  married  Fred  Krantz;  Peter  is  a  resident 
of  Tamaqua,  this  county;  Lena  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  Peter  L.  Hoffman, 
of  Brockton,  who  survived  her  many  years,  dying  in  19^5;  Frederick  W.  is 
a  prominent  business  man  of  Tuscarora,  this  county;  Margaret  (deceased) 
was  the  wife  of  Lewis  Lawrence,  district  superintendent  for  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  at  Shenandoah,  Pa.;  Matilda  married 
Michael  J*  Hoffman ;  Emma  married  Michael  Bonenberger ;  Harry  J.  completes 
the  family. 

Harry  J.  Brachman  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Brock- 
ton. He  was  quite  young  when  his  father  died,  and  he  assisted  his  mother  in 
the  operation  of  the  hotel,  which  was  in  the  family  for  a  period  of  fifty 
years  altogether.  After  his  mother's  death  Harry  J.  Brachman  continued  it 
on  his  own  account  until  1913.  Meantime  he  had  had  various  other  business 
interests.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  at  what  is  now  known  as  Brockton, 
taking  office  March  3,  1899.  At  that  time  the  post  office  was  known  as  Harry, 
so  called  in  his  honor,  and  that  name  was  used  for  seven  years,  when  it  was 
changed  to  Brockton — ^practically  a  corruption  of  the  family  name  Brachman, 
as  it  was  adopted  in  compliment  to  the  Brachmans.  For  about  ten  years  Mr. 
Brachman  manufactured  cigars  at  Brockton.  Since  giving  up  the  hotel  busi- 
ness he  has  devoted  his  time  to  dealing  in  real  estate,  and  as  a  broker  in  that 
line,  and  a  private  banker,  he  has  built  up  a  patronage  which  now  occupies  most 
of  his  time.  He  has  always  taken  a  keen  interest  in  promoting  those  things 
which  would  have  a  beneficial  effect  upon  the  development  of  the  town,  and 
his  own  operations  have  (]^ualified  him  to  judge  correctly  of  the  value  of  local 
enterprises,  regarding  which  his  opinion  is  sought  and  valued.  For  the  last 
nine  years  Mr.  Bradiman  has  held  the  office  of  tax  collector  in  Schuylkill 
township,  his  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  worth  of  real  estate  fitting  him 
particularly  well  for  such  duties.  His  political  affiliation  is  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  in  which  he  has  been  an  active  worker,  having  served  as  dele- 
gate and  committeeman. 

On  Thanksgiving  Day,  Nov.  2's,  1915,  Mr.  Brachman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mae  Mitchell,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (McBreen)  Mitchell, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1035 

of  Mahonoy  City.    The  present  residence  of  Mr.  Brachman  is  the  old  family 
house  which  has  been  occupied  by  the  Brachmans  for  more  than  half  a  century. 

JOHN  J.  PAUL  has  been  connected  with  the  Pine  Knot  colliery  in  Cass 
township  in  the  capacity  of  outside  foreman  since  1908,  and  has  done  his  share 
in  securing  its  profitable  operation  by  conscientious  attention  to  his  particular 
duties.  He  has  proved  himself  capable  and  trustworthy,  and  personally  is 
deserving  of  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held  wherever  known. 

Mr.  Paul  was  bom  at  Tremont,  Schuylkill  county,  in  1869,  ^"d  his 
father,  Emanuel  Paul,  was  also  a  native  of  the  county,  bom  at  Valley  View. 
He  followed  mining  until  his  accidental  death,  having  been  killed  at  the  East 
Franklin  colliery  in  West  End. 

John  J.  Paul  had  public  school  advantages  in  youth,  and  though  he  com- 
menced to  pick  slate  at  the  breaker  when  eleven  years  old,  spent  part  of  the 
time  at  his  studies  until  he  g^ew  a  little  older.  He  obtained  the  usual  experience 
in  different  positions  at  the  mines,  imtil  he  became  foreman  at  the  Independ- 
ent colliery,  where  he  remained  for  a  period  of  five  years.  The  next  five  yeai:s 
he  was  at  Wadesville,  this  county,  in  the  position  of  outside  foreman,  and  in 
1908  he  came  to  the  Pine  Knot  colliery,  where  he  has  since  held  a  similar  posi- 
tion. He  has  a  wide  acquaintance  throughout  the  mining  region  of  Schuylkill 
county. 

Mr.  Paul  married  Kate  Miller,  a  daughter  of  William  Miller,  of  Pine 
Grove,  this  county,  and  they  have  the  following  children:  Elsther,  Charles, 
Ruth,  Bertha,  John,  Edna,  Edith,  George  and  Mildred.  The  family  are  Meth- 
odists in  religious  association.  Fratemally  Mr.  Paul  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to 
Swatara  Lodge  No..  267,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Tremont,  this  county. 

'  CHARLES  O'NEILL,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Butler  township,  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  Oct.  31,  1846,  at  Minersville,  this  county,  son  of  Philip 
and  Mary  (O'Neill)  O'Neill,  both  natives  of  Ireland. 

Philip  O'Neill,  the  father,  came  to  America  at  an  early  date  and  settled  at 
Minersville  after  remaining  for  a  time  at  Philadelphia.  He  was  a  weaver  by 
occupation,  but  after  coming  to  Minersville  worked  in  the  mines.  He  died 
there  in  185 1.  Of  his  three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  Charles  is 
the  only  survivor.  After  the  death  of  her  first  husband  Mrs.  O'Neill  married 
Bernard  Fuller,  and  they  had  eleven  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now  living. 
Mrs.  Fuller  died  in  1907  at  the  home  of  her  son  Charles. 

Charles  O'Neill  attended  the  schools  of  Minersville  but  a  short  time,  com- 
mencing work  in  the  mines  at  an  early  age.  He  went  to  Ashland  in  1867  and 
worked  there  in  the  mines  for  a  time,  about  1905  settling  in  Butler  township, 
where  he  bought  his  present  farm,  which  he  has  continued  to  reside  upon  and 
cultiyate  ever  since.  Mr.  O'Neill  was  married  June  8,  1872,  to  Mary  Durkin, 
a  native  of  Pottsville,  and  to  them  have  been  bom  twelve  children,  of  whom 
Mary  is  the  oldest  living;  Philip,  who  conducts  a  saloon  in  Mahanoy  City, 
married  Lucy  Thomas,  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Charles  and  Barbara;  Charles  runs  an  ice  wagon;  Peter,  James,  Irene  and 
Thomas  are  at  home. 

John  Durkin,  father  of  Mrs.  O'Neill,  was  bom  in  Ireland  and  came  to 
America  after  his  marriage,  settling^  at  Pottsville,  Pa.  He  followed  mining 
after  locating  here.  He  and  his  wife  Mary  are  both  deceased.  They  had  ten 
children:    Patrick  died  in  Ireland;  Annie  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Grady,  of 


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1036  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Ashland,  Pa. ;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Casey,  of  Ashland ;  Mrs.  O'Neill  is 
next  in  the  family ;  Thomas  resides  in  Ashland ;  John  is  living  in  Philadelphia ; 
Ella  is  the  wife  of  Timothy  McCarthy,  of  Ashland ;  and  the  remaining  three 
are  dead. 

Both  the  O'Neill  and  the  Durkin  families  are  members  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic Church. 

LEWIS  A.  KLINGER,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Barry  township,  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  in  that  township  in  March,  1880,  and  is  a  son  of  George 
Klinger  and  grandson  of  David  Klinger.  The  members  of  the  Klinger  family 
are  numerous  all  over  Berks  and  Schuylkill  counties,  most  of  them  being 
descended  from  a  common  ancestor,  who  came  over  from  Germany  about  1749 
or  1750,  and  settled  in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania. 

David  Klinger,  grandfather  of  Lewis  A.  Klinger,  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Barry  township  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  son,  George 
Klinger,  father  of  Lewis  A.,  was  a  farmer  all  of  his  life,  and  resided  in  Barry 
township,  where  he  died  Dec.  2,  1908.  He  was  married  to  Emma  Morgan, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Morgan,  of  the  same  township,  an  early  settler  and  farmer. 
Mr.  Morgan  was  bom  in  1812,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  Mrs. 
Klinger  is  still  living  in  Barry  township.  She  is  the  mother  of  nine  children, 
of  whom  Charles,  Mabel,  Eva,  Sarah  and  Thomas  are  all  deceased ;  John  is  a 
resident  of  Barry  township,  on  the  hwne  place ;  Lewis  A.  is  mentioned  below. 

Lewis  A.  Klinger  attended  school  in  Barry  township,  lived  while  a  child  at 
Minersville,  and  was  employed  in  the  mines  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
fifteen  years.  He  then  went  to  work  on  a  farm,  and  has  continued  to  follow 
agricultural  pursuits  up  to  the  present  time.  In  191 1  he  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  Bariy  township,  and  has  made  of  it  a  fertile  and  valuable  tract. 
He  does  a  genersd  farming  business,  and  has  modem  ideas  which  he  applies 
to  the  work  of  cultivation  and  marketing  of  his  products. 

In  1904  Mr.  Klinger  was  married  to  Nora  Geist,  a  native  of  Barry  township, 
daughter  of  Noah  and  Sarah  (Gable)  Geist,  both  of  whom  are  living  in  Barry 
townsibip.  Mr.  Geist  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  serving  in  the  soth  Penn- 
sylvania Infantry.  Mrs.  Klinger  has  two  brothers  living:  Frank,  at  Mount 
Carmel,  Pa.,  and  Oscar,  at  Gordon,  Pa.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klinger  has  been 
bom  one  child,  LeRoy.  They  attend  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Klinger  is 
a  member  of  the  Barry  township  school  board.  He  belongs  to  the  P.  O.  S.  of 
A.  camp  at  Weishample,  Barry  township. 

HENRY  M.  SEITZINGER,  now  living  retired  at  Fountain  Springs, 
belongs  to  a  family  identified  with  that  locality  from  the  beginning  of  its  set- 
tlement. The  place  was  so'  named  by  his  first  ancestor  here,  Nicholas  Seit- 
zinger,  and  no  family  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county  is  more  deservedly 
honored. 

The  Seitzingers  are  one  of  the  families  descended  from  Hessian  soldiers 
who  remained  in  America  following  their  services  in  the  American  Revolu- 
tionary war.  Nicholas  Seitzinger  was  a  German  bv  birth.  He  came  to  this 
country  as  one  of  the  Hessian  soldiers  hired  by  England,  and  thus  took  part  in 
the  Revolution,  but  his  sympathies  were  with  the  Colonial  cause,  and  after  the 
war  he  did  not  retum  to  the  old  country.  For  a  time  he  lived  in  Bucks  county. 
Pa.,  removing  thence  to  what  is  now  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  took  up  1,600 
acres  of  land.    The  region  was  then  a  wilderness,  but  he  set  bravely  about 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1037 

the  task  of  making  a  home  for  himself  and  family,  and  it  was  he  who  estab- 
lished the  town  of  Fountain  Springs,  which  was  really  named  in  his  honor. 
He  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  there.    His  family  consisted  of  six  children. 

Peter  Seitzinger,  son  of  Nicholas,  was  born  in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  followed  farming  all  his  Hfe,  making  his  home  in  Butler  township.  He 
died  in  1874,  and  he,  too,  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Fountain  Springs.  His 
wife,  Catherine  (Shelley),  born  in  1808  at  Pottsville,  was  a  daughter  of 
Charles  Shelley,  and  member  of  a  family  which  has  been  settled  in  Butler 
township  from  the  early  days.  Mr.  Shelley  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  is 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Fountain  Springs.  Of  the  twelve  children  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Seitzinger,  Alice,  the  eldest,  is  the  widow  of  Thomas 
Connor,  of  Butler  township ;  Catherine  is  the  widow  of  Atkin  Seltzer,  of  Butler 
township;  they  and  their  brother  Henry  are  the  only  survivors  of  this  large 
family.    Among  the  deceased  are  Barbara,  Amanda  and  Alexander. 

Henry  M.  Seitzinger  was  bom  Jan.  21,  1845,  ^"^  spent  his  early  life  on 
the  farm  in  Butler  township,  acquiring  such  education  as  the  neighboring  pub- 
lic schools  afforded.  He  followed  farm  work  until  his  enlistment  m  the 
Union  army,  in  1864,  with  which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  as  a 
member  of  Company  G,  ii6th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry. 
He  was  mustered  out  in  1865.  Mr.  Seitzinger  saw  service  in  many  battles, 
and  was  wounded  three  times  at  the  Po  river.  Returning  home  he  resumed 
work  on  the  farm,  which  he  continued  to  follow  for  many  years,  his  thorough 
and  industrious  methods  and  systematic  labors  bringing  him  steady  prosperity. 
He  is  now  living  in  retirement  at  Fountain  Springs,  enjoying  the  earnings  of 
his  earlier  years.  Mr.  Seitzinger  has  interested  himself  in  the  public  welfare 
of  his  locality,  has  served  his  township  as  supervisor,  and  as  a  worthy  rep- 
resentative of  a  substantial  family  has  always  been  reckoned  among  the  best 
citizens  of  his  locality.    He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at  Ashland. 

On  Jan.  13,  1866,  Mr.  Seitzinger  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Ebert,  whose 
parents,  William  and  Ellen  (Hughes)  Ebert,  were  natives  of  Berks  and  Colum- 
bia counties,  respectively.  Mr.  Ebert  belonged  to  an  old  pioneer  family  of 
Berks  county,  and  Mrs.  Ebert  was  of  Quaker  stock  which  came  to  Schuylkill 
county  in  an  early  day  and  settled  at  Minersville.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ebert 
are  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Fountain  Springs.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  of  whom  Edward,  the  eldest,  is  deceased;  Maria  is  deceased; 
Regina,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Stephen  Reese,  of  Ashland;  Mrs.  Seitzinger, 
the  next  in  the  family,  was  bom  at  Minersville ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  James 
Seitzinger,  of  Gordon,  this  county;  William  is  a  resident  of  Ashland;  Jerry 
is  deceased ;  Caroline  is  deceased. 

Of  the  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seitzinger,  Laura  is  the  wife  of 
Peter  Bilder,  of  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.;  Caroline  is  married  to  Harry  Connor, 
who  is  a  physician  at  the  State  Hospital,  Fountain  Springs ;  Peter  is  deceased ; 
Mary  is  deceased;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  John  Williams,  of  Philadelphia; 
Harrison  and  Luther  live  at  Fountain  Springs;  Lucy  is  the  wife  of  Yoel 
Kehler,  of  Locust  Dale,  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seitzinger  are  members 
of  the  Fountain  Springs  Congregational  Oiurch. 

FERDINAND  FELTY,  a  farmer  of  Pine  Grove  township,  is  a  descendant 
of  an  old  family  of  Schuylkill  county  of  German  origin.  The  name  was 
formerly  written  "Fallentine." 

Martin  Felty,  grandfather  of  Ferdinand  Felty,  was  bom  in  Pine  Grove 


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1038  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

township,  and  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  there,  dying  in  1845,  ^^ 
seventy-eight  years.  He  owned  a  large  amount  of  land,  which  has  since  been 
divided  up  into  a  number  of  small  farms  and  is  still  for  the  most  part  in  the 
possession  of  the  Felty  family.  By  occupation  Martin  Felty  was  a  farmer.  He 
was  the  father  of  seven  children,  three  sons,  John,  Levi  and  another,  and  four 
daughters ;  Levi  married  Lavinia  Barshore.  Politically  Mr.  Felty  was  a  Whig, 
in  religion  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

John  Felty,  son  of  Martin,  was  born  in  Pine  Grove  township,  and  like  his 
father  engaged  in  farming.  He  remained  in  his  native  township  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1847.  He  married  Elizabeth  Hossler,  who  was  bom 
in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  her  father  coming  to  this  county  at  an  early  time  and 
dying  here ;  he  is  buried  in  Pine  Grove.  Mrs.  Felty  died  in  1890.  Six  children 
were  born  to  this  marriage,  viz. :  Leo,  who  is  deceased ;  Elizabeth,  deceased ; 
Mary,  deceased;  John  H.,  living  retired  in  Pine  Grove  township;  Levi,  de- 
ceased; and  Ferdinand. 

Ferdinand  Felty,  son  of  John,  was  bom  May  21,  1846,  in  Pine  Grove  town- 
ship, was  brought  up  near  his  present  home,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  township.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  joining 
Company  K,  48th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  took  part  in  many  battles, 
and  lost  his  hearing  while  in  the  service.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Harrisburg. 
Upon  his  return  home  Mr.  Felty  engaged  in  farming  in  Pine  Grove  township, 
and  he  has  met  with  more  than  average  success.  The  house  he  now  occupies 
is  the  old  homestead  place  of  Henry  Felty,  his  wife's  grandfather. 

On  April  14,  1866,  Mr.  Felty  married  Angehne  Felty,  a  native  of 
Pine  Grove  township,  daughter  of  Seaward  and  Elizabeth  Etta  Felty,  farming 
people,  the  former  bora  on  the  place  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferdinand  Felty  now 
live.  He  continued  to  reside  there  until  his  death,  in  1885.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Felty  was  bom  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  her  family  was  settled  from  pioneer 
times.  She  died  in  1872,  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  but  three 
now  survive:  Angeline,  Mrs.  Ferdinand  Felty;  Emeline,  widow  of  William 
Reiger,  of  Lebanon,  Pa. ;  and  Catherine,  Mrs.  Behler,  of  Pine  Grove. 

Seven  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Felty:  Tressie,  the  eldest, 
is  the  wife  of  George  Moose,  of  Pine  Grove;  Charles,  who  now  gives  Jiis  time 
to  the  operation  of  tfie  home  farm,  married  Lillie  Klinger,.of  Pine  Grove  town- 
ship; Virgie  is  the  wife  of  John  Reinbold,  of  Pine  Grove  township;  Gertie,  twin 
of  Virgie,  is  the  wife  of  Wilson  Minnich,  of  Schuylkill  Haven ;  the  others  are 
deceased. 

Mr.  Felty  holds  membership  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  keeps  in  touch 
with  his  Civil  war  comrades  as  a  member  of  Wolf  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Pine 
Grove,  and  also  belongs  to  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp  at  Suedberg.  His  sterling 
personal  qualities,  and  the  industrious,  useful  life  he  has  led,  account  sufficiently 
for  the  unqualified  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  all  his  associates. 

EZRA  J.  BOUGHTER  has  been  a  resident  at  Suedberg  for  over  f or^ 
years,  and  is  now  living  retired  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  competence  won  in  his 
active  days.  He  is  a  native  of  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  and  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  early  families  of  that  section,  where  his  grandfather,  Joseph 
Boughter,  was  a  pioneer.  The  latter  was  of  Scotch  descent.  Of  his  children, 
Amos  (now  deceased)  was  a  lawyer  of  Lebanon,  Pa.;  Sarah  was  the  only 
daughter. 

Levi  Boughter,  son  of  Joseph,  was  bom  in  Lebanon  county,  and  like 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  ,      1039 

his  father  became  an  iron  worker.  Moving  into  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  he 
was  engaged  in  the  management  of  iron  furnaces,  and  remained  there  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  at  Marietta.  He  married  Elizabeth  Strohman, 
who  was  a  native  of  York  county,  Pa.,  where  her  father,  Joseph  Strohman, 
was  also  bom.  The  Strohmans  moved  to  Lebanon  county  and  settled  in 
Union  township.  Mrs.  Levi  Boughter  died  in  Lebanon  county  in  1865.  She 
and  her  husband  had  two  children. 

Ezra  J.  Boughter,  son  of  Levi,  was  bom  Dec.  25,  1839,  ^^  Swatara  town- 
ship, Lebanon  county,  and  was  reared  in  that  county.  He  attended  the  public 
schools.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  was  living  in  Lebanon  county, 
and  there  he  enlisted,  Oct.  4,  1861,  in  Company  B,  93d  Pennsylvania  Regi- 
ment. He  served  all  through  the  rest  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  with  the  rank  of  sergeant.  In  1864  he  was  made  cor- 
poral, and  later  promoted  to  sergeant.  He  took  part  in  several  of  the  battles 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Returning  to  Lebanon  at  the  conclusion  of  his  army  service  Mr.  Boughter 
clerked  in  a  store  for  a  time  and  later  worked  in  the  rolling  mills.  Then  he 
moved  to  Suedberg,  Schuylkill  coimty,  and  is  now  leading  the  leisurely  life 
to  which  his  industrious  career  entitles  him.  While  in  Lebanon  county  Mr. 
Boughter  held  the  office  of  assessor,  but  he  has  not  taken  any  direct  part 
in  public  affairs  since  settling  in  Schuylkill  coimty.  By  reason  of  his  Civil 
war  service  he  holds  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  belong- 
ing to  Wolf  Post,  of  Pine  Grove,  of  which  he  is  senior  vice  commander. 
He  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  .the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and  was  the  first  com- 
mander of  the  camp  at  Suedberg.  In  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

In  1864  Mr.  Boughter  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Lewis,  of  Lebanon,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Keziah  (Boyce)  Lewis,  of  York  county;  Mr.  Lewis  was  a 
fumace  worker.  Mrs.  Boughter  died  Aug.  6,  1910,  the  mother  of  nine  chil- 
dren, namely:  John,  the  eldest,  is  a  resident  of  Pine  Grove  township;  Laura 
is  the  wife  of  Frank  Ditzler,  of  Pine  Grove  township;  Lillie  is  the  wife  of 
William  A.  Reed,  of  Suedl^erg;  Robert  lives  at  Suedberg;  Mary  is  married 
to  Harry  Schneck,  of  Pine  Grove  township;  the  others  are  deceased. 

JOHN  E.  HUNTSINGER  has  been  a  prosperous  young  business  man  of 
Valley  View,  meeting  with  notable  success  in  the  same  line  his  father  follows 
at  Hegins,  where  he  became  established  over  thirty  years  ago.  As  furniture 
dealers  and  undertakers  of  unquestioned  reliability  they  command  the  greater 
share  of  the  business  in  their  field  in  this  portion  of  Schuylkill  county. 

The  Himtsinger  family  here  under  consideration  has  been  in  Pennsylvania 
since  the  Provincial  period.  It  is  of  German  origin,  and  the  emigrant  ances- 
tor, John  George  Huntsinger,  arrived  in  this  country  Oct.  2,  1743,  on  the  ship 
"Jacob,"  Capt.  Adolph  de  Grove,  from  Rotterdam,  via  Shields,  England. 
There  were  290  more  of  his  countrymen  among  the  passengers.  He  had  the 
following  children:  Susanna,  George,  Daniel,  Viola,  Michael,  Henry,  John, 
Jacob,  and  another  daughter. 

Jacob  Huntsinger,  youngest  son  of  John  George,  grew  to  manhood  in 
Pennsylvania  and  here  passed  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  survived  by  a 
family  of  ten  children:  George,  Samuel,  Phoebe,  William,  Jacob,  Edward, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Charles  and  Frank  B. 

George  Huntsinger,  son  of  Jacob,  and  next  in  the  line  of  descent  we  are 


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1040  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

tracing,  was  the  father  of  eleven  children :  Elizabeth,  Mary,  George,  William, 
Joseph,  Emantiel,  Hannah,  David,  Reuben,  Marcus  and  Harriet. 

Reuben  Huntsinger,  son  of  George,  was  in  his  day  one  of  the  leading 
fanners  in  the  vicinity  of  Valley  View,  Schuylkill  county,  owning  the  tract 
near  that  town  which  is  the  property  now  of  P.  H.  Updegrove.  There  he 
made  his  home  until  his  death.  He  married  Angeline  Artz,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  eight  children:  Samuel  A.,  Josiah  H.,  Catherine,  Lucy,  Eman- 
uel M.,  Caroline,  Reuben  R.  and  Abby. 

Samuel  A.  Huntsinger,  son  of  Reuben,  was  bom  in  1847  ^  Valley  View, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  there  grew  to  maturity.  He  had  excellent  educational 
advantages  for  the  period,  attending  the  local  public  schools  until  seventeen 
years  old,  and  meantime  assisted  with  the  farm  work  at  home.  He  turned 
from  agriculture  to  take  up  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  served  a  fuU 
apprenticeship,  afterwards  working  as  a  joume)rman  for  twenty  years.  Dur- 
ing that  period  he  had  been  advancing  steadily,  preparing  himself  for  all 
branches  of  his  chosen  calling,  and  when  he  started  business  at  Hegins  on 
his  own  accoimt,  in  1884,  he  was  well  equipped  for  a  successful  career.  In 
the  year  mentioned  he  commenced  to  manufacture  cabinets,  furniture,  porch 
work,  handrails  and  window  frames.  He  also  secured  a  certificate  as  under- 
taker, being  called  upon  for  all  the  work  of  that  kind  needed  in  the  town 
and  much  of  th^  adjoining  territory.  His  trade  in  all  Hues  has  shown  a 
constant  increase,  a  substantial  evidence  of  the  appreciation  of  the  com- 
munity for  his  thorough  work  and  intelligent  attention  to  all  patrons. 

Mr.  Huntsinger  married  Louisa  Schwartz,  who  was  bom  in  Hegins  town- 
ship, daughter  of  Abraham  Schwartz,  a  farmer  of  that  township,  and  they 
have  had  eleven  children,  namely:  Cora  is  the  wife  of  William  Minnick,  of 
Hegins  township,  and  has  a  large  family,  Alma,  Stanton,  Charlfes,  Bulu,  Ira, 
Albert,  Laura,  William  and  Myrtle;  Catherine  A.  is  married  to  William 
Dierff,  of  Minersville;  Tamie  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Herb,  of  Hegins;  Ellen 
G.  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Coleman,  of  Hegins;  Francis  E.  is  a  resident  of 
Hegins;  Mary  J.  lives  at  home;  John  E.  is  next;  Sadie  A.  is  the  wife  of  Ehner 
Miller,  of  Hegins;  James  V.,  Emma  E.  and  another  are  deceased. 

John  E.  Huntsinger  was  bom  at  Hegins,  this  county,  in  1883,  and  was 
reared  there.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  began 
his  business  career  as  his  father's  assistant,  in  that  capacity  receiving  a  thor- 
ough training  in  carpenter  work,  to  which  he  gave  the  principal  share  of  his 
attention  for  five  years.  He  also  acquired  a  comprehensive  knowledge  of 
undertaking,  by  practical  experience  and  regular  training,  taking  a  course 
in  the  Eckels  School  of  Embalming  at  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  April  24,  1905.  He  continued  to  be  associated  in  business  with 
his  father  until  he  opened  his  own  establishment,  at  Valley  View,  where  good 
judgment  and  up-to-date  service  have  had  their  reward  in  liberal  patronage. 
Personally  he  has  a  character  which  wins  him  friends  among  the  most  re- 
spected residents  of  the  town. 

On  Jan.  16,  1904,  Mr.  Huntsinger  married  Frannie  E.  Coleman,  of  Hegins, 
daughter  of  John  and  Maria  (Maurer)  Coleman,  who  now  live  near  Hegins, 
Mr.  Coleman  having  retired  after  a  considerable  experience  as  a  farmer.  He 
and  his  wife  are  both  from  Mahantongo.  Three  children  have  been  bom 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huntsinger:  Elvin,  Ruth  and  Reuben.  Mr.  Huntsinger  and 
his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1041 

ALBERT  STEPHENS,  of  Tower  City,  is  proprietor  of  the  "Hotel 
Stephen^,"  operating  the  establishment  formerly  owned  and  conducted  by 
his  father,  and  which  has  been  a  popular  place  of  entertainment  in  the  borough 
for  many  years.  He  has  proved  an  excellent  business  man  in  that  connection 
and  has  also  acquired  a  valuable  farm  property  in  Porter  township,  having  a 
substantial  start  on  the  road  to  prosperity. 

Mr.  Stephens  was  bom  at  Tower  City  March  2,  1881,  son  of  James  S. 
Stephens.  His  grandfather,  James  Stephens,  a  native  of  England,  left  his 
family  in  that  country  atid  started  for  America  alone,  and  it  is  supposed  he 
was  drowned  at  sea,  as  the  ship  sank  and  he  was  never  afterwards  heard 
from.     His  children  were:  James  S.  Frederick,  Samuel  and  Elizabeth. 

James  S.  Stephens  was  bom  in  England  and  spent  his  early  life  in  that 
country,  coming  to  America  when  eighteen  years  old.  He  settled  in  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Pa.,  where  he  worked  as  a  rockman  in  the  mines,  being  also 
employed  in  that  capacity  at  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county,  this  State.  For 
some  time  he  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  Tower  City,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years  ^  he  is  buried  in  the  Greenwood  cemetery  near 
the  borough,  in  "Porter  township.  His  wife,  Mary  Ann  (Williams),  of  Mon- 
tour county.  Pa.,  also  lived  to  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  They  had  the 
following  children:  Three  who  died  young;  Bessie,  unmarried,  a  trained 
nurse,  now  located  at  Pasadena,  Cal.,  where  she  is  superintendent  of  the 
Pasadena  hospital ;  Frank,  a  miner,  of  Tower  City ;  Albert ;  and  Herbert,  who 
lives  in  Philadelphia. 

Albert  Stephens  had  the  best  advantages  afforded  by  the  local  public 
schools,  attending  the  preparatory  and  hi^h  schools  at  Tower  City,  and  passed 
his  early  years  as  most  boys  in  the  vicinity  have  done,  at  work  in  the  mines. 
He  also  assisted  his  father  in  the  operation  of  the  hotel  at  Tower  City,  and 
in  1904  bought  the  business  for  himself,  which  he  has  found  to  be  a  wise 
investment.  The.  hotel  is  at  the  comer  of  Seventh  street  and  Grand  avenue, 
and  is  a  well  known  stopping  place  for  the  townspeople  as  well  as  strangers. 
Under  Mr.  Stephens'  careful  management  it  hjas  been  improved  in  many 
respects,  and  he  has  been  well  repaid  in  the  increased  patronage  attracted 
to  the  house.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  of  seventy  acres  in  Porter  township, 
located  at  Reinerton,  upon  which  he  has  a  tenant.  Mr.  Stephens  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Tower  City  and  of  the  Loyal  Order  of 
Moose  at  Lykens,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Stephens  married  Emily  Reiner,  daughter  of  John  Reiner,  of  Reiner 
City,  Porter  township.     They  have  no  children. 

The  Reiner  family  is  oiie  of  long  standing  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.  John  Reiner,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Stephens,  lived 
in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  where  he  followed  farming.  Later  in  life  he  re- 
moved to  Clearfield  county,  Pa.,  and  he  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter 
Esther.     His  children  were:  George  and  Jacob  (twins),  John  and  Esther. 

George  Reiner,  son  of  John,  above,  was  bom  in  the  Mahantongo  valley, 
lived  for  a  time  in  Hegins  township,  this  county,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing, and  in  1854  settled  in  Porter  township,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of  150 
acres  at  what  is  now  known  as  Reiner  City.  The  town  was  built  on  his  land 
and  named  after  him.  The  post  office  is  known  as  Muir.  He  became  a 
prominent  citizen  of  the  township  and  was  called  upon  to  fill  many  offices  of 
tmst,  serving  as  tax  collector,  supervisor  and  treasurer,  and  his  cooperation 
could  always  be  relied  upon  for  any  good  cause,  his  honorable  intentions  mak- 
Vol.  11—28 


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1042  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ing  his  participation  particularly  desirable.  He  died  upon  his  farm  when 
sixty-three  years  old  and  is  buried  at  Reiner  City;  his  wife,  Eliza  (Snyder), 
lived  to  be  over  seventy.  They  had  the  following  children :  John ;  Christiana, 
widow  of  John  Schneider;  Lydia,  wife  of  Henry  Unger;  Henry  and  George, 
who  live  at  Reiner  City;  and  Elizabeth,  widow  of  George  Evans. 

John  Reiner,  son  of  George,  generally  known  as  "Johnnie"  Reiner,  was 
bom  April  28,  1854,  was  bom  at  the  Reiner  homestead  in  Porter  town- 
ship, where  he  now  lives,  was  reared  upon  the  farm,  and  obtained  his  school- 
ing in  the  immediate  locality.  In  1897  he  purchased  the  home  place.  It  is 
favorably  located,  and  he  has  sold  part  of  it  for  building  lots,  following  gen- 
eral farming  on  the  portion  he  retains.  He  has  continued  to  improve  it  sys- 
tematically, and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  agricultural  operations.  Like 
his  father  he  takes  a  keen  interest  in  securing  good  govemment  for  the 
township,  and  has  himself  served  as  supervisor.  He  married  Hannah  Stutz- 
man,  daughter  of  Israel  Stutzman,  of  near  Fountain,  Hegins  township,  and 
they  have  had  the  following  children:  Elizabeth,  who  died  when  twenty- 
seven  years  old;  John,  who  lives  at  home;  Emily,  wife  of  Albert  Stephens, 
of  Tower  City ;  Lottie,  who  graduated  from  the  Porter  township  high  school, 
and  has  been  a  public  school  teacher  in  the  township  since  1912;  and  Leroy, 
at  home.    The  family  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

FELIX  H.  LESHER  has  become  an  influential  resident  of  his  section' 
of  Schuylkill  county  by  repeated  demonstrations  of  his  fitness  for  leader- 
ship.    His  proved  efficiency  and  tmstworthiness  in  a  number  of  local  posi- 
tions of  trust  have  kept  him  in  public  affairs,  and  he  is  a  substantial  business 
man  as  well,  a  progressive  agriculturist  and  successful  cattle  raiser. 

Henry  Lesher,  his  grandfather,  came  to  this  region  from  the  Stone  valley, 
in  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  settled  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  and  farmed 
here  until  his  death.  His  son,  Henry  Lesher,  father  of  Felix  H.  Lesher,  was 
born  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  and  engaged  in  farming  throughout  his  active 
years.  He  is  now  living  retired.  His  wife,  who  died  in  October,  1897,  was 
Mary  Hepler,  a  native  of  Eldred  township,  this  county,  daughter  of  George 
Hepler,  a  farmer,  who  lived  in  Eldred  township  until  his  dea3i.  Eleven  chil- 
dren were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lesher:  George,  the  eldest,  is  now  living  in 
Indiana ;  Agnes,  Charles  and  Cora  are  deceased ;  Felix  H.  is  next  in  the  fam- 
ily; Calvin  is  a  resident  of  Lansford,  Pa.;  Bertha  is  married  to  Harvey 
Wetzel,  of  Michigan;  Laura  is  the  wife  of  Huber  Strause,  of  Lansford; 
Maizie  is  married  to  Hector  Stoner,  of  Michigan;  Henry  is  on  the  Mahantongo 
valley  farm  with  his  father;  Minnie  is  also  at  home. 

Felix  H.  Lesher  was  born  in  1876  in  the  Mahantongo  valley  in  Eldred 
township,  and  there  received  such  education  as  the  local  public  schools  af- 
forded. His  experience  in  farming  has  covered  all  his  lifetime,  for  he  con- 
tinued agricultural  work  when  he  began  life  on  his  own  account,  and  thir- 
teen years  ago  he  bought  his  present  property,  a  fertile  tract  of  eighty-six 
acres  in  Barry  township.  Here  he  has  since  raised  general  crops,  and  he  has 
made  a  specialty  of  cattle  raising,  having  developed  this  branch  of  his  work, 
in  which  he  has  been  notably  successful,  to  profitable  proportions.  His  enter- 
prise has  been  the  means  of  introducing  better  grades  of  stock  throughout 
the  vicinity,  many  having  followed  his  lead  after  he  proved  the  wisdom  of  his 
course.  Local  farmers  who  hesitated  to  make  the  comparatively  heavy  invest- 
ment necessary  to  establish  a  valuable  herd  have  come  to  see  the  excellent 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1045 

policy  he  has  advocated,  and  its  results  have  fully  justified  the  change.  Mr. 
Lesher  has  been  chosen  to  a  number  of  township  offices  and  has  made  good 
in  all  the  positions  for  which  his  neighbors  and  other  friends  have  supported 
him  so  loyally. 

On  Dec.  12,  1894,  Mr.  Lesher  martied  Augusta  Wedde,  who  was  bom  in 
Barry  township,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  eleven  children :  Clar- 
ence, Thomas,  Violet,  Norman,  Rosie,  Carrie,  Raymond,  Gertrude,  Ada,. 
Lottie  and  Roy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lesher  unite  with  the  German  Lutheran 
Church. 

FRANK  A.  SCHMELTZER,  of  Pottsville,  has  been  engaged  in  the 
bottling  business  at  that  borough  for  over  thirty  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  third  generation  of  his  family  in  that  place,  his  grandfather,  Jacob 
Schmeltzer,  having  settled  here  in  1835. 

Jacob  Schmeltzer,  the  grandfather,  was  bom  in  St.  Engbert,  Rheinpfalz,. 
Bavaria,  Germany,  in  1797,  and  there  passed  his  early  life.  Bringing  his 
family  to  America  in  1835  they  landed  at  Philadelphia,  and  came  thence  to 
Pottsville  by  canal,  arriving  here  Sept.  13th.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,, 
but  during  his  residence  in  Schuylkill  county  was  employed  at  the  mines.  He 
died  at  St.  Clair  in  1855.  Mr.  Schmeltzer  married  Mary  M.  Ochs,  a  native 
also  of  St.  Engbert,  born  in  1799,  and  they  had  a  family  of  six  children,  four 
sons  and  two  daughters,  when  they  came  to  the  United  States.  Four  more 
children  were  bom  to  them  after  they  settled  in  America,  and  we  have 
the  following  record  of  this  family:  George  settled  in  Bremer  county,  Iowa; 
Peter,  at  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.;  John,  at  Tacoma,  Wash.;  Hannah, 
Mrs.  Wallner,  became  a  resident  of  Dakota ;  Mary  M.  is  deceased ;  Francis 
made  his  home  at  Pottsville;  Nicholas,  a  carpenter,  lived  at  St.  Clair;  Anthony, 
a  blacksmith,  also  settled  at  St.  Clair;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Cams,  lived  in  Bremer 
county,  Iowa;  Gertmde  is  deceased.  The  family  were  all  members  of  the 
German  Catholic  Church.     The  mother  died  in  1857. 

Francis  Schmeltzer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bom  Oct.  12,  1824,  at  St.  Engbert, 
Bavaria,  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  boyhood,  and  a  few  years  later 
commenced  work  at  the  mines.  He  was  thus  employed  at  Mount  Laffee, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  for  a  number  of  years  did  different  kinds  of  work, 
picking  slate,  driving  mules,  etc.  By  application  to  his  duties  he  won 
the  confidence  of  his  employers,  and  when  thirty-six  years  old  he  was  made 
foreman  at  Locustdale,  being  so  engaged  for  the  next  fifteen  years.  In  com- 
pany with  Charles  Frantz  Mr.  Schmeltzer  began  the  operation  of  a  colliery 
at  St.  Qair,  and  continued  thus  for  many  years.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
mine  inspectors  appointed  by  the  government,  serving  a  term  of  five  years 
during  the  seventies,  and  when  he  gave  up  that  work  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  for  whom  he  acted  as  dis- 
trict superintendent.  He  held  this  position  for  about  fifteen  years,  until 
his  retirement,  in  May,  1892,  because  of  ill  health,  and  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days  in  enjoyable  leisure.  He  died  July  28,  1904.  Mr.  Schmeltzer  was 
an  intelligent  and  trustworthy  man,  and  bore  a  high  reputation  for  ability  and 
sterling  personal  qualities,  which  gave  him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  His  home  was  at  No.  1301  West  Minersville 
street. 

Mr.  Schmeltzer  was  married  Feb.  10,  1855,  to  Margaret  Thum,  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  was  bom  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  daughter  of  Jacob  Thum,  a 


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1044  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

native  of  the  Rheinpfalz,  where  he  died.  Mrs.  Schmeltzer  came  to  America 
when  she  was  a  girl,  and  died  two  years  after  her  husband.  They  had  the 
following  children:  Elizabeth  married  Henry  J.  Ney,  and  they  reside  at 
Potts ville;  Peter  J.  is  a  resident  of  Pottsville;  Frank  A.  is  next  in  the  family; 
Mary  died  unmarried ;  Margaret  died  when  fourteen  years  old ;  Lena  is  de- 
ceased; Joseph  J.,  of  Pottsville,  married  Louisa  Sterner,  of  Pottsville;  John 
F.  is  in  business  with  his  brother  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Schmeltzer 
Brothers;  George  E.  is  deceased. 

Frank  A.  Schmeltzer  was  bom  Feb.  14,  1863;  at  Locustdale,  Pa.  He 
received  a  public  school  education  and  in  his  boyhood  commenced  working 
at  the  collieries,  where  he  was  engaged  for  two  years.  He  then  found  employ- 
ment in  the  spike  and  bolt  works  at  Pottsville,  where  he  remained  for  about 
eight  years,  in  1883  becoming  associated  with  three  of  his  brothers,  Peter, 
John  and  Joseph,  in  the  bottling  business  at  Pottsville.  The  business  has 
been  successful  from  the  beginning,  but  two  of  the  brothers  have  withdrawn, 
and  the  works  are  now  owned  and  operated  by  Frank  A.  and  John  F.  Schmelt- 
zer, who  do  business  under  the  name  of  Schmeltzer  Brothers.  Their  place  of 
business  is  at  No.  9  North  Thirteenth  street,  at  Market  street.  They  are 
engaged  in  the  production  of  high-grade  carbonated  beverages,  also  bottling 
porter,  ale  and  beer.  They  make  a  specialty  of  their  Gold  Seal  and  Red  Label 
Ginger  Ale,  for  which  there  is  a  large  demand,  not  only  in  Pottsville,  but  all 
over  Schuylkill  county.  They  keep  two  teams  constantly  busy.  The  Schmelt- 
zer Brothers  are  regarded  as  trustworthy,  honorable  business  men,  and  have 
maintained  the  high  standard  set  by  their  honored  father. 

Frank  A.  Schmeltzer  married  Mary  T.  Shank,  daughter  of  Frederick  W. 
Shank,  and  they  have  five  children,  namely :  Florence,  Geoi^e,  Edwin,  Agnes 
and  Margaret,  the  last  named  deceased.  They  reside  at  No.  1301  West  Nor- 
wegian street.  Mr.  Schmeltzer  belongs  to  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
and  to  the  Holy  Name  Society. 

WALDYSLUW  RAYKOWSKI,  of  Shenandoah,  where  he  is  best  known 
as  J.  W.  Raykowski,  is  carrying  on  a  thriving  business  in  that  borough  as  a 
shoe  dealer,  and  by  honorable  treatment  of  all  his  patrons  has  become  one  of 
the  popular  merchants  there.  He  is  a  native  of  Russian  Poland,  bom  June 
27,  1872,  at  Gonsewe,  son  of  Stanislaw  Raykowski,  who  was  bom  at  the  same 
place  and  died  when  his  son  Waldysluw  was  six  years  old.  The  father  fol- 
lowed farming  in  his  native  land  all  his  life,  and  he  and  the  mother  Leonora 
(Bartut)  are  buried  at  Szelun,  near  the  village  of  Gonsewe.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Polish  Roman  Catholic  Church.  They  had  eight  children:  An- 
thony*  who  was  drowned  when  twenty-two  years  old;  Frank;  Alexander,  a 
farmer,  who  served  nine  years  in  the  Russian  army ;  Rosalya ;  John,  a  clerk  in 
the  post  office  at  Pultsk,  Poland;  Waldysluw  (in  English  Walter);  Enoch, 
and  Ignace.    Frank,  the  elder  brother,  reared  all  his  brothers. 

Waldysluw  Raykowski  received  his  education  in  the  govemment  schools 
in  his  native  country,  whose  teachers  are  appointed  by  the  authorities,  and 
was  reared  in  agricultural  surroundings,  helping  with  the  farm'  work  until 
twelve  years  old.  He  was  then  apprenticed  for  three  years  to  Stanislaw 
Konopsinski,  to  learn  shoemaking,  and  at  the  end  of  that  period  received  his 
traveling  card,  showing  him  to  be  a  qualified  joumeyman  shoemaker.  He 
visited  diflFerent  places,  following  his  trade,  and  the  last  place  at  which  he 
did  shoemaking  in  his  own  land  was  Makuf,  near  his  old  home.     By  this 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1045 

time  he  had  begun  to  feel  that  he  would  like  to  see  (or  himself  what  advantages 
the  New  World  had  to  offer,  and  he  was  ambitious  to  become  a  merchant.  So 
he  left  the  country  of  his  birth,  traveled  through  Germany  to  Hamburg,  and 
there  took  passage  ^or  Glasgow,  whence  he  sailed  for  America,  landing  at 
New  York  City.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  friend  who  had  been  to  this  coun- 
try before,  and  they  continued  their  journey  to  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  where  Mr.  Raykowski  worked  at  the  breaker  for  two  months.  Then  he 
found  employment  at  his  trade,  working  one  year  with  Roman  Smoczynsld, 
shoe  dealer;  five  months  with  John  Slattery;  three  months  with  Alfred 
Morgan,  shoe  dealer;  after  which  he  left  Shenandoah  for  Reynoldsville,  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  engaged  for  two  years  in  the  soft  coal  mines. 
Returning  to  Schuylkill  county  he  took  a  position  with  Frank  Bakula,  in 
Mahanoy  City,  in  whose  employ  he  remained  over  a  year,  and  he  has  since  been 
located  in  Shenandoah.  Here  for  eleven  years  he  was  with  William  Nawitzki, 
shoe  dealer,  until  he  ventured  into  the  business  on  his  own  account,  in  May, 
1906 ;  he  has  an  up-to-date  store  on  Centre  street,  carries  a  fine  line  of  goods, 
and  also  conducts  a  first-class  repair  shop  in  connection  which  is  as  well 
patronized  as  the  store.  Mr.  Raykowski  learned  his  business  thoroughly  in 
youth,  and  has  found  his  training  invaluable  in  both  branches,  being  an  excel- 
lent judge  of  manufactured  goods  and  a  skilled  workman,  perfectly  able  to 
turn  his  hand  to  any  detail  of  shoemaking.  He  is  well  known  and  favorably 
thought  of  among  his  own  countrymen  at  Shenandoah,  being  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  two  Polish  societies,  the  Narodny  Slovensky  Spolok  and  Zwwnzek 
Narodny  Polski,  and  treasurer  of  the  former.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Order 
of  Owls,  and  is  a  governor  in  that  body.  In  religion  he  is  a  Catholic,  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  Kasimir's  Polish  Church.  In  politics  he  supports  the  Republican 
party. 

Mr.  Raykowski  married  Jadwija  Klosowski,  who  was  bom  Jan.  21,  1883, 
in  Warsaw,  Poland,  where  she  received  her  education,  comine  to  America 
with  her  mother  when  twelve  years  old.  They  have  had  two  children :  Hubert 
Stanislaw,  bom  Nov.  13,  1900,  died  when  eleven  months  old;  one  child  died 
unnamed. 

Mrs.  Raykowski's  father,  Tomos  Klosowski,  was  bom  in  the  county  of 
Warsaw,  Poland,  and  was  an  innkeeper  in  his  native  country,  serving  meals  to 
farmers,  travelers,  etc.  When  he  gave  up  that  business  he  removed  to  the  city 
of  Warsaw,  where  he  remained  awhile,  and*  left  his  family  there  while  he  set 
out  to  find  a  new  home  for  them.  For  a  time  he  was  in  Liverpool,  England, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  peddling,  and  then  he  came  to  America  and  settled 
at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  his  family  joined  him,  and  where 
he  did  outside  work  at  the  mines.  Mr.  Klosowski  married  Ustina  Szauer, 
whose  parents  were  lost  in  the  Revolution  of  1870,  for  which  reason  she  was 
brought  up  by  her  grandmother.  The  latter's  children  were  engaged  in  differ- 
ent trades.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klosowski  were  bom  two  children :  Mrs.  Ray-  . 
kowski,  with  whom  the  mother  now  makes  her  home;  and  Bertha,  married 
to  Martin  McClelland  and  living  at  Malvern,  Pa.  The  family  are  members  of 
St.  Kasimir's  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Shenandoah. 

JOHN  LEHR,  now  living  retired,  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Pine 
Grove  township  and  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  was  bom  in  that  township 
June  30,  1843.    His  grandfather  was  a  pioneer  farmer  of  this  section. 

Henry  Lehr,  father  of  John  Lehr,  was  born  in  Pine  Grove  township  in 


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1046  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

1812,  and  died  in  1895.  He  married  Mary  Minnick,  also  a  native  of  the  town- 
ship, where  her  father,  Adam  Minnick,  was  an  early  settler  and  followed 
farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lehr  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  only 
two  survive  at  this  writing,  John  and  Susan,  the  latter  the  wife  of  John  Derr, 
of  Tremont. 

John  Lehr  was  reared  in  Pine  Grove  township  and  attended  school  in  the 
neighborhood.  Though  only  a  youth  when  the  war  broke  out  he  soon  enlisted, 
from  Pine  Grove,  on  Feb.  8,  1862,  joining  Company  G,  107th  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  years.  On  Feb.  28,  1864,  he  was  discharged,  the 
same  day  reenlisted  in  the  same  company  and  regiment,  and  served  to  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  discharged  July  13,  1865,  as  corporal.  The  many  bat- 
tles in  which  he  took  part  include  Cedar  Mountain,  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain, 
Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors ville  and  Gettysburg  (where  he  was 
wounded).  Returning  to  Pine  Grove  township  at  the  close  of  the  war  he 
turned  his  energies  to  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  subsequently  entered  the 
mines  near  Cherryville,  being  so  engaged  until  he  retired  from  active  work. 
He  has  been  chosen  by  his  fellow  citizens  for  various  public  duties,  having 
served  efficiently  as  clerk  and  assessor  of  Tremont  township.  In  religion  he 
united  with  the  Republican  denomination,  belonging  to  St.  Paul's  Church  and 
taking  a  leading  part  in  the  conduct  of  the  Sunday  school,  of  which  he  is 
treasurer.  He  is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp,  No.  49,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and 
of  Wolf  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Pine  Grove.  Of  upright  character  and  useful 
life,  he  is  thoroughly  respected  wherever  his  work  calls  him.  His  home  is  at 
Chenyville. 

In  1867  Mr.  Lehr  married  Emma  Russell,  of  Pine  Grove  township,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Susan  Russell,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  William,  who  is  deceased;  John  L.,  living  in  Philadelphia;  Mary 
Ann,  wife  of  Robert  Weinrich,  of  Cherryville;  Lillie  Mae,  deceased;  Charles 
O.,  deceased ;  James  E.,  of  Pine  Grove  township ;  Elizabeth,  deceased ;  Sadie 
S.,  wife  of  William  Marshall,  of  Cherryville;  and  Cora  E.,  wife  of  Harry  E. 
1-engle,  of  Hershey,  Pennsylvania. 

CHARLES  OSCAR  REED  has  a  thriving  blacksmith  and  wheelwright 
business  at  McKeansburg,  where  he  has  made  a  good  reputation  as  a  mechanic 
and  justly  earned  a  name  for  sound  character.  His  family  is  of  old  Berks 
county  stock,  his  grandfather,  Daniel  Reed,  having  been  a  native  of  Maxa- 
tawny  township,  that  county.  He  was  a  farmer,  owning  a  large  tract  of  land, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  Berks  county.  Only  two  of  their  children 
surv^ive:  William,  a  blacksmith  of  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
who  married  Elizabeth  Miller;  and  Daniel,  who  is  unmarried.  The  family 
adhered  to  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 

Henry  A.  Reed,  father  of  Charles  O.  Reed,  was  educated  in  Albany  town- 
ship, Berks  county.  He  became  a  blacksmith,  and  followed  that  trade  all  his 
life  in  Albany  township,  where  he  died  aged  fifty-seven  years.  By  his  mar- 
riage to  Kate  Feinour,  daughter  of  Joseph  Feinour,  he  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: Horace,  William,  David,  James,  Charles  O.,  Oliver  and  Kate  (Mrs. 
Berger).  The  father  and  mother  are  buried  at  New  Bethel  Church,  in  Albany 
township,  Berks  county. 

Charles  Oscar  Reed  was  bom  Jan.  7,  1882,  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Albany  township,  and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  with  his  father. 
After  serving  his  apprenticeship  he  went  to  Shoemakersville  and  entered  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1047 

employ  of  George  Althouse,  with  whom  he  remained  over  a  year,  thence  mov- 
ing to  Tamaqua,  where  he  worked  for  George  Bond  over  a  year.  Leaving  there 
he  went  back  to  Albany  township,  and  began  business  for  himself,  after  three 
years  of  experience  in  that  location  coming  to  McKeansburg,  where  he  bought 
the  place  he  is  now  occupying.  He  does  general  shop  work,  painting,  black- 
smithing,  horseshoeing  and  wheelwrighting.  He  has  now  been  doing  business 
at  McKeansburg  for  about  eijght  years,  during  which  time  he  has  been  gaining 
steadily  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  His  energies  have  not  been 
given  entirely  to  business,  however,  for  he  has  found  much  to  interest  him  in 
the  town  where  he  has  established  his  home.  He  is  a  past  coimcilcw*  of  Protec- 
tion Council,  No.  935,  Order  of  Independent  Americans,  at  McKeansburg,  and 
district  treasurer  for  the  Pension  Life  Society  of  Pittsburgh.  As  a  member 
of  Christ  Lutheran  Church  of  McKeansburg  he  has  aided  in  its  work,  and  has 
been  especially  active  in  the  Sunday  school.    Politically  he  is  independent. 

Mr.  Reed  was  married  to  Stella  May  Boyer,  daughter  of  Lewis  W.  Boyer, 
and  they  have  had  three  children:  Florence  Irene,  bom  in  November,  1910; 
Oscar  Henry,  bom  in  March,  1912;  and  an  infant  yet  unnamed. 

Samuel  Boyer,  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Charles  O.  Reed,  was  a  farmer, 
owning  a  small  tract  of  land.  He  died  aged  about  sixty  years,  and  is  buried 
with  his  wife  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Frieden's  Church  at  New  Ringgold.  He 
belonged  to  the  Lutheran  congregation  there,  and  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
Mrs.  Boyer's  maiden  name  was  Lutz,  and  she  was  the  mother  of  the  follow- 
ing children :  Henry  married  Polly  Lorah ;  Samuel  went  West ;  Louisa  mar- 
ried Jacob  Petery;  Mary  married  Frederick  Mueger;  Jacob  was  the  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Reed. 

Jacob  Boyer  was  educated  in  East  Bmnswick  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  also  did  wood  chopping.  Later  he  bought 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  East  Brunswick  township,  upon  which  he  remained 
the  rest  of  his  life.  He  married  Anna  Moyer,  daughter  of  Matthias  and 
Magdalena  (Bachert)  Moyer,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Mary,  who  married  John  Stemmler,  of  Walker  township,  Schuylkill  county; 
and  Lewis  W.,  who  is  the  father  of  Mrs.  Reed.  The  father  died  at  the  age 
of  fifty-eight  years,  the  mother  when  fifty-five  years  old,  and  they  are  buried 
at  New  Ringgold,  in  the  Frieden's  Church  cemetery.  They  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation  there.  Mr.  Boyer  was  a  Democrat  in  political 
opinion. 

Lewis  W.  Boyer  was  bom  Nov.  27,  1861,  in  East  Bnmswick  township, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  For  a  time  he  worked  around  among  farm- 
ers, and  later  was  employed  at  Eckerts  Fumaces,  New  Ringgold,  and  at  the 
Maryd  mines,  Tuscarora,  doing  carpenter  work  for  eleven  years. 

Mr.  Boyer  married  Emma  Naugle,  daughter  of  John  Naugle,  a  native  of 
Cornwall,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  and  by  that  union  had  four  children:  John 
Jacob,  unmarried,  who  lives  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J.;  Stella  May,  Mrs.  Charles  O. 
Reed;  Maude,  Mrs.  Harvey  Eisenhower;  and  Lewis,  deceased.  The  mother 
died,  and  Mr.  Boyer  married  (second)  Emma  Pitts,  by  whom  he  has  the  fol- 
lowing children :    May,  Roy,  Walter  and  Clara.    He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

JESSE  M.  ROMBERGER,  of  Valley  View,  has  in  the  few  years  of  his 
business  life  there  shown  himself  worthy  of  the  patronage  of  the  community, 
and  his  well  conducted  bakery  has  become  deservedly  popular  with  the 
townspeople.     Combining  ability  in  the  management  of  his  affairs  with  a 


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1048  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

thorough  practical  knowledge  of  his  trade,  he  has  the  prospect  of  a  useful  and 
prosperous  career. 

Bom  in  1886  at  Helfenstein,  Schuylkill  county,  he  conies  of  an  old  family 
of  Dauphin  coihnty,  this  State,  where  his  great-grandfather  was  bom.  His 
grandfather,  William  Romberger,  was  an  old  resident  of  the  Lykens  valley 
in  that  county.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  from  either  Snyder  or 
Perry  county.  Pa.,  for  the  Union  service,  and  was  accidentally  drowned  while 
on  his  way  home  after  the  close  of  the  war.  James  M.  Romberger,  father 
of  Jesse  M.  Romberger,  was  bom  at  Gratz,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  now 
living  retired  at  Pitman,  Schuylkill  county.  Throughout  his  active  years 
he  was  engaged  in  merchandising,  having  a  general  store  at  Helfenstein,  this 
county,  for  five  years,  and  he  also  did  business  at  Valley  View  and  Pitman. 
He  married  Josephine  Sigfried,  who  was  bom  in  Columbia  county.  Pa., 
daughter  of  an  old  settler  of  that  count]^,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  namely:  Walter  W.,  the  eldest,  is  now  engaged  in  business  at  Pit- 
man, dealing  in  general  merchandise  and  agricultural  implements;  John  is  a 
resident  of  Cressona,  this  county;  Elwood  is  deceased;  Jesse  M.  is  next  in 
the  family ;  James  is  living  in  California ,-  one  daughter  is  the  wife  of  Elias 
Wetzel,  of  Pitman ;  Raymond  and  Jennie  are  deceased ;  Edna  is  the  wife  of 
Victor  Snyder,  of  Pitman. 

Jesse  M.  Romberger  grew  up  at  Helfenstein  and  received  a  public  school 
education.  He  leamed  his  trade  at  Valley  View,  serving  his  aH>renticeship 
with  a  Mr.  Keifer,  and  six  years  ago  became  established  in  the  business  there 
on  his  own  account.  By  supplying  his  customers  with  high-class  goods  he 
has  had  a  steadily  increasing  trade,  and  he  has  endeavored  to  merit  the  good 
will  and  substantial  approval  of  his  patrons.  He  has  allied  himself  with 
local  affairs  outside  of  business,  having  joined  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  and  P.  O. 
S.  of  A.  camp  at  Valley  View,  and  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the 
Church  of  God. 

On  Nov.  17,  190J6,  Mr.  Romberger  was  married  to  Sallie  Klinger,  of 
Sacramento,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Upde- 
grave)  Klinger,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  Mr.  Klinger  was  a  farmer 
in  the  valley.  Four  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Romberger, 
namely:  Vema,  Josephine,  Melvin  and  Bemice. 

HOWARD  DENGLER  is  farming  the  same  tract  in  Barry  township 
where  his  father  and  grandfather  found  the  main  occupation  of  their  active 
years,  the  family  being  one  of  recognized  worth  and  old  standing  in  this 
portion  of  Schuylkill  county.  The  grandfather,  Francis  F.  Dengler,  was 
bom  at  Orwigsburg,  this  county,  and  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  settle 
on  the  farm  now  owned  and  operated  by  his  grandson.  However,  he  did 
not  give  all  his  time  to  its  cultivation,  conducting  a  store  and  hotel  at  Taylors- 
ville,  where  he  was  the  first  postmaster,  the  office  being  known  as  Barry. 
He  died  on  his  farm. 

Henry  F.  Dengler,  father  of  Howard  Dengler,  was  bom  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Barry  township  and  always  made  his  home  on  that  place,  spending 
all  his  active  years  in  improving  and  working  it.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
served  as  a  Union  soldier  in  the  17th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  Regiment  and 
took  part  in  many  battles,  being  wounded  at  Gettysburg.  He  Was  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at  Ashland.  Mr.  Dengler  married  Mary  Yoder,  who  was 
bom  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  where  her  father,  Reuben  Yoder,  was  an 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1049 

early  settler,  and  a  prosperous  farmer.  Mrs.  Dengler  died  Jan.  25,  1910,  Mr. 
Dengler  Nov.  6,  191 2.  Their  family  consisted  of  three  children:  Katherine, 
the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Monroe  Kimmell,  of  Barry  township;  Howard  is 
the  only  son ;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Harry  E.  Hoch,  a  merchant  at  Taylorsville, 
Barry  township. 

Howard  Dengler  was  bom  in  1869  on  the  paternal  homestead,  where  he 
now  lives.  His  education  was  gained  in  the  local  schools  and  he  was  thor- 
oughly trained  in  farm  work  on  the  home  place.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
gave  up  agriculture,  living  at  Gilberton  seven  years  and  in  Frackville  five 
years — ^both  towns  in  Schuylkill  county.  Returning  to  the  farm,  he  has  resided 
there  ever  since,  endeavoring  to  make  the  most  of  a  valuable  property,*  whose 
fine  condition  is  a  credit  to  the  locality  and  a  certain  indication  of  his  thrift 
and  up-to-date  ideas.  Mr.  Dengler  has  lined  himself  with  the  progressive  ele- 
ment in  Barry  township  on  questions  of  general  interest,  and  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  most  acceptably,  representing 
them  faithfully  and  using  his  influence  to  carry  out  their  wishes. 

In  1892  Mr.  Dengler  was  married  to  Sallie  Miller,  a  native  of  Lewistown, 
Pa.,  daughter  of  George  G.  and  Sarah  (Reed)  Miller,  both  of  whom  died  in 
Hegins  township,  this  county.  Mr.  Miller  conducted  a  store  m  that  township. 
Ten  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dengler:  Daniel,  who  is  now 
located  at  Gilberton,  this  county ;  Harry,  at  home ;  Emma,  residing  at  Frack- 
ville; and  George,  Katie,  Robert,  Elsie,  Russell,  Bertha  and  Carrie,  all  at 
home.  Mr.  Dengler  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church. 

LYMAN  A.  HUBER,  of  Pine  Grove,  foreman  at  the  Lincoln  colliery,  is  a 
grandson  of  John  Huber,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  town,  who  died  in  Pine 
Grove  township.  In  his  early  life  he  was  a  farmer,  later  engaged  in  the  coal 
business.  Of  his  ten  children  Washington  is  the  only  survivor.  David  was 
a  soldier  in  both  the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years,  and  is  buried  at  Pine  Grove;  Jefferson  (twin  of  Washington),  who  was 
in  the  Union  service  during  the  Civil  war,  is  also  buried  at  Pine  Grove. 

Washington  Huber,  father  of  Lyman  A.  Huber,  was  bom  in  Pine  Grove, 
and  during  his  residence  there  was  employed  at  railroad  work.  About  1887 
he  moved  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home,  engaged  on 
public  works.  He  married  Sarah  Hehn,  who  was  born  in  Washington  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  where  her  father,  Absalom  Hehn,  was  a  farmer  until 
his  death.  Mr.  Hehn  was  a  Civil  war  veteran,  and  one  of  his  sons  also  en- 
tered the  army  during  th^t  war,  dying  while  in  the  service.  Absalom  Hehn 
had  a  lai^e  family,  one  sons  and  three  daughters  still  living.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Washington  Huber  were  bom  seven  children :  Lyman  A.  is  the  eldest ;  Harry, 
who  lives  at  Harrisburg,  is  a  conductor  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad ;  Linnie, 
also  of  Harrisburg,  an  employe  at  the  Statehouse ;  James,  who  was  killed  while 
in  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company;  Ivy  E.,  chief  clerk 
in  the  health  department  at  Harrisburg;  Frank,  a  resident  of  Reading,  Pa.; 
and  Charles,  who  was  killed  in  March,  1899,  while  in  the  service  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company. 

Lyman  A.  Huber  was  bom  June  20,  1863,  and  was  reared  at  Pine  Grove, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools  there.  When  seventeen  years  old 
he  commenced  to  work  at  the  Lincoln  colliery,  where  he  has  been  engaged  con- 
tinuously since,  being  now  mine  foreman.    A  man  of  reliable  habits  and  exem- 


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1050  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

plary  character,  he  won  promotion  on  his  own  merits,  and  he  holds  the  esteem 
of  his  fellow  men  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 

Mr.  Ruber  was  married  Nov.  13,  1883,  to  Kate  Heckman,  who  was  bom 
in  Hamburg,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Eliza  (Madara)  Heckman,  of  Ham- 
burg, where  they  died  and  are  buried.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children: 
Ella,  wife  of  Benjamin  Shaddow,  of  Philadelphia;  Lucy,  wife  of  Francis 
Shaler,  living  at  Hamburg;  Sarah,  widow  of  Peter  Seidel,  of  Pine  Grove; 
Mary,  wife  of  James  Shomo,  of  Reading;  Kate,  Mrs.  Lyman  A.  Huber; 
and  Orphemus,  the  only  son,  deceased. 

Mr.  Huber  and  his  wife  have  had  one  daughter,  Lutie,  now  the  wife  of 
Ross  Crull,  of  Harrisburg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crull  have  one  child,  Louise.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Huber  are  church  members  at  Pine  Grove.  He  has  belonged  to 
the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America  since  1882. 

WILLIAM  WILLIAMS  (deceased),  was  a  skilled  miner  for  many  years 
employed  at  the  Silver  Creek  colliery  in  Blythe  township,  where  his  sons  are 
now  engaged.  The  Welsh  are  numerously  represented  among  the  coal  mine 
employes  in  this  section  of  Pennsylvania  and  have  always  been  classed  among 
its  industrious  and  reliable  citizens.  The  Williams  family  has  been  no  excep- 
tion to  this  rule.  They  have  been  well  and  favorably  known  at  New  Phila- 
delphia for  a  long  period,  William  Williams,  father  of  the  late  William 
Williams,  having  carried  on  the  hotel  business  there  very  successfully.  He 
died  in  that  borough.  His  children  were:  Evan,  who  now  lives  at  Port 
Carbon,  Schuylkill  county;  William;  Llewellyn,  deceased;  Thomas,  deceased; 
Alice,  wife  of  Solomon  Silliman,  of  Ashland,  Pa.;  Mary,  wife  of  Walter 
Wallace,  of  Ashland;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Thomas  Murry;  and  Annie,  Mrs.  William 
Murry. 

William  Williams,  son  of  William  Williams,  above,  was  born  at  New 
Philadelphia,  and  worked  at  the  collieries  in  this  region,  in  time  becoming  a 
competent  miner.  As  such  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Coal  &  Iron  Company  at  their  Silver  Creek  colliery,  a  large  and  important 
mine,  being  last  occupied  in  the  Big  Vein  workings.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
habits  and  honorable  life,  and  held  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  His 
death  occurred  at  New  Philadelphia  Jan.  27,  1896,  and  he  is  buried  in  the  Odd 
Fellows'  cemetery  at  Pottsville,  this  county.  Fraternally  he  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Williams  married  Annie  Edwards,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
three  children,  all  of  whom  reside  with  their  mother:  William,  who  is  em- 
ployed as  timber  clerk  at  the  Silver  Creek  colliery;  Edward,  who  is  a  car- 
penter there;  and  Anna,  who  attended  public  school  at  New  Philadelphia, 
graduated  from  the  commercial  school  at  Pottsville,  and  is  now  a  public 
school  teacher  at  New  Philadelphia. 

Edward  Edwards,  father  of  Mrs.  Annie  (Edwards)  Williams,  was  bom 
in  Wales,  and  coming  to  the  United  States  settled  at  Minersville,  in  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Pa.,  where  he  followed  farming.  He  married  Keziah  Jones, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Jones,  also  of  Wales,  and  they  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  viz.:  William,  Annie  (Mrs.  Williams),  Catherine,  Daniel,  Edward, 
John,  Thomas  and  George. 

ALEXANDER  HUNTER  has  been  a  thrifty  agriculturist  in  Barry  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  for  a  number  of  years,  having  returned  to  the  occu- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1051 

pation  of  his  youth  after  over  a  quarter  of  a  century's  experience  in  mine 
work.  In  connection  with  general  farming  he  is  making  a  specialty  of  dairy- 
ing, in  which  branch  of  his  work  he  takes  great  pride,  his  readiness  in 
adopting  modem  ideas  being  largely  responsible  for  his  success. 

Mr.  Hunter's  parents,  Alexander  and  Mary  (Todd)  Hunter,  were  natives 
of  Scotland,  and  were  reared,  educated  and  married  in  that  country.  Com- 
ing to  America  when  a  young  couple,  they  arrived  at  New  York,  made  a 
short  stay  there,  and  next  moved  to  Philadelphia,  Pa.  Soon  afterwards  they 
made  a  permanent  settlement  in  Clarks  valley,  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and 
Mr.  Hunter  gave  all  his  attention  to  farming  in  the  latter  part  of  his  active 
life.  He  spent  his  last  days  in  retirement  at  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county, 
where  his  death  occurred.  Mrs.  Hunter  died  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Of  their 
eight  children,  four  were  bom  in  Scotland,  Jeanette,  Mary,  Margaret  and 
Christina.  Belle,  Susan,  George  and  Alexander  were  bom  in  this  country. 
Jeanette  and  Alexander  are  the  only  members  of  the  family  now  surviving. 

Bom  Oct.  4,  1854,  in  Clarks  valley,  Dauphin  county,  Alexander  Hunter 
was  reared  there  and  attended  school  in  the  vicinity.  Meantime  he  helped 
with  the  farm  work  at  home,  but  in  his  young  manhood  he  turned  to  mine 
work,  which  he  followed  for  a  period  of  twenty-six  years.  Having  decided 
to  go  back  to  farm  work,  he  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  Barry  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  some  eight  years  ago,  buying  the  tract  of  fifty-eight  acres 
which  he  has  since  been  cultivating.  Besides  raising  general  crops  he  has 
given  particular  attention  to  dairying,  which  he  carnes  on  in  an  up-to-date 
manner,  complying  fully  with  the  strict  sanitary  regulations  of  the  day. 
He  is  esteemed  by  all  his  neighbors  as  a  citizen  worthy  of  their  respect  and 
confidence,  highly  regarded  for  his  many  dependable  qualities. 

Mr.  Hunter  married  Jeanetta  McFee,  who  was  bom  in  Scotland,  but  has 
lived  in  this  country  from  early  girlhood.  Her  father,  William  McFee,  now 
lives  with  his  son  at  Mount  Carmel,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa. ;  Mrs.  McFee  is 
deceased.  Twelve  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunter:  Mary, 
the  eldest,  is  married  and  living  at  Scranton,  Pa.;  William,  who  lives  in 
Schuylkill  county,  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company; 
John  resides  at  Sham'okin,  Pa. ;  Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Elias  Hepler,  of  Rock- 
town,  Schuylkill  county;  Roy,  Archie,  Ann  and  Ruth  are  at  home;  four  are 
deceased. 

HENRY  McNOLDY,  of  Sharadin,  who  owns  and  operates  a  teaming 
business,  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Porter  township.  He  was  bom 
at  Norristown,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1861,  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  A. 
(Miller)  McNoldy.  William  McNoldy  was  born  in  the  same  section  as 
his  son,  Henry,  and  was  there  reared.  For  some  time  he  was  engaged  driving 
a  powder  team  between  Philadelphia  and  Pottsville.  In  1862  he  removed  to 
Schuylkill  county,  locating  near  Tremont,  where  he  was  employed  as  a 
hostler  for  the  following  twenty-five  years.  He  then  moved  to  Gratz  and 
was  engaged  for  some  years  in  operating  a  pump  at  Bear  Valley.  His  death 
occurred  when  he  was  seventy-eight  years  old.  The  mother  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one  years,  and  both  are  buried  at  Gratz.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  Daniel,  David,  a  son  that  died  in  infancy  unnamed,  Jacob,  Henry, 
and  Sarah  (who  became  Mrs.  Charles  Zerfing). 

During  his  boyhood  Henry  McNoldy  worked  among  the  farmers  in  Hegins 
and  Hubley  townships,  Schuylkill  county,  and  later  on  went  to  the  West 


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1052  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Brookside  colliery,  where  for.  seventeen  years  he  was  employed  on  the  hoist- 
ing engine  at  No.  i  slope.  At  the  expiration  of  this  period  he  b^^n  doing 
hauling  and  teaming  at  Tower  City,  and  developed  the  very  profitable  busi- 
ness which  he  is  still  operating.  As  his  earnings  accumulated  Mr.  McNoldy 
invested  them  in  Porter  township  property,  which  has  since  increased  in 
value.  During  his  years  of  usefulness  Mr.  McNoldy  has  never  shirked  any 
task  laid  upon  him,  but  has  performed  what  he  believed  to  be  his  full  duty, 
and  the  prosperity  to  which  he  has  attained  has  been  honestly  and  fairly  won. 
Henry  McNoldy  was  married  to  Sarah  Alice  Snyder,  of  Gratz,  who  was 
bom  at  Berrysburg,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Snyder,  and.  died  Jan.  3,  191 2. 
She  is  buried  in  Greenwood  cemetery.  Tower  City,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Noldy became  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Alfred  Daniel,  who  is  a 
carpenter,  of  Minersville,  Pa.,  married  Hilda  Kaufman,  daughter  of  Qaude 
Kaufman,  and  they  have  two  children.  Fay  E.  and  Henry  Earle;  Jacob,  who 
is  living  at  Tower  City,  married  Mrs.  Cecilia  (Bush)  Fisher,  widow  of 
Albert  Fisher  (they  have  no  children)  ;  Charles  Edward  married  Nevattah 
Maria  Schaffer,  daughter  of  Lucas  Peter  Schaffer,  and  has  three  children, 
Edward  Charles,  Margaret  A.,  and  Alma  Althea. 

ROBERT*  P.  MILLER,  for  a  number  of  years  outside  foreman  at  the 
0?ik  Hill  colliery,  in  Cass  township,  was  formerly  engaged  in  educational 
work  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  made  a  high  record  for  efficiency  in  the 
profession,  but  while  following  it  was  also  engaged  in  mine  work,  some  years 
ago  deciding  to  give  all  his  time  to  that  calling.  His  success  has  justified 
his  choice.  Mr.  Miller  belongs  to  an  old  Schuylkill  county  family,  of  German 
extraction,  his  grandfather,  Philip  Miller,  having  been  a  native  of  Germany. 
Coming  to  this  country,  he  settled  in  Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  and  followed 
farming  there  until  his  death. 

George  G.  Miller,  father  of  Robert  P.  Miller,  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county.  Pa.,  and  spent  his  early  Hfe  there,  coming  to  Schuylkill  county  when 
a  young  man.  He  located  in  Hegins  township.  Having  received  an  excel- 
lent education  he  taught  school  for  thirteen  terms,  and  then  engaged  in  the 
general  store  business  at  Sacramento,  in  Hubley  township,  this  county.  Sub- 
sequently he  followed  the  general  mercantile  business  at  Bloomsburg  and 
Hazleton,  Pa.,  for  a  short  time,  returning  to  Schuylkill  county  and  to  Hubley 
township,  where  he  resumed  business,  carrying  on  his  store  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  retired  about  five  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  March 
9,  1909;  he  is  buried  at  Sacramento.  In  his  day  he  was  one  of  the  most  pop- 
ular officials  of  that  part  of  Schuylkill  county.  For  seventeen  years  he  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Hubley  township;  was  mercantile  appraiser  of  the 
county;  established  the  post  office  at  Springdale,  in  Hubley  township,  then 
known  as  Artz,  and  served  as  postmaster  there  for  many  years.  His  son,  J. 
I.  Miller,  now  carries  on  his  father's  old  store  there,  and  is  also  serving  as 
postmaster,  the  post  office  at  present  being  known  as  Spring  Glen.  George  G. 
Miller  was  one  of  the  best  known  Democrats  in  Schuylkill  county  in  his 
generation.  His  wife,  Sarah  R.  (Reed),  daughter  of  Philip  Reed,  survived 
him  a  few  years,  dying  in  March,  191 3.  They  were  the  parents  of  four- 
teen children,  several  of  whom  are  deceased.  We  have  record  of  the  fol- 
lowing: Amanda,  Mary,  Lydia,  Phebe  (deceased),  Sallie,  Emma,  Robert  P. 
and  J.  I.,  previously  mentioned. 

Robert  P.  Miller  was  bom  April  19,  1871,  in  Hubley  township,  Schuyl- 


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•  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1053 

kill  county,  and  was  reared  there,  receiving  his  early  education  in  the  local 
schools.  He  began  mine  work  when  nine  years  old  in  the  usual  way,  picking 
slate  at  the  breaker,  but  continued  his  studies  until  he  had  completed  a  course 
at  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  was  graduated  in  189 1.  He  soon  began  teaching  public  school,  and 
was  so  engaged  in  Hubley,  Frailey  and  Hegins  townships,  Schuylkill  county, 
continuing  the  profession  for  twelve  years  in  all.  While  attending  school 
and  teaching  he  followed  mine  work  during  the  siunmer  seasons,  and  in 
1901  he  took  a  position  at  Duncott,  in  Cass  township,  with  the  Oak  Hill  Coal 
Company.  He  was  clerk  in  the  company  store  for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  on 
Jan.  I,  1903,  was  given  his  present  position,  becoming  outside  foreman  of  the 
Oak  Hill  colliery,  one  of  the  important  producing  coal  properties  in  Cass 
township.  Mr.  Miller's  capabilities  and  ei^ergetic  disposition  have  been  felt 
in  every  department  of  the  work  here,  and  his  efficiency  has  won  the  thor- 
ough commendation  of  his  employers,  as  well  as  the  respect  of  those  under 
his  charge.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church  at 
Minersville,  and  socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Malta. 

In  1889  Mr.  Miller  married  Annie  Shade,  daughter  of  David  Shade,  of 
Hubley  township,  and  they  have  had  four  children,  namely:  Mollie,  the 
wife  of  J.  Grant  Du  Boise,  has  two  children,  Robert  and  Mabel  (they  reside 
in  Philadelphia) ;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  LeRoy  Updegraph,  and  has  two 
children,  Miriam  and  Robert  (they  live  at  Duncott,  this  county)  ;  Hattie 
is  attending  school;  Roy  is  deceased. 

OLIVER  C.  THOMPSON,  a  well  known  business  man  of  Tower  City, 
is  a  son  of  the  late  Robert  Thompson  and  a  grandson  of  Alexander  Thomp- 
son, the  founder  of  the  family  in  this  section. 

Alexander  Thompson  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  came  to  this  country 
during  his  young  manhood.  The  rest  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.,  where  he  was  widely  and  favorably  known  during  his  active, 
useful  career.  He  first  settled  at  Middleport,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
hauling  machinery,  timber,  etc.,  arjd  later  lived  at  the  York  Farm,  near 
Pottsville,  which  he  bought,  cultivating  that  tract  for  many  years.  He  also 
had  small  drifts  opened  on  the  property  and  sold  coal  to  tHe  public,  this 
being  the  first  coal  taken  from  the  workings  later  developed  into  the  famous 
York  Farm  colliery.  After  a  long  residence  there  he  removed  to  Porter 
township,  in  1854,  being  one  of  the  e^rly  settlers  in  this  section,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  of  no  acres,  from  which  he  subsequently  sold  a  number  of 
building  lots  for  the  town  of  Sharadin,  which  was  laid  out  in  1869.  This 
was  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  4,  1873 ;  he  is  buried  in 
the  Greenwood  cemetery  in  Porter  township.  Besides  farming,  Mr.  Thomp- 
son also  engaged  in  milling  in  Porter  township,  building  a  gristmill  upon  his 
tract  which  was  known  in  his  day  as  Thompson's  mill.  It  was  sold  to  Grimm 
&  Womer,  and  later  to  the  Reading  Company,  the  present  owners  of  the  land. 
Mr.  Thompson  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  strong  character,  and  in  his 
day  was  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  this  section. 

By  his  first  marriage,  to  Isabella  Pennman,  Mr.  Thompson  had  nine 
children:  George  was  killed  at  York  Farm;  David  P.,  deceased,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Hiram  Kimmel; 
Janette  married  Benjamin  Houtz;  William  died  while  serving  in  the  Civil 
war;  Alexander  is  living  at  Lykens,  Pa.;  Robert  is  deceased;  Isabella  is  the 


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1054  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

widow  of  George  Powell;  James  is  living  in  West  Virginia.  For  his  second 
wife  Mr.  Thompson  married  Mary  Bast,  daughter  of  Isaac  Bast,  and  by  this 
tmion  there  was  also  a  large  f a'mily :  Isaac  B. ;  George,  who  is  now  living  in 
Alaska;  Mary,  wife  of  Daniel  Stout;  John,  residing  at  Sharadin,  Pa.; 
Andrew,  a  resident  of  Michigan;  Charles,  deceased;  Abraham,  deceased; 
Winfield  S.,  of  Michigan;  William  U.  S.  G.,  deceased;  Elmer  E.,  of  Sharadin; 
and  Rebecca  M.,  wife  of  Hoplin  Evans,  living  on  the  old  Thompson  home- 
stead in  Porter  township. 

Robert  Thompson,  son  of  Alexander  Thompson,  was  bom  at  York  Farm, 
and  died  in  1909.  During  the  greater  part  of  his  life  he  was  engaged  at 
mine  work,  being  employed  for  many  years  at  the  Brookside  colliery,  at  Tower 
City.  He  served  three  years  as  supervisor  of  Porter  township,  and  was 
looked  upon  as  a  citizen  of  substantial  character,  deservedly  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  wife,  Lydia  (Goodman),  died  in  1883,  and  they  are 
buried  in  the  Greenwood  cemetery  near  Tower  City.  They  were  the  parents 
of  four  children:  Oliver  C. ;  Laura  Louise,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
McGough,  of  Frankf ord,  Pa. ;  Abel,  living  in  Porter  township ;  and  Benjamin, 
who  died  young. 

Oliver  C.  Thompson  was  bom  Dec.  13,  1875,  in  Rush  township,  Dauphin 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  had  an  average  common  school  education.  He  followed  mine 
work  for  about  twenty  years,  beginning  as  a  boy  at  the  breaker,  picking  slate, 
later  acted  as  door  boy,  and  so  on  through  the  various  grades  until  he  became 
a  regular  miner.  He  gave  up  mining  in  1902,  when  he  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business,  and  he  has  been  so  occupied  ever  since.  In  19 10  he  became  proprietor 
of  the  well  known  "Mansion  House"  at  Tower  City,  which  has  prospered 
very  well  under  his  judicious  management,  receiving  a  very  good  share  of  the 
local  patronage.  Mr.  Thompson  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Volunteer 
Hose  Company  of  Tower  City,  and  his  social  connections  are  with  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Eagle,  Loyal  Order  of  Moose  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Thompson  married  Blanch  Charlesworth,  daughter  of  Edward  Charles- 
worth,  of  Tower  City.  She  died  July  i,  1915,  and  is  buried  in  the  Greenwood 
cemetery  in  Porter  township.  Five  children  were  bom  to  this  union :  Ruth, 
Anna,  Blanch,  Mildred  and  Arline. 

HARRY  E.  HOCH  is  now  established  as  a  general  merchant  at  Taylors- 
ville,  Barry  township,  after  twenty-five  years  as  a  farmer  in  that  township, 
where  he  has  lived  from  boyhood.  As  a  citizen  he  has  shown  himself  worthy 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  men  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  the  i>ersonal 
esteem  he  commands  is  the  result  of  a  career  of  integrity  and  honest  purpose. 

Mr.  Hoch's  grandfather,  Thomas  Hoch,  was  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county, 
a  farmer,  and  followed  that  occupation  after  settling  in  Barry  township. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  17th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  he 
was  killed  in  battle. 

Joseph  Hoch,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  near  Minersville,  and  passed  all 
his  life  in  this  county,  dying  in  1887  at  Ashland.  He  began  life  for  himself 
as  a  mine  worker,  and  was  always  employed  in  the  collieries.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Millard,  who  was  bom  in  the  Roaring  creek  valley,  in  Columbia 
county,  Pa.,  and  was  of  Quaker  stock  which  came  from  Berks  county  about 
1785,  settling  at  an  early  day  in  Columbia  county.  Mrs.  Hoch  died  in  1889. 
Of  the  six  children  bom  to  them,  Thomas,  the  eldest,  is  living  in  the  State 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1055 

of  Colorado ;  Joseph  is  deceased ;  Millard  lives  in  Arkansas ;  Harry  E.  is  men- 
tioned bfelow;  Katie  and  Elizabeth  are  deceased. 

Harry  E.  Hoch  was  bom  in  1874  in  Ashland,  this  county,  where  he  was 
reared  and  obtained  a  public  school  education.  He  lived  there  until  fourteen 
years  old,  at  which  age  he  came  to  Barry  township  and  started  life  on  his  own 
account,  following  farming  for  the  next  twenty-five  years.  In  July,  1913,  Mr. 
Hoch  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  business  at  Taylorsville,  to  which  he 
is  now  giving  the  principal  share  of  his  time  and  attention,  and  in  which  he 
has  succeeded  by  the  same  methods  that  brought  him  prosperity  in  his  agri- 
cultural operations.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  at 
Taylorsville,  and  he  is  serving  as  treasurer  of  the  camp.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 

In  1896  Mr.  Hoch  was  married  to  Emma  Dengler,  daughter  of  Henry  F. 
Dengler,  and  they  have  one  child,  Emma  Marie. 

IRVIN  H.  BIXLER,  blacksmith,  now  located  at  Valley  View,  has  had  a 
shop  of  his  own  since  1906  and  commands  a  profitable  trade.  Bom  at  Val- 
ley View  in  1880,  he  is  a  son  of  Emanuel  Bixler  and  grandson  of  David  Bixler, 
an  early  settler  in  the  Mahantongo  valley,  where  he  farmed  and  made  his 
home  until  his  death. 

Emanuel  Bixler  was  bom  at  Valley  View  and  is  now  a  resident  of  the 
town  of  Hegins.  For  over  thirty  years  he  has  been  engaged  at  work  in  the 
mines,  and  he  is  much  respected  in  Hegins  township,  where  he  is  at  present 
filling  the  office  of  supervisor.  He  married  Elmira  Fetterolf,  daughter  of  Elias 
Fetterolf,  an  old  resident  of  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  now  living  at 
Hegins.  To  this  marriage  were  born  the  following  children :  Irvin  H. ;  Ruf us, 
who  is  a  resident  of  Hegins;  David,  who  lives  with  his  parents  at  Hegins; 
Lillie,  wife  of  Charles  Schadler,  of  Hegins ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  David  Artz,  of 
Valley  View ;  Mamie,  wife  of  Irvin  Artz,  of  Hegins ;  Elwin,  of  Hegins ;  Vema, 
wife  of  Christopher  Hoffstetter,  of  Tremont,  this  county;  Gertmde,  Iva  and 
Weelah,  at  home. 

Irvin  H.  Bixler  grew  up  in  Hegins  township,  in  his  boyhood  attending  the 
public  schools,  and  he  leamed  his  trade  at  Hegins  from  James  Schucker,  after- 
wards working  for  other  Employers  until  he  engaged  in  the  business  for  him- 
self. In  1906  he  became  the  owner  of  a  shop  at  Hegins,  where  he  did  business 
until  his  removal  to  Valley  View.  He  is  a  first-class  workman,  and  his  indus- 
try and  good  management  have  been  well  rewarded,  for  he  is  kept  constantly 
busy  with  a  great  variety  of  work.  His  high  personal  character  makes  him  an 
esteemed  member  of  the  community,  where  he  is  well  known  socially,  belong- 
ing to  Washington  Camp  No.  45,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  Valley  View,  and  to  the 
Valley  View  Council,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  a  past  councilor. 

In  September,  1913,  Mr.  Bixler  married  Sadie  Lucas,  of  Summit  Station, 
this  county,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Kate  (Keanie)  Lucas,  old  residents  of 
Schuylkill  county;  Mr.  Lucas  is  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bixler  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  God. 

HARJIY  P.  GABLE,  outside  foreman  at  the  East  and  West  Brookside  col- 
lieries, at  Tower  City,  has  won  his  way  to  his  present  position  of  prestige 
through  eamest  and  faithful  discharge  of  all  the  duties  intmsted  to  him.  It 
has  been  his  f  ortime  to  have  recognized  his  opportunities  as  they  have  appeared, 
to  have  made  the  most  of  them,  and  to  have  fairly  won  the  respect  and  con- 


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1056  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

fidence  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been  associated.  Mr.  Gable  was  bom  at 
Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  June  23,  1878,  son  of  Philip  H.  and  Mary 
(Haglegantz)  Gable  and  a  grandson  of  Ludwig  Gable. 

Ludwig  Gable  was  bom  in  Germany,  from  which  country  he  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1854,  settling  at  Pottsville,  Pa.  For  a  time  he  worked  in  the 
mines,  but  later  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  work,  and  also  did  hauling. 
He  died  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Philip,  at  Shenandoah,  in  1904,  and  was  laid 
to  rest  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  cemetery  at  Pottsville.  The  mother  had  passed  away 
at  Pottsville  in  1894.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gable  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :  Margaret,  the  wife  of  William  Soell ;  Augustus  Daniel,  who  is  out- 
side district  superintendent  of  mines  at  Shenandoah;  Philip  H.;  Helena,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Dower;  Annie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Sweinbold; 
Ludwig,'  of  Philadelphia;  Kate,  the  wife  of  Charles  Schultz;  and  Elizabeth, 
the  wife  of  William  Hoehn. 

Philip  H.  Gable  was  bom  at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  and  in  his  youth  leamed  the 
trade  of  carpenter,  a  vocation  which  he  followed  industriously  at  Shenandoah 
until  1895.  Then  he  became  pumping  engineer,  and  has  been  so  employed 
since  with  the  Reading  Company,  at  the  West  Shenandoah  colliery,  being  one 
of  that  concem's  trusted  employes.  His  first  wife,  who  was  born  in  Germany, 
died  in  1884,  and  is  buried  at  Shenandoah.  There  were  four  children  by  this 
union :  Annie,  who  married  William  Gradwell ;  Harry  P. ;  Martha,  who  mar- 
ried Howard  Perry;  and  C.  Lewis,  a  stenographer  in  the  post  office  depart- 
ment, at  Washington,  D.  C,  who  married  Catherine  Hinkle.  Philip  H.  Gable 
was  married  a  second  time,  to  May  Yeager,  and  they  have  five  children :  Eliz- 
abeth, the  wife  of  Joseph  Snyder;  May  P.,  who  married  L.  I.  Winch;  and  Mar- 
garet, Ruth  and  Hannah,  who  reside  at  home. 

Harry  P.  Gable  was  given  good  educational  advantages  in  his  youth,  at- 
tending the  public  schools  of  Shenandoah,  the  Woods  business  college,  and 
the  Bloomsburg  State  Normal  School,  from  which  last-named  institution  he 
was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1896.  For  two  years  thereafter  he  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  at  Shenandoah,  then  going  to  Lehigh  county,  where 
he  was  employed  for  one  year  in  the  cement  works.  He  next  became  a  clerk 
at  the  mines  at  West  Shenandoah,  where  he  was  made  assistant  outside  fore- 
man in  1907,  and  continued  in  that  position  until  March,  191 2.  In  t^at  month 
Mr.  Gable  was  promoted  to  outside  foreman,  working  at  the  West  Shenandoah, 
Turkey  Run  and  Kohinoor  collieries,  and  in  June,  19 15,  was  transferred  to  the 
East  and  West  Brookside  collieries,  at  Tower  City.  Mr.  Gable  is  one  of  the 
highly  respected  citizens  of  his  community  and  one  who  takes  a  pride  in  its 
progress  and  development.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  the  local  caimp  of  the 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  in  which  he  has  numerous  friends,  and  in  religious  connection 
is  a  Lutheran. 

In  1904  Mr.  Gable  was  married  to  Mary  Kaufmann,  daughter  of  Godfrey 
Kaufmann,  of  Shenandoah,  and  they  have  two  children,  Christina  and  May, 
both  attending  school. 

DANIEL  DONNE,  now  living  retired  at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  has  been  a  life- 
long resident  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  was  bom  in  the  borough  of  Port  Car- 
bon June  24,  1840,  and  is  of  English  stock,  being  a  son  of  Henry  S.  Donne, 
grandson  of  Stephen  Donne,  and  a  direct  descendant  of  John  Donne,  an  Eng- 
lish poet  and  divine,  born  at  London  in  1573,  who  died  there  March  31,  1631. 
According  to  the  Century  Cyclopedia  of  Names,  "He  studied  at  Oxford  and 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1057 

Lincoln's  Inn,  and  in  1596  was  appointed  secretary  to  Sir  Thpmas  Egerton, 
keeper  of  the  great  seal,  which  office  he  lost  about  1600  by  a  clandestine  mar- 
riage with  the  lord  keeper's  niece.  In  16 10  he  published  a  work  entitled 
'Pseudo-Martyr,'  which  procured  for  him  the  favor  of  James  I.,  who  per- 
suaded him  to  take  holy  orders  in  161 5,  made  him  a  royal  chaplain  in  the 
same  year,  and  in  1621  appointed  him  to  the  deanery  of  St  Paul's.  Besides 
his  poems,  a  collective  edition  of  which  appeared  in  1633,  and  his  theological 
writmgs,  the  most  notable  of  his  works  is  *Biathanatodz,  A  Declaration  of  that 
Paradoxe  or  Thesis,  That  Self -homicide  is  not  so  naturally  a  sin,  that  it  may 
never  be  otherwise,'  eta  (1644)."  The  Donnes  were  a  distinguished  family 
in  their  part  of  the  world.  Burke  gives  several  coats  of  arms  as  belonging  to 
them,  viz. :  Donne  or  Doan  (Cheshire) — ^Az.  two  bars  ar.  over  all  a  b^d  gu. 
charged  with  three  arrows  or;  crest — a  bimdle  of  arrows  or,  headed  and  feath- 
ered ar.  banded  gu.  Donne  (as  borne  by  J.  G.  Donne,  Esq.) — ^Az,  a  wolf 
salient  or;  crest — a  wolf's  head  erased,  or.  Donne  (granted  1605) — ^Az.  a 
wolf  salient  ar.  a  chief  of  the  last  (under  Don,  Donn  or  Doon  he  gives,  Az.  a 
wolf  salient  ar.;  crest — out  of  a  ducal  coronet  a  mount,  and  thereon  a  stag 
standing  at  gaze,  all  proper).  Donne — ^Az.  a  unicorn  couchant  ar.  armed  or, 
between  ten  crosses  crosslet  of  the  third  (under  Don  we  find,  Az.  a  unicorn 
rampant  or  between  ten  crosses  crosslet  or).  Donne  or  Doune — Paly  of  six, 
arg.  and  az.  on  a  f  esse  gu.  three  mullets  or. 

The  grandfather  of  Daniel  Donne  was  a  native  of  England,  and  like  most 
of  his  family,  in  the  government  service.  He  died  in  that  country.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Stephen  Henry  and  Henry  Stephen,  twins,  the  former  of  whom 
died  in  India,  and  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Roberts,  who  died  in  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Henry  Stephen  Donne,  father  of  Daniel  Donne,  was  bom  in  England  and 
came  to  America  in  1825,  locating  in  New  York  City.  He  was  engaged  as  a 
traveling  salesman.  It  was  not  long  before  he  returned  to  England,  but  in 
1828  he  again  came  to  America,  settling  at  Port  Carbon,  Schuy&ill  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  became  a  coal  shipper  on  the  canal,  following  this  business  during  the 
rest  of  his  active  life.  He  died  in  1^6  at  Locust  Valley,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Charles  Seddon,  when  seventy-five  years 
old.  His  wife,  Martha  (Davis),  a  native  of  Wales,  died  at  Port  Carbon.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children:  Ann,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of 
Charles  Seddon;  Daniel;  Phoebe,  deceased;  Frances,  deceased,  wife  of 
Edward  Seddon ;  and  James,  who  is  living  at  Pottsville. 

Daniel  Donne  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Port  Carbon.  When 
a  boy  he  began  to  work  with  his  father  and  later  for  a  few  years  was  employed 
in  the  mines.  Then,  for  about  twelve  years,  he  was  a  workman  in  the  Benja- 
min Haywood  Rolling  Mills  at  Palo  Alto,  Schuylkill  county,  after  which  he 
was  with  C.  M.  Atkins  and  Zach.  Boyer,  eventuallv  becoming  a  partner  in  the 
ownership  of  the  Mount  Carbon  Rolling  Mills,  the  concern  being  known  as 
the  Mount  Carbon  Rolling  Mill  Company.  His  associates  in  this  enterprise 
were  John  E.  Winecoop,  Isaac  Conner  and  Alex.  Goven.  The  product  was 
what  is  known  as  puddle  bar,  and  over  one  hundred  hands  were  employed. 
Mr.  Donne  was  associated  with  this  business  until  1879,  when  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  grocery  trade,  and  was  also  in  the  coal  washing  business  at 
Middleport  with  Elwood  T.  Priest,  being  in  this  line  for  about  six  years,  until 
1898.  Afterwards  he  continued  in  the  grocery  business  at  Palo  Alto  until 
VoLH— 29 


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1058  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

1907,  in  which  year  he  removed  to  Pottsville,  where  he  has  since  been  living 
retired.    His  home  is  at  No.  401  South  Centre  street. 

Early  in  the  Civil  war,  in  August,  1861,  Mr.  Donne  enlisted  for  three  years 
in  Company  G,  48th  R^^ent,  rennsylvania  Volimteer  Infantry,  which  was 
attached  to  the  ist  Brigade,  2d  Division,  9th  Army  Corps.  He  was  promoted 
to  corporal  at  Fredericksburg  in  1862  and  to  sergeant  in  1864,  being  dis- 
charged with  this  rank  at  Harrisbiu-g,  Pa.,  July  17,  1865.  In  December,  1863, 
he  had  reenlisted,  while  in  camp  at  Blain's  Cross  Roads,  Tenn.  During  his 
long  service  he  took  an  active  part  in  many  important  engagements,  and.  on 
three  occasions  received  slight  wounds — at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  at  Fred- 
ericksburg, and  in  front  of  Petersburg.  Mr.  Donne  still  keeps  up  his  Civil  war 
associations  as  a  member  of  Gowen  Post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  is  a 
past  commander.  In  1896  he  attended  the  national  encampment  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  as  del^^te,  and  he  was  also  a 
del^;ate  to  the  national  encampments  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  (1912),  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.  (1913),  and  Detroit,  Mich.  (1914).  He  was  also  a  member  and 
past  officer  of  Miners  Lodge,  No.  20,  I.  O.  O.  F.  His  religious  connection  is 
with  the  Episcopal  Church.  While  living  at  Palo  Alto  Mr.  Donne  was  active 
in  the  affairs  of  the  local  government,  holding  various  public  positions.  As 
coimcilman,  member  of  the  school  board  for  four  years  (and  secretary  of 
that  body),  assessor,  tax  collector  and  atlditor,  he  promoted  the  interests  of 
the  borough  so  faithfully  that  he  was  made  chief  burgess,  holding  that  office 
for  four  years.  On  political  questions  he  was  a  Republican.  Though  he  has 
lived  retired  since  settling  at*  Pottsville,  he  is  well  loiown  there,  by  reason  of 
his  various  activities  in  public  and  business  life,  and  he  held  the  esteem  of 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

In  the  year  1865  Mr.  Donne  married  Sarah  A.  Bassett,  daughter  of  William 
and  Caroline  (Randall)  Bassett.  Nine  children  were  bom  to  this  union,  as 
follows:  William  H.,  in  Au^st,  1866  (deceased);  Daniel,  Dec.  30,  1867 
(deceased) ;  Caroline  M.,  April  21,  1869  (married  William  H.  Shuman,  Jr., 
a  grocer  of  Pottsville,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Harold  E.  and  Daniel 
O.)  ;  Phoebe  A.,  Dec.  6,  1870  (deceased)  ;  Martha  F.,  Oct.  7,  1875  (deceased) ; 
Philip  P.  B.,  Dec.  8,  1876  (deceased) ;  Minnie  L.,  April,  1880  (deceased) ; 
Clay  W.,  Nov.  24,  1882  (married  Helen  Wammelsdorf,  and  they  have  seven 
children,  Daniel,  Grace,  Charles,  I^hilip,  Eleanor,  Sarah  and  Helen  Jean); 
and  James  F.,  July  4,  1887  (deceased).  The  mother  of  this  family  died 
Aug.  26,  1907,  and  is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery.  Mr.  Donne  has 
lived  retired  since  that  year.    In  September,  1912,  he  made  a  trip  to  California. 

THOMAS  GREEN,  farmer  and  dairyman  of  Barry  township,  was  bom 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  son  of  Daniel  F.  Green  and  grandson  of 
Richard  Green. 

Daniel  F.  Green  was  bom  in  Ireland,  and  coming  to  America  settled  in 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  first  at  Pottsville  and  later  at  Ashland.  For  a  time 
he  was  foreman  at  one  of  the  collieries.  Moving  to  Barry  township,  this 
county,  he  located  in  the  Patten  farm  formerly  occupied  by  his  father-in-law 
and  later  bought  that  place,  which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son  Thomas.  It 
comprises  103  acres,  and  he  farmed  there  until  his  retirement,  a  few  years 
before  his  death.  Removing  to  Shamokin,  he  died  there  in  1902.  Mr.  Green 
was  married  to  Anna  Patten,  daughter  of  Thomas  Patten,  who  came  from 
England,  eventually  settling  in  Barry  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1059 

carried  on  farming.  Mrs.  Daniel  F.  Green  died  some  twenty  years  ago.  Eight 
children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green,  namely:  Robert  P.,  bom  at 
Ashland  Sept.  3,  1856,  is  a  resident  of  Barry  township;  Ida  is  the  wife  of 
Balcom  Farrand,  of  Shamokin;  William,  deceased,  was  a  resident  of  Ash- 
land; Eleanor  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Enterline,  of  Shamokin;  Thomas  is 
next  in  the  family;  Daniel  is  living  at  Shamokin;  Annie  is  deceased;  Alice 
completes  the  family. 

Thomas  Green  was  bom  June  21,  1868,  and  grew  up  in  Barry  township, 
where  he  had  such  educational  advantages  as  the  public  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood afforded.  Trained  to  farm  work  from  boyhood,  he  has  always  made 
agriculture  his  occupation,  and  the  productive  capacity  of  his  farm  has  im- 
proved steadily  under  his  wise  management,  the  value  of  his  crops  increasing 
yearly.  His  cattle  are  his  pride,  Mr.  Green  raising  his  own  Guernsey  and 
Holstein  stock,  and  dairying  has  become  quite  an  extensive  branch  of  his 
operations.  Mr.  Green  has  taken  a  public-spirited  citizen's  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  his  home  locality,  and  his  fellow  citizens  have  benefited  by  his  zesJ. 
At  present  he  is  serving  as  township  supervisor,  to  which  office  he  was  first 
elected  seven  years  ago,  holding  it  continuously  since. 

In  Febmary,  1890,  Mr.  Green  married  Catherine  Wedde,  who  was  bom 
in  the  valley,  in  Barry  township,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Cecilia  (Miller) 
Wedde,  old  settlers  in  this  section,  now  living  in  Hegins  township,  this  county; 
Mr.  Wedde  follows  farming  and  milling.  Nine  children  have  been  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green,  viz.:  Daniel,  who  lives  in  Barry  township;  Lottie; 
Annie;  Thomas;  Howard;  Alice;  Robert;  Roy,  and  Margaret.  Mr.  Green 
in  an  Episcopalian  in  religious  connection,  Mrs.  Green  a  Lutheran.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  belonging  to  the  lodge  at 
Lavelle,  this  county. 

IRA  W.  HAND,  who  is  engaged  in  the  hardware,  tinning  and  plumbing 
business  at  Reinerton,  Pa.,  was  bom  July  23,  1885,  in  Porter  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  son  of  Alfred  and  Elizabeth  (Schwalm)  Hand. 

The  Hand  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  Porter  township,  where  the 
great-great-great-grandfather  of  Ira  W.  Hand  was  a  pioneer  settler.  John 
Hand,  the  great-grandfather  of  Ira  W.,  passed  his  entire  life  in  Porter  town- 
ship, and  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
upon  his  large  farm.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  children,  namely:  David, 
Joseph  and  Edward,  all  of  whom  died  in  Porter  township ;  John,  who  died 
in  Clearfield  county.  Pa. ;  a  daughter,  who  married  William  Goodman ;  Polly, 
who  married  William  Wagner;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Henry  Miller. 

Joseph  Hand,  the  grandfather  of  Ira  W.  Hand,  was  bom  on  the  homestead 
farm  in  Porter  township  and  passed  his  entire  life  in  the  locality,  being 
engaged  in  farming  and  also  following  mining  for  some  years.  He  died  on 
his  farm  Dec.  25,  1913,  and  was  buried  at  Orwin  cemetery.  He  married  D. 
Kessler,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Kessler,  and  they  had  ten  children :  Alfred ; 
Lucy,  who  married  John  Hoffman;  Andrew,  residing  at  Orwin;  Catherine, 
who  is  the  widow  of  Adam  Bendigo  and  lives  at  Orwin ;  Valeria,  who  married 
Isaac  Bendigo ;  Frank,  of  Orwin ;  Emma  who  married  Lincoln  Adams ;  Paul, 
who  died  in  Porter  township ;  Joseph,  who  is  living  upon  the  old  homestead ; 
and  Elmer,  living  in  Porter  township. 

Alfred  Hand,  father  of  Ira  W.  Hand,  was  bom  in  Porter  township  in 
1854,  and  during  the  active  period  of  his  life  followed  farming,  and  mining. 


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1060  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

At  this  time  he  is  retired  from  active  pursuits  and  makes  his  home  with  his 
son.  Mr.  Hand  married  Elizabeth  Schwalm,  now  deceased,  who  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Peter  Schwalm.  Two  children  were  bom  to  this  union: 
Harry,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years ;  and  Ira  W. 

Ira  W.  Hand  was  reared  at  the  home  of  his  grandfather,  Peter  Schwalm, 
in  Porter  township,  and  secured  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
continued  as  a  farm  boy  Until  seventeen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he 
entered  the  mines,  spending  five  years  in  the  East  Brookside,  Good  Spring  and 
Lincoln  collieries.  He  then  placed  himself  under  the  training  of  his  imcle, 
John  P.  Schwalm,  who  taught  him  the  trades  of  plumbing  and  tinning,  and 
with  whom  he  remained  for  four  years^  In  April,  1913,  he  opened  his  pres- 
ent establishment  at  Reinerton,  where  he  has  built  up  a  very  satisfying  busi- 
ness. He  is  a  dealer  in  tinware  and  furnaces,  makes  a  specialty  of  steam 
fitting  and  plumbing,  and  accepts  contracts  for  tinning,  roofing,  spouting  and 
repairing,  giving  special  attention  to  the  latter  branch  of  his  business.  Also 
he  is  agent  in  this  district  for  the  Oakland  automobile  and  the  I.  H.  C.  truck. 
Mr.  Hand  is  an  enterprising  and  energetic  business  man,  whose  success  has 
been  won  entirely  through  his  own  eflforts.  From  earliest  youth  he  has  dis- 
played industry,  seeking  to  perform  well  each  task  that  has  come  to  his  hand, 
while  his  business  associates  know  him  as  a  man  of  strictest  integrity,  whose 
word  can  be  absolutely  relied  upon.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America,  and  as  a  citizen  he  has  given  his  support 
to  good  men  and  beneficial  measures.  He  and  Mrs.  Hand  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

Mrs.  Hand  before  her  marriage  was  Eva  E.  Jobe,  and  she  is  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  Jobe,  who  was  bom  in  England  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  a  boy,  later  settling  at  Muir,  Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hand 
are  the  parents  of  two  sons :    Elbert  and  Ivan. 

JOHN  KRELL,  late  of  Rush  township,  was  a  well  known  citizen  of  his  sec- 
tion of  Schuylkill  county,  where  his  widow  and  several  of  his  children  are  yet 
residing.  He  was  a  native  of  Germany,  bom  March  17,  1827,  in  Hessen-Cassel, 
where  his  early  years  were  spent.  Coming  to  America  in  1847,  he  settled  at 
Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  first  found  work  in  the  mines,  later  en- 
gaging in  the  butchering  business,  on  his  own  account.  He  continued  it  for  about 
twenty  years,  meeting  with  steady  success,  and  then  removed  to  Rush  town- 
ship, where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  here  July  7,  1903.  He 
is  buried  at  Tamaqua.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church 
and  well  known  socially  among  his  countrymen,  belonging  to  several  German 
societies. 

In  1853  Mr.  Krell  married  Eva  M.  Jacobs,  by  whom  he  had  three  children, 
namely :  Margaret,  who  married  Fred  Deheit ;  and  two  sons  who  died  young. 
On  March  12,  i860,  Mr.  Krell  married  (second)  Maria  E.  Hagelgons,  a  native 
of  Germany,  daughter  of  Henry  Hagelgons,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and 
came  to  America  with  his  wife  and  family  when  Mrs.  Krell  was  fourteen 
years  old.  They  settled  at  Tamaqua.  Of  the  seven  children  who  were  born  to 
John  and  Maria  E.  Krell,  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Adam  Hartwig,  of  Tamaqua ; 
Elizabeth  married  John  Wetzel,  of  Tamaqua;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Martin 
F.  Ryan,  a  business  man  of  Tamaqua;  Fred  died  Oct.  10,  1905;  John  is  living 
at  West  Milton,  Pa.  The  mother  of  this  family  is  now  living  at  Hometown 
with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Ryan.    She  h^s  many  friends  in  the  town  and  vicinity, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1061 

and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  her,  having  always  shared  the  great 
respect  which  Mr.  Krell  enjoyed  among  his  acquaintances  everywhere. 

Martin  F.  Ryan  has  been  doing  business  at  Tamaqua  for  a  number  of 
years  and  formerly  resided  there,  but  he  now  maintains  his  residence  at  Home- 
town, in  Rush  township,  having  a  fine  home.  He  was  bom  at  Tamaqua.  In 
young  manhood  he  learned  the  trade  of  painter,  which  he  has  since  followed, 
being  now  one  of  the  most  successful  contractors  in  that  line  in  this  section 
of  Pennsylvania.  He  keeps  several  men  constantly  employed,  doing  work  at 
Tamaqua,  Lansford,  and  in  the  surrounding  territory. 

Mr.  Ryan  is  considered  one  of  the  valuable  workers  in  his  locality  in 
behalf  of  good  government,  and  he  has  held  the  position  of  school  director 
for  several  years,  being  still  on  the  board,  where  his  cooperation  is  highly 
prized.  He  married  Minnie  Krell,  daughter  of  John  and  Maria  E.  (Hagel- 
gons)  Krell,  and  they  have  three  children:  Maria,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Elmer  Iffert;  John,  and  Clarence. 

WILLIAM  RENNER  is  engaged  in  a  business  which  he  and  his  father, 
in  turn,  have  carried  on  in  Ashland  for  a  period  of  almost  fifty  years.  He  is 
a  successful  manufacturer,  and  succeeded  his  father  in  the  business  which 
the  latter  established  shortly  after  the  Civil  war,  continuing  it  until  his  own 
death. 

The  Renner  family  has  been  established  in  this  country  for  three  genera- 
tions and  is  of  German  origin.  The  grandparents  of  William  Renner  came 
to  America  at  an  early  date  and  first  settled  in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
where  the  grandfather  continued  to  reside  until  his  death.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  carpenter.  His  family  consisted  of  five  children,  of  whom  Francis 
was  the  eldest;  Minnie  is  now  a  resident  of  Ohio;  August  is  a  resident  of 
St.  Qair,  Pa.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  business  as  a  wheelwright  and  black- 
smith ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Selig,  of  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania. 

Francis  Renner,  the  father  of  William  Renner,  was  bom  in  Saxony,  Ger- 
many, and  was  very  young  when  brought  to  this  country.  He  grew  up  in 
Schuylkill  county  and  learned  the  trade  of  carpet  weaver,  which  he  followed 
until  he  enlisted  on  the  Union  side  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  He  was  in 
the  army  to  the  close  of  the  conflict,  and  then  came  to  Ashland,  where  in  1866 
he  began  the  business  which  he  followed  to  the  end  of  his  days.  His  death 
occurred  March  24,  1896.  Mr.  Renner  married  Catherine  Sent,  who  was  bom 
in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and  died  in  1881.  To  this  union  were  bom  four 
sons  and  four  daughters,  namely :  George,  August,  Frank,  William  and  Chris- 
tine, all  residents  of  Ashland ;  Mary,  Minnie  and  Katie,  all  three  deceased. 

William  Renner  was  bom  Feb.  3,  1876,  in  Ashland,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  borough.  When  old  enough  to  be  of 
assistance  he  began  to  help  his  father  in  the  carpet  weaving  business,  and 
remained  with  him,  taking  full  charge  of  the  business  upon  the  latter's  death. 
He  is  still  weaving  with  a  loom  that  was  made  in  1781.  There  is  a  steady 
demand  for  his  services  in  the  borough,  and  for  his  output,  and  the  business 
has  afforded  him  a  substantial  income.  Mr.  Renner  fs  at  present  serving  as 
high  constable  of  Ashland,  to  which  office  he  was  appointed  in  1912.  Officially 
he  has  proved  capable  and  trustworthy,  discharging  his  duties  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  all  concemed.     He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  connection,  and 


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1062  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

a  member  of  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church,  and  socially  is  a  prominent  worker 
in  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp  at  Ashland,  in  which  he  has  held  office. 

In  1910  Mr.  Renner  married  Mabel  West  Wood,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  daugh- 
ter of  Howard  and  Mary  Wood. 

GEORGE  F.  DIMMERLING,  of  Pottsville,  Is  a  capable  young  business 
man  of  that  borough  and  member  of  a  substantial  family  which  has  been 
settled  there  from  the  time  of  his  grandfather.  The  latter,  Jacob  Dimmerling, 
was  bom  in  Germany,  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man.  He  made  his 
home  at  what  has  since  become  Yorkville,  now  a  part  of  Pottsville,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  bought  property  and  built  a  log  house.  By  trade  he  was 
a  carpenter,  but  he  was  engaged  at  the  mines  most  of  his  life,  and  became 
very  well  known  in  this  section.  He  died  on  Twelfth  street,  Pottsville.  His 
children  were:  Peter,  John,  Mary,  Catherine  and  Jacob.  Of  these,  Peter 
served  in  the  Civil  war,  was  captured  and  confined  in  Libby  prison,  and  was 
one  of  the  few  that  escaped  from  that  place. 

Jacob  Dimmerling,  father  of  George  F.  Dimmerling,  was  bom  at  York- 
ville, which  now  forms  part  of  Pottsville,  and  died  Oct.  30,  1892.  After 
some  years'  employment  at  mine  work  he  became  an  engineer  for  the  People's 
Railway  Company  at  Pottsville,  was  so  engaged  for  several  years,  and  later 
was  in  the  hotel  business  at  the  present  location  of  his  son  George.  He  mar- 
ried Barbara  Beeler,  daughter  of  Michael  Beeler,  like  himself  a  member  of 
one  of  the  early  families  at  Yorkville.  After  her  husband's  death  Mrs. 
Dimmerling  continued  the  hotel  business  for  some  time,  and  she  passed  away 
Oct.  .30,  1907.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dimmerling  were  among  the  respected  citizens 
of  their  day  in  the  borough.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely : 
Peter  (deceased),  Jacob,  Eva,  George  F.,  Charles  (deceased),  William  and 
Joseph.  William  was  with  his  brother  George  in  the  hotel  business  for  some 
years,  but  is  now  following  contracting  and  building  at  Pottsville,  and  has  a 
large  patronage. 

George  F.  Dimmerling  was  bom  at  Pottsville  April  22,  1878,  and  obtained 
his  education  here,  attending  St.  John's  parochial  school.  When  a  youth  he 
began  work  driving  wagon  for  L.  C.  Thompson,  merchant,  by  whom  he  was 
employed  for  one  year.  He  then  leamed  the  trade  of  barber,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  tumed  to  mine  work,  becoming  gig 
boss  at  the  York  Farm  colliery,  which  position  he  held  for  one  year.  Then  for 
a  period  of  twelve  years  Mr.  Dimmerling  was  occupied  at  blacksmithing,  and 
since  July,  1906,  he  has  been  in  the  hotel  business.  For  several  years  he  was 
in  partnership  with  his  brother  William,  under  the  firm  name  of  Dimmerling 
Brothers,  but  he  has  been  alone  since  May  i,  191 3,  when  he  bought  out  his 
brother's  interest.  His  hotel  is  at  Eighteenth  and  West  Market  streets,  Potts- 
ville, and  is  well  known  and  justly  popular,  being  conducted  with  all  con- 
sideration for  the  comfort  of  patrons,  whose  custom  Mr.  Dinmierling  has 
retained  by  courteous  attention  and  business-like  methods.  He  is  well  known 
among  his  fellow  citizens  in  Pottsville,  being  a  member  of  the  Yorkville  Hose 
Company,  the  Fratemal  Order  of  Eagles,  the  Liederkranz  and  St.  John's 
Society.  His  religious  connection  is  with  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Dimmerling  married  Mary  Buchanan,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Evans)  Buchanan,  and  they  have  had  four  children,  namely:  Evadora, 
George,  Mary  and  Charles,  the  last  named  deceased. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1063 

JOHN  F.  HAND,  inside  foreman  of  No.  2  slope  at  the  Lincoln  col- 
liery, near  Tremont,  is  one  of  the  youngest  men  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadel- 
phia &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company  to^  hold  so  responsible  a  position.  He 
is  thoroughly  respected  in  the  borough  as  a  typical  member  of  one  of  the  old 
families  there  whose  members  have  all  belonged  to  the  substantial  element 
of  the  community. 

The  Hand  family  has  been  in  Pennsylvania  for  several  generations,  founded 
here  by  John  Hand,  an  Orangeman  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  who  came 
to  America  with  his  brother  William.  The  latter  settled  in  New  Jersey,  John 
Hand  coming  to  this  State,  where  he  made  a  settlement  in  the  Lykens  valley, 
taking  up  a  farm.  He  lived  and  died  there.  His  children  were:  William, 
Abraham,  John,  and  two  daughters. 

William  Hand,  son  of  John,  above,  also  followed  farming  in  the  Lykens 
valley,  later  removing  to  Clearfield  county.  Pa.,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
and  engaged  in  the  timber  business  as  well  as  agriculture.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty-eight  years,  and  is  buried  there.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Zim- 
merman, and  their  children  were:  John,  William,  Elias,  Henry,  Joseph, 
George,  James,,  Kate  (Mrs.  Daubert),  Mrs.  Young,  and  a  daughter  who  died 
in  Pittsburgh. 

John  Hand,  son  of  William,  was  bom  in  what  was  then  Upper  Mahan- 
tongo  (now  Hegins)  township,  on  the  old  John  Reed  farm  about  three  quarters 
of  a  mile  northeast  of  Hegins.  He  learned  shoemaking,  but  did  not  follow  that 
trade  long.  Later  he  learned  stonemasonry,  at  which  he  was  also  engaged  but 
a  short  time,  eventually  going  to  work  at  the  mines,  where  he  was  occupied 
for  about  forty-five  years.  In  1844  he  settled  at  Tremont,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  pioneers,  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  Feb.  18,  1902,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years.  He  is  buried  in  the  M.  E.  cemetery  at  Tremont.  Five 
children  were  bom  to  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Shuckert,  daughter  of 
Henry  Shuckert:  Daniel,  James  Monroe,  William  F.,  Mary  and  Margaret. 

James  Monroe  Hand  was  bom  at  Tremont  in  1849,  ^tnd  had  rather  limited 
advantages,  being  only  a  young  boy  when  he  began  to  pick  slate  at  the  mines. 
With  the  exception  of  about  eighteen  months  during  which  he  was  employed 
in  a  foundry  at  Tremont  he  has  been  engaged  at  the  mines  continuously  since, 
and  he  is  now  one  of  the  reliable  hands  at  the  Lincoln  colliery.  He  has  served 
many  years  as  member  of  the  borough  council,  and  for  three  years  he  was 
health  officer.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  Mr. 
Hand  married  Elizabeth  Carl,  daughter  of  Elias  Carl,  and  they  have  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Amelia,  Susanna,  John  F.,  William  Elias,  Eleanor  (twin  of 
William,  deceased  in  infancy)  and  James  M.,  Jr. 

John  F  Hand  was  bom  at  Tremont  Feb.  15,  1881,  and  received  a  good 
education  there  in  the  public  schools.  In  his  boyhood  he  started  work  at  the 
old  Lincoln  breaker,  and  he  was  variously  employed  about  the  collieries  until 
he  became  thoroughly  experienced  in  all  the  branches  of  the  work.  For  one 
year  he  was  engaged  as  a  miner  at  the  Goodspring  colliery,  returning  to  the 
Lincoln  for  a  time.  In  1906  he  went  to  the  Blackwood  colliery  as  fire  boss, 
remaining  there  for  four  years,  when  he  went  back  to  the  Lincoln  in  the 
same  capacity.  Later  he  became  assistant  inside  foreman  there,  and  in  July, 
191 5,  he  was  further  promoted,  to  inside  foreman  at  the  No.  2  slope.  His  long 
employment  at  these  workings  has  qualified  him  amply  for  the  duties  of  the 
position,  and  his  dependable  personal  qualities  have  been  recognized  by  his 
immediate  associates  and  superiors  alike. 


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I  1064  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

In  1905  Mr.  Hand  married  Mary  M.  Wagner,  daughter  of  Joseph  Wagner, 
of  Tremont^  and  they  have  four  children :  James,  Helen,  Paul  and  Grace.  The 
family  are  associated  with  the  Evangelical  denomination  in  religion.  Mr. 
Hand  is  a  member  of  the  Tremont  Fire  Company  No.  i,  and  fraternally  he 
affiliates  with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  P.  O.  S.  of  A. 

FRANK  D.  DIETRICH,  whose  farm  is  situated  a  mile  south  of  Friedens- 
burg,  in  Wayne  township,  is  a  successful  agriculturist  and  a  man  of  recog- 
nized personal  worth.  Reliable  in  business  transactions,  and  whole-hearted  in 
his  sense  of  responsibility  towards  all  his  fellow  men,  he  has  a  reputation 
for  honesty  and  good  citizenship  creditable  to  himself  and  beneficial  to  the 
locality.  His  up-to-date  farming  operations  have  also  assisted  in  its  material 
betterment. 

Mr.  Dietrich  is  a  native  of  Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  county,  bom  Sept 
28,  1875,  son  of  Neri  and  Catharine  (Snyder)  Dietrich,  now  residents  of 
Cressona,  this  county.  His  education  was  obtained  entirely  in  the  public 
schools.  With  the  exception  of  about  one  year,  during  which  he  was  engaged 
in  conducting  the  "Park  Hotel"  at  Cressona,  Mr.  Dietnch  has  carried  on  farm- 
ing, in  which,  by  diligence  and  thrift,  he  has  found  profitable  occupation.  In 
1907  he  purchased  and  settled  upon  the  place  where  he  now  resides,  a  seventy- 
acre  property  under  excellent  cultivation,  and  well  improved  in  every  respect. 
He  is  noted  for  his  attention  to  detail,  and  the  condition  of  the  farm  bears  every 
evidence  of  his  care  in  little  things  as  well  as  the  main  lines.  Modem  methods 
have  been  adopted  wherever  practicable,  and  Mr.  Dietrich  has  proved  the 
value  of  systematic  management  by  the  satisfactory  results  which  have  at- 
tended his  efforts.  He  understands  the  economy  of  neatness,  and  in  appear- 
ance his  land  bears  comparison  with  any  other  in  the  vicinity.  In  connection 
with  his  agricultural  work  he  deals  in  fertilizers,  acting  as  agent  for  Lister's 
fertilizer,  which  through  his  enterprise  has  been  well  introduced  in  this  part 
of  Schuylkill  county.  He  takes  a  live  interest  in  politics  and  other  local  affairs, 
has  served  as  election  inspector,  and  is  now  judge  of  election ;  his  connection 
is  with  the  Republican  party.  Socially  he  belongs  to  the  Patriotic  Order  Scms 
of  America  and  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Americans. 

In  1901  Mr.  Dietrich  was  married  to  Ida  Reed,  of  Wayne  township,  daugh- 
ter of  L.  G.  and  Lizzie  (Womer)  Reed.  Of  the  two  children  bom  to  this 
marriage  one  survives,  Claud  R.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

MICHAEL  MURPHY,  who  has  charge  as  inside  foreman  at  the  Pine  Knot 
colliery,  in  Cass  township,  has  had  the  thorough  experience  necessary  to  the 
proper  discharge  of  his  duties,  having  held  the  position  since  he  himself 
opened  up  the  colliery  ten  years  ago.  Mr.  Murphy  is  a  native  of  Cass  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  bom  at  Heckscherville,  in  1868.  He  is  a  son  of 
Patrick  Murphy  and  grandson  of  Michael  Murphy,  and  of  Irish  extraction 
in  both  patemal  and  maternal  lines. 

Michael  Murphy,  the  grandfather,  lived  and  died  in  Ireland.  He  was  en- 
gaged as  a  "car  man,"  hauling  coal  to  the  towns,  where  he  sold  it.  After 
his  death  his  wife  brought  her  family  to  America,  and  they  lived  for  a  short 
time  at  Brookl)ai,  N.  Y.,  before  coming  to  Pennsylvania,  where  they  located 
at  Heckscherville,  in  Cass  township.  Here  Patrick  Murphy,  father  of  Michael 
Murphy,  bqg^an  to  work  in  the  coal  mines  at  an  early  age.    Intelligent  and  am- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1065 

bitious  beyond  the  ordinary,  he  became  a  skilled  operator  and  undertook  mine 
work  on  his  own  account,  for  many  years  filling  contracts  to  drive  slopes  and 
tunnels  for  the  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company.  Few  men  in  the  anthracite 
regions  were  more  widely  known  or  more  highly  regarded  than  Mr.  Murphy, 
and  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1901,  was  deeply  regretted.  He  met  with  an 
accident  at  the  Big  Moimtain  colliery,  near  Shamokin,  and  died  in  the  Fountain 
Springs  hospital,  near  Ashland.  Mr.  Murphy  served  as  tax  collector  of  Cass 
township,  but  he  was  not  an  office  seeker  and  seldom  accepted  public  honors, 
though  well  known  in  the  locality  and  in  political  circles,  and  always  active  in 
the  public  aflFairs  of  his  time.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  and  is  buried  at  Heckscherville.  Mr.  Murphy  married  Ann  Convile, 
who  was  bom  in  Ireland,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Catherine  (Foley)  Convile, 
and  came  to  America  with  her  parents,  the  family  settling  at  Heckscherville, 
in  Cass  township,  Schuylkill  coimty.  Mrs.  Murphy  continues  to  reside  at  the 
Murphy  homestead  in  that  township.  She  is  the  mother  of  a  large  family 
namely:  Michael  is  mentioned  below;  Catherine  married  James  Sweney; 
Patrick,  who  lives  at  Shenandoah,  was  formerly  sheriff  of  Schuylkill  county; 
John,  twin  of  Patrick,  died  in  March,  1913 ;  Mary  married  Jeremiah  Brennan, 
and  hves  in  Cass  township ;  James  is  a  resident  of  Shenandoah,  Pa. ;  Margaret, 
deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Joseph  O'Donnell;  Joseph  and  William  are  next  in 
the  family;  Elizabeth  married  Frank  Elkom,  and  they  reside  at  Shamokin, 
Pa. ;  Bemer  died  when  thirteen  years  old. 

Michael  Murphy  attended  public  school  in  his  native  township,  but  his 
advantages  were  cut  short  at  an  early  age,  for  he  was  but  ten  years  old  when 
he  commenced  to  pick  slate  at  the  breaker.  After  employment  of  various 
kinds  about  the  mines  he  began  to  cut  coal,  and  was  so  engaged  for  about 
fifteen  years.  By  that  time  his  competence  and  steadiness  had  attracted  the 
attention  of  his  employers  and  he  was  made  assistant  foreman  at  the  Richard- 
son colliery,  where  he  remained  for  ten  years.  Changing  to  the  Glendower 
colliery  he  was  assistant  foreman  there  for  two  years,  and  on  March  22,  1905, 
he  came  to  what  is  now  the  Pine  Knot  colliery,  where  he  has  since  been  inside 
foreman.  Mr.  Murphy  had  charge  of  the  opening  of  its  works,  and  all  of  the 
inside  work  has  been  done  under  his  instruction.  He  is  thoroughly  familiar 
with  every  detail  of  the  operations,  and  is  particularly  valuable  for  that 
reason,  though  his  long  general  experience  has  been  by  no  means  a  negligible 
factor  in  the  success  he  has  had  smce  he  took  charge  here.  He  is  well  and 
favorably  known  in  the  various  parts  of  Schuylkill  county  to  which  his  work 
has  called  him.    Mr.  Murphy  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  faith. 

By  his  marriage  to  Mary  Kennedy,  of  Heckscherville,  this  county,  the  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  bom  to  him :  Annie  I.,  now  a  public  school  teacher 
at  Heckscherville ;  Edward  E.,  who  is  an  engineer  at  the  Pine  Knot  colliery ; 
Patrick  F.,  also  an  employe  at  that  colliery ;  Daniel  J. ;  Florence ;  Bemadetta ; 
and  Mary  L.,  Mary  Estella  and  Bemard,  all  three  deceased. 

ROURINDINE  PERRY,  well  known  in  both  Orwigsburg  and  Schuylkill 
Haven,  is  a  native  of  Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  county,  born  Feb.  14,  1882,  son 
of  Peter  Perry. 

Peter  Perry  was  bom  near  Girardville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  reared 
upon  a  farm  near  Mahanoy  City,  meantime  attending  the  local  schools.  His 
first  work  was  at  the  mines,  and  from  that  vocation  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company  as  brakeman,  continuing  in  that  com- 


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1066  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 

pany's  employ  until  he  met  his  death  in  a  railroad  accident  in  the  State  of 
New  Jersey.  Mr.  Perry  married  Mrs.  Alice  (Moyer)  Eaton,  a  widow,  who 
had  one  child,  Cora,  by  her  first  marriage.  By  this  uniotv  Mr.  Perry  had  the 
following  children:  Arlington  C;  Rourindine;  and  Annie  Mary,  wife  of 
Frederick  Gruhler,  living  in  Phillipsburg,  N.  J.  Mr.  Perry  died  at  the  age 
of  forty-two  years,  and  his  wife  at  the  age  of  forty-one  years.  They  are 
buried  in  the  Reformed  Church  cemetery  at  Orwigsburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Rourindine  Perry  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of 
Orwigsburg.  Owing  to  the  death  of  his  father  he  was  obliged  to  begin  work, 
and  he  entered  the  employ  of  S.  R.  Kepner,  a  cigar  manufacturer  of  Orwigs- 
burg. Upon  the  completion  of  his  apprenticeship  he  continued  cigarmaking 
with  this  employer,  with  whom  he  has  remained  until  the  present  time.  In 
1909,  in  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  Alfred  L.  Bowen,  Mr.  Perry 
built  an  up-to-date  motion  picture  theatre  on  Main  street,  in  Schuylkill  Haven, 
Pa.,  having  a  seating  capacity  of  475  people  and  modem  in  the  highest  degree. 
Here  are  shown  all  licensed  and  big  feature  reels,  and  the  patronage  of  the 
best  people  of  the  borough  attests  to  the  popularity  of  this  place  of  amusement. 
Mr.  Perry  married  Millie  May  Bowen  (bom  April  29,  1885),  daughter  of 
John  A.  and  Josephine  (Hohl)  Bowen.  In  political  faith  Mr.  Perry  is  inde- 
pendent. He  is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  86,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Americans,  of  Orwigsburg,  and  Conclave  No.  1087, 
Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs,  of  Schuylkill  Haven.  He  attends  the  Meth- 
odist Church  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  has  taught  in  the  Simday  school. 

Mrs.  Millie  May  (Bowen)  Perry  was  bom  in  North  Manheim  township, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  educated  in  the  township  schools,  and  in  the  public 
and  high  schools  of  Schuylkill  Haven.  She  then  entered  the  employ  of  her 
father  in  the  underwear  mills,  where  she  remained  until  her  marriage. 

John  Bowen,  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Perry,  during  his  early  working 
years  was  a  foreman  at  Port  Clinton,  Schuylkill  county,  but  later  in  life  farmed 
in  North  Manheim  township,  becoming  the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land 
there.  He  built  a  log  house  and  barn  on  that  tract,  the  former  still  standing 
(191 5),  and  continued  to  farm  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at 
the  age  of  fifty-eight  years,  through  injuries  received  in  a  runaway  accident 
Mr.  Bowen  married  a  Hartman,  and  they  had  the  following  children :  Samuel, 
John,  Martin,  Caroline,  Hannah,  Mrs.  Schroeder  and  Mrs.  Ketner.  Mr.  Bowen 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  both  are  buried  in  the 
Union  cemetery  in  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Martin  Bowen,  son  of  John  and  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Perry,  was  educated 
in  the  North  Manheim  township  schools  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  work 
of  tl^e  farm.  He  inherited  a  third  share  of  the  homestead,  a  tract  of  sixty-five 
acres,  which  he  cultivated  until  his  death.  Mr.  Bowen  was  married  to  Mary 
Kershner  and  these  children  were  bom  to  them:  Charles  K.  (deceased)  mar- 
ried Mary  Staller;  Amanda  (deceased)  married  Jacob  Kirk;  Matilda  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-nine  years ;  Lewis  is  unmarried ;  John  A.  is  mentioned  below ; 
Morris  married  Mary  (Staller),  widow  of  his  brother  Charles.  Martin  Bowen 
was  a  I>emocrat  in  political  affiliation,  but  not  active  in  the  party.  He  was  an 
active  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church  and  was  one  of  the  building 
committee  which  supervised  the  erection  of  the  Jemsalem  Union  Church,  then 
in  North  Manheim  township  but  now  in  the  limits  of  the  borough  of  Schuyl- 
kill Haven,  Pa.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Schuylkill 
Haven. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1067 

John  A.  Bowen,  son  of  Martin  and  father  of  Mrs.  Perry,  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  North  Manheim  township,  where  he  was  bom  Aug.  29,  1853. 
In  his  earUer  days  he  assisted  with  the  work  of  the  farm,  but  later  on  learned 
the  trade  of  painter  with  Israel  Kline,  with  whom  he  remained  for  about  five 
years,  next  working  as  painter  with  the  Schuylkill  Navigation  Company  for 
four  years,  in  the  boat  yard.  He  then  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm,  which 
he  operated  for  sixteen  years.  Finally  he  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  D. 
Reed  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  conducting  the  Union  Knitting  Mills,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  underwear.  This  partnership  was  dissolved  after  five  years  and  Mr. 
Bowen  entered  the  car  shops  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company  at 
Schuylkill  Haven,  doing  contract  work  for  a  time.  He  next  entered  the  S. 
Thomas  Knitting  Mills,  where  he  is  employed  at  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Bowen  was  united  in  marriage  to  Josephine  Hohl,  who  was  bom  April  30, 
1858,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Leah  (Berger)  Hohl,  and  to  this  union 
were  bom  three  children:  Alfred  L.,  who  married  Minnie  Honsberger  and 
has  two  children,  Florence  and  Dorothy;  Millie  May;  and  Homer,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years.  Mr.  Bowen  is  independent  in  his  political  views.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Church  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  of  which 
he  is  now  a  trustee;  he  has  served  in  all  its  offices  and  as  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school. 

THOMAS  HARLOR,  at  present  inside  foreman  at  the  North  Mahanoy 
colliery,  Mahanoy  City,  has  acquitted  himself  creditably  in  the  various  posi- 
tions he  has  held  in  the  anthracite  regions,  where  he  has  worked  all  his  life. 
Bom  Aug.  I,  1863,  at  Thomaston,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  he  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
Harlor,  a  native  of  England,  who  was  reared  and  married  in  that  country. 
He  and  his  wife,  Sarah  (Miles),  came  to  America  with  one  child  and  settled 
in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.  He  always  followed  mining.  His  death  occurred 
at  Hazleton,  Pa.,  when  he  was  seventy-six  years  old,  and  his  wife  had  passed 
away  at  Mahanoy  City  when  fifty-two  years  old.  Their  children  were :  Emily, 
Mary,  Charles,  James,  Thomas,  Harriet,  Elizabeth,  Joseph,  Lydia,  William, 
Eleanor,  and  a  daughter  that  died  in  infancy. 

Thomas  Harlor  attended  public  school  at  Raven  Run,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  Centralia,  Pa.,  but  he  was  a  mere  child  of  seven  when  he  went  to  work  at 
Miller's  breaker,  Shenandoah,  picking  slate.  When  nine  years  old  he  com- 
menced inside  work,  and  later  ran  a  cross  shift  with  his  father,  when  seven- 
teen years  old.  He  continued  to  follow  mining  until  1894,  after  which  he  was 
engaged  for  seventeen  years  as  fire  boss,  first  at  Glendon,  for  J.  C.  Haden  & 
Co.,  later  at  the  Primrose  mine,  near  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  then  at 
Tunnel  Ridge,  where  he  was  assistant  fire  boss  for  a  short  time,  and  after- 
wards at  the  Boston  Run  colliery.  Again  he  mined  for  one  year,  was  next 
fire  boss  at  the  North  Mahanoy  colliery,  in  the  Schuylkill  section,  and  once 
more  was  at  Tunnel  Ridge,  as  assistant  inside  boss  for  two  years.  He  has 
since  held  the  position  of  inside  foreman  at  the  North  Mahanoy  colliery, 
Mahanoy  City.  Mr.  Harlor  is  a  man  of  thorough  reliability,  and  his  high 
character  and  knowledge  of  mines  and  mining  work  make  him  absolutdy 
tmstworthy.  He  deserves  the  confidence  he  enjoys  and  the  respect  which  all 
his  associates  show  him,  for  he  has  worked  his  way  up  unaided,*  relying  only 
on  his  fidelity  and  honest  performance  of  duty  for  advancement.  He  is  an 
Odd  Fellow  in  good  standing,  belonging  to  the  lodge  at  Girardville,  this 


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1068  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

county,  and  he  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  which  he  is 
serving  as  trustee.    Personally  he  bears  a  high  reputation. 

Mr.  Harlor  married  Sarah  Palmer,  daughter  of  William  Palmer,  of 
Mahanoy  City,  and  they  have  three  children :  Roy,  who  married  Mary  Yoe, 
lives  in  Mahanoy  City,  and  is  employed  as  clerk  at  the  Boston  Run  colliery; 
Ethyl,  a  graduate  of  the  Mahanoy  City  high  school,  is  living  at  home ;  Mae  is 
also  a  graduate  of  the  Mahanoy  City  high  school. 

ROBERT  J.  NESBITT,  deceased,  was  a  hotel  man  at  Pottsville  for  a 
number  of  years,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  who  was  a  veteran 
hotel  proprietor  of  that  place. 

William  Nesbitt,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Ireland,  and  coming  to  the  United 
States  settled  at  Cumbola,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  mining  for 
a  number  of  years.  Later  he  became  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  which  he 
followed  for  a  period  of  forty  years.  He  married  Mary  Brown,  and  they 
had  one  child,  Robert  J.    Both  of  the  parents  died  in  Pottsville. 

Robert  J.  Nesbitt  was  bom  Jan.  22.  1850,  at  Cumbola,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  received  an  excellent  public  school  education.  He  taught  school  in  this 
county  for  several  terms,  and  later  assisted  his  father  in  the  conduct  of  his 
hotel,  being  so  engaged  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  9,  1884.  He  is 
buried  in  the  No.  2  Catholic  cemetery  at  Pottsville.  Though  very  young  dur- 
ing the  Civil  vwar  Mr.  Nesbitt  enlisted  at  the  latter  part  of  that  conflict,  serv- 
ing nine  months  in  the  Union  army. 

Mr.  Nesbitt  married  Kate  Rosenberger,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Mary 
(Krine)  Rosenberger;  the  former  of  whom  came  to  this  country  from  Ger- 
many. After  a  three  years'  residence  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  he  settled  at  Potts- 
ville, where  he  worked  by  the  day.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years, 
his  wife  reaching  the  age  of  eighty-six.  They  are  buried  at  Pottsville.  Of  the 
ten  children  bom  to  them,  five  still  survive :  Jacob,  Laurence,  Elizabeth,  Mary 
and  Catharine. 

Mrs.  Nesbitt  continued  the  hotel  business  after  her  husband's  death  for  a 
period  of  twenty-five  years,  conducting  his  establishment  at  Fishbach,  and 
the  house  lost  none  of  its  oldtime  popularity  under  her  conscientious  manage- 
ment. Several  years  ago  she  sold  her  interest,  and  she  is  now  making  her 
home  at  No.  1580  West  Market  street,  Pottsville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nesbitt  had 
one  child,  Mary,  who  is  now  engaged  in  teaching  school  at  Poughkeepsie,  N. 
Y.  All  of  this  family  have  borne  a  high  reputation  for  thrift  and  reliability, 
and  they  occupy  a  most  creditable  position  among  the  worthy  citizens  of  the 
borough. 

JOHN  F.  KANE,  of  Tuscarora,  has  become  a  well  known  citizen  of 
Schuylkill  township  during  the  long  period  he  has  acted  as  inside  foreman  at 
the  Bell  colliery  there — almost  twenty  years.  He  is  a  man  of  intelligence 
and  reliable  character,  conscientious  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  business  obliga- 
tions and  helpful  in  the  activities  of  the  community.  Mr.  Kane  is  a  native 
of  Schuylkill  county,  bom  at  New  Philadelphia,  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Fogarty)  Kane. 

John  Kane,  the  father,  was  bom  in  Ireland,  and  was  brought  to  America 
in  childhood.  When  a  boy  he  commenced  work  at  the  mines,  and  always  fol- 
lowed that  occupation,  becoming  very  well  known  among  miners  and  oper- 
ators in  this  section,  where  he  filled  a  number  of  responsible  positions.    For 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1069 

a  time  he  was  superintendent  at  the  Furnace  colliery  and  furnace  for  Mr. 
Rhoads,  later  going  to  the  Pottsville  Gap  colliery,  where  he  was  superintend- 
ent until  the;  workings  were  abandoned.  He  then  came  to  Tuscarora,  being 
engaged  at  the  Swift  Creek  colliery  here,  known  now  as  the  Maryd,  where  he 
was  superintendent  until  its  abandonment,  after  which  he  was  at  the  Tuscarora 
colliery,  for  Shaw  &  Donahoe,  as  superintendent,  until  the  boiler  explosion 
in  1876.  The  colliery  was  then  closed,  and  he  subsequently  lived  in  retire- 
ment until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1882.  He  is  buried  at  New  Philadel- 
phia. After  his  demise  the  family  removed  to  New  Boston,  this  coimty,  where 
Mrs.  Kane  passed  away  in  1893;  she,  too,  is  interred  at  New  Philadelphia. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kane  were  bom  children  as  follows :  Margaret,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Dennis  Cooney;  John  F.;  William,  who  lives  at  Tuscarora;  Michael, 
also  of  Tuscarora;  Edward,  living  at  Maryd;  Mary,  wife  of  James  Kerns; 
and  Catherine,  wife  of  James  Hagerty. 

John  F.  Kane  attended  pubUc  school  at  Pottsville  and  Tuscarora,  but  he 
started  work  early,  like  most  boys  in  this  region,  picking  slate  at  the  New 
Boston  breaker.  From  time  to  time  he  was  given  other  work  about  the  mines, 
being  promoted  as  opportunity  oflEered  until  he  became  assistant  inside  fore- 
man at  New  Boston,  where  he  remained  until  1893.  In  that  year  he  returned 
to  mining,  which  he  followed  at  the  Vulcan,  Tunnel  Ridge  and  Morea  col- 
lieries, afterwards  becoming  assistant  inside  foreman  at  the  Kaskawilliam  col- 
liery for  two  years.  From  there  he  came  to  the  Bell  colliery  in  1896,  as 
inside  foreman,  and  has  held  that  position  continuously  since,  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  all  concerned.  This  coUiery,  which  is  located  in  Schuylkill  township, 
is  operated  by  Gorman  &  Campion,  and  when  running^  at  full  capacity  gives 
employment  to  about  two  hundred  men,  whose  respect  Mr.  Kane  has  earned 
by  his  strict  attention  to  his  own  duties. 

Mr.  Kane  has  always  considered  it  a  privilege  to  do  what  is  in  his  power 
towards  promoting  good  government  and  upholding  proper  standards  in  social 
conditions,  and  he  has  done  excellent  work  as  school  director  in  two  of  the 
townships  in  which  he  has  made  his  home.  While  in  East  Mahanoy  township 
he  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  three  years,  and  has  served  the  same 
length  of  time  in  that  capacity  since  settling  in  Schuylkill  township. 
"  Mr.  Kane  married  Margaret  C.  Carr,  daughter  of  Patrick  Carr,  of  Port 
Carbon,  Pa.,  and  they  have  three  daughters:  Mary,  who  is  now  a  public 
school  teacher  in  Schuylkill  township;  Catherine,  and  Margaret.  The  family 
home  is  at  Tuscarora. 

JOSEPH  BREEN,  of  Jonestown,  is  at  present  an  official  of  Cass  town- 
ship, being  a  member  of  the  board  of  school  directors  and  vice  president  of 
that  body.  He  has  been  doing  business  at  Jonestown  as  a  hotelkeeper  for  the 
last  ten  years. 

Patrick  Breen,  father  of  Joseph  Breen,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  spent 
his  early  boyhood  in  that  country,  coming  to  America  when  thirteen  years 
old.  Settling  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  he  became  engaged  at  mine 
work.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Jonestown,  a  small  hamlet  in  Cass  town- 
ship, just  beyond  the  borough  line  of  Minersville,  and  he  became  well  known 
among  his  fellow  citizens  there,  holding  several  local  public  positions.  He 
was^a  school  director  and  for  three  terms  township  supervisor.  Mr.  Breen 
died^at  his  home  in  Cass  township,  and  is  buried  at  Minersville.  He  married 
Catherine  Tobin,  daughter  of  Patrick  Tobin,  and  of  the  twelve  children  bom 


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1070  SCHUYLKILL  COUI^TY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

to  them,  five  still  survive :  Mary,  Julia,  Catherine,  Joseph  and  Thomas.  The 
last  named  is  teaching  school  in  Cass  township.  Mrs.  Breen  now  makes  her 
home  with  her  son  Joseph.  She  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Cass  town- 
ship and  she  and  Mrs.  Dolbin,  also  living  there,  were  schoolmates  many  years 
ago. 

Patrick  Tobin,  father  of  Mrs.  Breen,  was  bom  in  County  Kilkenny,  Ire- 
land, and  was  forty  years  old  when  he  brought  his  family  to  America.  They 
landed  in  the  United  States  in  September,  1849,  after  a  stormy  voyage,  and 
were  soon  settled  at  Forestville,  in  Cass  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  being 
among  the  pioneer  residents  of  that  borough.  While  in  Ireland  Mr.  Tobin 
had  teams  and  did  hauling,  but  after  coming  here  was  a  miner  and  mine  boss, 
and  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  at  Forestville,  dying  there  in  August, 
1855.  He  is  buried  at  Minersville.  He  married  Julia  Maley,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Maley,  the  latter  a  farmer  of  Ireland,  and  eleven  children  were  bom 
to  this  union,  namely:  Catherine  (Mrs.  Breen),  Mary,  Laurence,  Ellen, 
Thomas,  Margaret  (who  died  young),  James,  Edward,  Bridget,  Margaret 
(2)  and  Julia.  All  but  the  three  last  named  were  born  in  Ireland,  they  being 
natives  of  Cass  township. 

Joseph  Breen  was  bom  Nov.  8,  1882,  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  attended  the  public  schools  of  Cass  township.  In  common  with  many  of 
the  boys  living  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  mines,  he  began  to  pick  slate  at  the 
breaker  of  the  Oak  Hill  colliery  when  quite  young,  and  continued  to  be  em- 
ployed around  the  mines  for  about  ten  years,  in  1905  turning  to  his^  present 
business.  At  that  time  he  bought  his  brother's  hotel,  located  at  Jonestown,  in 
Cass  township,  and  he  has  since  conducted  it,  having  worked  up  a  profitable 
trade  through  attention  to  customers  and  careful  management.  Mr.  Breen 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  local  affairs,  has  served  as  township  com- 
mitteeman, and  in  19 12  was  elected  a  member  of  the  township  school  board, 
for  a  six-year  term.  He  is  now  vice  president  of  that  body.  Mr.  Breen  is  un- 
married, making  his  home  with  his  mother.  Like  the  rest  of  the  family  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church  at  Minersville,  and  f ratemally.  he  belongs 
to  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibemians. 

VALENTINE  SPITZNER,  of  Tremont,  is  one  of  the  well  known  resi- 
dents of  that  borough,  of  which  he  has  been  a  lifelong  resident.  His  work, 
as  well  as  his  association  with  various  local  interests,  has  brought  him  into 
contact  with  a  large  proportion  of  his  townsmen,  and  he  is  respected  for  his 
upright  character  and  good  citizenship  wherever  known.  Mr.  Spitzner  was 
bom  at  Tremont  in  the  year  1867,  son  of  Joseph  and  Applonie  (Keefer) 
Spitzner,  who  settled  in  the  borough  in  1866,  making  their  permanent  home 
there.  The  father  was  born  in  Germany,  and  his  death  occurred  at  Tremont 
in  April,  1915,  when  he  was  eighty  years  old.  By  occupation  he  was  a  mine 
worker.  He  had  the  following  children:  Joseph,  who  lives  in  Colorado; 
Elizabeth;  Valentine;  John,  who  is  editor  of  the  West  Schuylkill  Press,  a 
local  newspaper;  and  George. 

Valentine  Spitzner  attended  the  public  schools  at  Tremont  until  he  began 
work,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  in  the  local  mines.  When  twenty-four 
years  old  he  became  baggagemaster  at  Tremont,  and  has  held  that  position 
at  different  times  since,  being  so  engaged  at  the  present  time.  For  three 
years  he  was  on  the  railroad,  between  Lebanon  and  Brookside,  and  for  four 
years  he  was  in  business  on  his  own  account  at  Tremont,  conducting  the 
"Spring  Street  Hotel."    He  has  become  very  well  known  in  this  section  as 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1071 

a  baseball  player,  having  for  many  years  been  captain  and  manager  of  the 
popular  Tremont  Baseball  Club,  with  which  he  played  second  base.  He  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Tremont  Fire  Company,  No.  i,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  at  Tremont,  serving  as  captain  of  the  team. 
The  welfare  of  the  town  has  always  been  a  matter  of  deep  interest  to  him, 
and  he  has  done  his  share  in  promoting  it  in  various  capacities.  He  is  now 
serving  his  third  term  as  member  of  the  borough  school  board^to  which  he 
was  last  elected  in  November,  191 5.  His  religious  membership  is  in  the 
Reformed  Church. 

Mr.  Spitzner  married  Katie  Beard,  a  daughter  of  Jamei  Beard,  and  to  them 
were  bom  two  daughters:  Catherine,  who  lives  in  Pottsville,  this  county; 
and  Mary,  a  graduate  of  the  local  high  school.  The  mother  passed  away, 
and  Mr.  Spitzner  subsequently  married  her  sister,  Mary  Beard.  There  are 
no  children  by  this  union. 

WALTER  F.  ESTERLY,  of  Pottsville,  though  one  of  the  younger  busi- 
ness element  in  that  borough,  has  already  become  known  for  his  ability  and 
good  judgment.  He  has  been  sufficiently  active  in  public  affairs  to  entitle 
him  to  a  place  among  the  progressive  citizens  who  may  be  relied  upon  to 
keep  the  community  up  to  the  best  standards.  Mr.  Esterly  was  bom  at 
Pottsville  June  22,  1885,  son  of  Frank  Esterly  and  grandson  of  Daniel  L. 
Esterly. 

Daniel  L.  Esterly  was  bom  in  Berks  county,  this  State,  and  came  to  Potts- 
ville before  the  Civil  war.  He  iengaged  in  the  hardware  business  at  Centre  and 
Mahantongo  streets,  and  carried  it  on  with  success  until  his  death. 

Frank  Esterly,  father  of  Walter  F.  Esterly,  was  bom  at  Pottsville  and 
received  his  business  training  under  his  father,  with  whom  he  was  associated 
until  the  latter's  death,  afterwards  continuing  the  business  on  his  own  account. 
He  died  May  7,  1905,  and  is  buried  at  Pottsville,  where  his  widow  continues 
to  reside.  Mr.  Esterly  was  one  of  the  active  spirits  of  the  day,  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  looked  up  to  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  He 
married  Sallie  Argall,  of  Pottsville,  and  their  children  are  Walter  F.  and 
Ruth,  the  latter  the  wife  of  Thomas  Williams,  of  Pottsville. 

Walter  F.  Esterly  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Potts- 
ville. When  a  youth  he  became  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store,  where  he  was 
employed  for  six  years,  until  the  business  was  sold  in  1905,  since  when  he 
has  given  part  of  his  time  to  the  automobile  business,  in  which  he  is  still 
interested.  Mr.  Esterly  was  but  twenty-two  years  of  age  when  elected  a 
meriiber  of  the  town  council,  having  the  distinction  of  being  the  youngest 
man  ever  chosen  to  service  in  that  body.  He  continued  to  act  as  councilman 
for  five  years,  and  proved  so  thoroughly  worthy  that  his  fellow  councilmen 
chose  him  for  service  on  the  Law  and  Ordinance  committee,  in  whose  work 
he  cooperated  effectively.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Yorkville  Fire  Company, 
and  a  Democrat  on  political  questions. 

Mr.  Esterly  married  Catherine  Wolff,  daughter  of  Frantz  Wolff,  of 
MaKanoy  Qty,  Schuylkill  county,  and  she  died  May  19,  191 3,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  years.  No  children  were  bom  to  this  marriage.  Mrs.  Esterly 
is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  Pottsville. 

HARPER  H.  BROWN,  assistant  mine  foreman  at  the  Goodspring  col- 
liery, in  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  at  Muir,  in  Porter  township,  this  county, 


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1072  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Tune  2,  1884,  son  of  Henry  and  Maria  (Stein)  Brown,  grandson  of  Jacob 
Brown,  great-grandson  of  Philip  Brown,  and  great-great-grandson  of  Peter 
Brown  or  Braun,  as  the  name  was  spelled  in  Germany. 

Peter  Bratm  was  bom  in  Germany  near  the  border  of  Switzerland,  whence 
he  came  to  America  as  a  member  of  the  army  sent  here  by  the  EngUsh  to 
subdue  the  colonists.  He  had  been  promised  lands  and  money  for  his  serv- 
ice, but  was  captured  by  the  Patriots  and  later  became  a  servant  in  the  house- 
hold of  Gen.  George  Washington.  One  of  his  brothers,  who  accompanied  him 
to  this  country,  and  of  whom  all  trace  has  been  lost,  is  supposed  to  have  been 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  while  another  brother  served  under  the 
command  of  General  Washington  for  seven  years.  Peter  Brown  (or  Braim) 
lived  in  Virginia  for  some  years,  but  after  the  Revolutionary  war  came  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  engaged  in  driving  a  supply  team  from  Philadelphia 
to  Pittsburgh.  Later  he  settled  in  Berks  county,  and,  being  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  faith,  joined  the  church  at  Host,  or  Yohst,  and  became  an  active 
worker  therein.  Some  years  later  he  came  to  the  Williams  valley  and  bought 
the  Neidlinger  tract,  now  known  as  the  John  HoflFman  farm,  which  forms  the 
greater  part  of  the  site  of  Tower  Qty.  He  lived  on  this  tract  and  farmed  it 
until  in  old  age,  when  he  made  his  home  with  one  of  his  sons,  Peter,  who 
lived  on  a  farm  in  the  Clarks  valley  region,  which  is  now  owned  by  Charles 
Kessler.  He  went  to  live  with  another  son,  PhiUp,  a  few  years  later,  on  the 
Josiah  Parker  farm.  Mr.  Parker  later  sold  this  farm  to  John  Houtz,  who 
sold  it  to  John  Dieter,  and  it  is  now  known  as  the  Henry  Bohr  property.  Here 
Peter  Brown  died  about  the  year  1835.  This  Peten  Brown  had  three  sons: 
Jonas,  Peter  and  Philip,  and  three  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  a  Reedy; 
another  became  the  mother  of  Michael  Goodman,  while  the  third  married  a 
Mr.  Snoke. 

Philip  Brown,  the  great-grandfather  of  Harper  H.  Brown,  married  Kate 
Swab,  and  was  the  father  of  five  children:  William  C;  John;  Jacob;  Eliz- 
abeth, who  married  Sam  Bomberger;  and  Pauline,  who  married  Abraham 
Hand.  William  Brown  was  twice  married  and  became  the  father  of  nineteen 
children. 

Jacob  Brown,  the  grandfather  of  Harper  H.  Brown,  was  bom  in  Lykens 
township,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  six  months  old  when  brought  to  Sdiuyl- 
kill  county  by  his  parents.  With  the  exception  of  a  period  of  a  few  years 
he  resided  here  throughout  his  life.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  when  he  had 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years,  eleven  months,  one  day,  Mr. 
Brown  was  one  of  the  oldest  surviving  settlers  and  the  last  of  the  real  early 
settlers  of  the  Williams  valley  country.  It  was  his  privilege  to  remember 
the  primitive  conditions  of  the  valley,  when  instead  of  roads  there  were  paths 
or  Indian  trails,  when  instead  of  towns  and  villages  there  were  the  forests  as 
nature  had  left  them,  and  the  childhood  scenes  and  pictures  of  which  were 
more  real  to  him  than  the  civilized  conditions  ruling  to-day.  As  early  as  the 
year  1845  he  was  employed  at  the  old  Lorberry  colliery,  at  which  time  the 
coal  was  taken  to  market  by  the  canal  which  ran  through  Pine  Grove.  Mr. 
Brown  assisted  in  the  driving  of  the  first  tunnel  at  the  Short  Mountain  col- 
liery at  Lykens,  and  at  that  time  was  paid  at  the  rate  of  one  dollar  per  day, 
but  his  meals  were  only  six  cents  a  day,  expenses  not  being  as  heavy  as  now. 
In  1863,  while  working  at  the  Osterman  drift,  he  also  was  the  proprietor  of 
a  boarding  house,  and  subsequently,  while  helping  to  build  the  State  road 
from  Goodspring  to  Rausch  Gap,  he  conducted  the  tavern  which  is  now 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIAj  1073 

known  as  Shadles'  Tavern,  located  on  the  above  road.  .He  died  in  the  Wil- 
liams valley  and  his  funeral  was  held  from  the  home  of  Monroe  Brown,  serv- 
ices being  conducted  at'  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church  at  Orwin,  with 
Rev.  Ira  F.  Frank  officiating.  These  services  were  attended  by  a.  vast  con- 
course from  near  and  far  who  came  to  pay  their  last  respects  to  this  sturdy 
old  pioneer.  Interment  was  made  in  the  cemetery  adjoining  the  church.  Mr. 
Brown  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Heberling,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely :  Simon,  who  lives  at  Williamstown, 
Dauphin  county;  Henry;  Harriet,  the  widow  of  Charles  Weaver,  living  at 
Reiner  City,  Pa. ;  PhiHp,  who  died  at  Reiner  City ;  Andrew,  who  also  passed 
away  there;  Hiram,  whose  home  is  at  Philadelphia;  and  Monroe,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Reiner  City. 

.  Henry  Brown,  the  father  of  Harper  H.  Brown,  was  bom  in  Porter  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  Jan.  i6,  1852,  and  was  reared  on  his  father^s  farm. 
His  educational  advantages  were  not  great  in  his  youth,  for  he  was  early 
called  upon  to  contribute  his  share  to  the  family  income,  and  when  he  was 
only  ten  years  of  age  he  began  working  in  the  mines.  He  continued  to  be 
connected  with  mining  until  1903,  when  he  returned  to  the  farm,  taking  up 
his  residence  on  his  property  in  Porter  township,  which  he  has  since  continued 
to  occupy  and  cultivate.  He  has  developed  his  tract  of  twenty-two  acres  into 
one  of  the  valuable  small  farms  o^  his  locality,  with  good  improvements.  Mr. 
Broy/n  married  Maria  Stein,  a  da\ighter  of  Christian  Stein,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many who  came  to  the  United  States  in  young  manhood.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown 
became  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Walter  E.,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  Porter  township;  Ada  May,  who  died  young;  Sadie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  George  Kuntzelman;  Edna,  who  married  Edward  Carl;  Harper  H. ; 
Guy,  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa. ;  Roy,  whose  home  is  in  Porter  town- 
ship; Ray,  living  at  Port  Carbon,  Pa,;  Lottie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Ivey;  Mattie,  who  married  Wayne  Kahler;  Lillie,  who  died  as  a  child;  Earle, 
who  resides  with  his  parents;  and  Harold,  who  is  attending  school.  Henry 
Brown  served  as  a  member  pf  the  school  board  of  Porter  township  for  some 
years.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America. 
Until  1890  he  was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  in  that  year  changing 
his  membership  to  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  board  of  trustees  for  several  years.  At  Orwin  he  was  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school  during  a  long  period. 

Harper  H.  Brown  attended  the  public  schools  of  Porter  township,  and  like 
the  majority  of  youths  of  his  neighborhood  early  began  to  be  employed  at 
mining,  his  first  occupation  being  as  a  breaker  boy.  After  three  years  of 
experience  of  this  kind  he  was  employed  by  his  father  in  the  mines  on  gang- 
way and  rock  work,  and  after  four  years  was  put  on  breast  and  gangway  work 
on  his  own  account  fat  the  Lincoln  and  Brookside  collieries,  thus  continuing 
six  years.  Now  a  thoroughly  experienced  man,  he  was  made  stable  boss  at 
the  Lincoln  colliery,  a  position  which  he  held  for  one  year,  and  was  then 
promoted  to  the  position  of  inside  night  inspector.  This  latter  position  he 
held  until  Nov.  10,  1913,  when  he  came  to  the  one  which  he  now  occupies,  that 
of  assistant  inside  foreman  at  No.  i  Slope,  under  Foreman  Joseph  Watkins. 
He  is  one  of  the  popular  young  men  of  the  community,  and  the  advance- 
ment which  he  has  gained  has  been  fairly  earned  through  energy,  industry 
and  fidelity. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  to  Elsie  V.  Kimmel,  daughter  of  John  and  Anna 
Vol.  11—30 


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1074  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

(Fessler)  Kimtnel,  and  three  children  have  beert  bom  to  this  union:  Ruth, 
Wilbur  and  Harlow.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons 
of  America  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  in  both  of  which  frater- 
nities he  has  numerous  friends. 

CHARLES  HENRY  SMITH,  former  proprietor  of  the  "West  End 
Hotel,"  at  Yorkville,  was  bom  Sept.  27,  1882,  in  what  was  then  the  borough 
of  Yorkville,  now  a  part  of  the  city  of  Pottsville.  He  is  a  son  of  Albert 
Smith,  and  grandson  of  the  Albert  Smith  who  located  at  Yorkville  about 
1840. 

Albert  Smith,  the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many, and  coming  to  America  about  1840  settled  at  Yorkville,  in  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.  After  he  did  day's  work  for  a  time  he  turned  to  coal  mining,  and 
though  he  later  carried  on  farming  he  was  for  many  years  in  the  employ  of 
the  Mine  Hill  Railroad  Company,  as  a  section  foreman,  holding  this  position 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  his  forty-ninth  year.  He  married  Magda- 
lena  Siegel,  who  was  bom  in  Alsace-Lorraine,  at  that  time  French  territory, 
and  came  to  America  when  nine  years  old.  Mrs.  Smith  survived  her  husband, 
reaching  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children 
(seven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity),  namely:  Elizabeth,  who  is  deceased; 
Albert;  Henry;  Andrew,  deceased;  Margaret,  deceased;  John,  deceased; 
Mary,  deceased;  Joseph,  deceased;  and  Bernard. 

Albert  Smith,  son  of  Albert  and  Magdalena  Smith,  was  bom  June  4,  1845, 
at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  this  county  and  had 
common  school  advantages  in  his  early  years,  but  he  was  only  a  boy  when  he 
commenced  work,  in  1856,  as  water  boy  for  the  section  hands  on  the  Mine 
Hill  railroad.  He  then  became  a  member  of  the  section  gang,  and  he  served 
continuously  on  this  branch  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  road  until  his  re- 
tirement in  June,  1913.  From  1864  he  was  section  foreman,  becoming  estab- 
lished at  Yorkville  in  1870.  Mr.  Smith  has  been  one  of  the  substantial  citizens 
of  that  borough,  having  served  as  school  director  when  it  was  an  independent 
municipality,  and  his  sympathies  have  usually  been  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Relief  Association  and 
a  member  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  veterans.  Mr.  Smith  prizes  highly 
a  letter  received  from  Rufus  R.  Wilder,  of  Cressona,  the  former  superin- 
tendent of  the  Mine  Hill  railroad,  dated  Jan.  31,  1900,  from  which  we  quote: 
"I  remember  your  father,  Albert.  Smith,  who  was  section  foreman  of  the  Mine 
Hill  railroad  from  West  Wood  to  Germantown.  I  also  remember  you  as  a 
very  good  little  boy  for  the  repair  force  on  that  section.  I  am  glad  to  hear 
that  you  are  still  employed  by  the  company.  It  shows  you  have  always  been 
a  faithful  employe,  as  your  father  was  before  you.  A  half  century  has  passed 
since  you  entered  the  service  of  the  company,  and  I  tmst  that  in  that  time  you 
have  eamed  and  received  deserved  promotion." 

On  May  28,  1871,  Mr.  Smith  married  Catherine  Christ,  daughter  of  George 
and  Margaret  (Rice)  Christ,  of  West  Wood,  Pa.,  and  she  died  Jan.  5,  igoiS, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  Seven  children  were  bom  to  this  marriage, 
namely :  Eliza,  who  married  Howell  Quinn ;  Albert,  Jr.,  of  Pottsville ;  George, 
of  Pottsville;  Margaret;  and  Edward,  Charles  Henry  and  William,  all  resi- 
dents of  Pottsville.  The  father  belongs  to  the  German  Catholic  Church  at 
Yorkville,  of  which  the  mother  was  also  a  member. 

Charles  Henry  Smith  was  brought  up  in  Pottsville,  receiving  his  educa- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1075 


tion  in  the  public  and  parochial  schools  of  that?  borough.  He  was  reared  to 
habits  of  thrift  and  industry,  when  a  youth  beginning  work  in  a  brickyard,  and 
later  learning  the  trade  of  cigarmaker,  which  was  his  principal  occupation 
for  a  period  of  thirteen  years.  In  the  year  1912  he  turned  to  the  hotel  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  was  notably  successful,  the  "West  End  Hotel"  drawing  a 
steady  patronage  under  his  management,  not  only  from  the  local  trade,  but 
also  the  custom  of  many  travelers  in  this  section.  In  connection  with  his 
hotel  he  had  a  large  stable,  with  accommodations  for  twelve  horses.  He 
gave  up  the  hotel  in  March,  1915,  and  is  now  living  at  No.  1704  West  Nor- 
wegian street,  Pottsville.  Mr.  Smiths  is  very  well  known  in  the  community, 
where  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Yorkville  Fire  Company  for  many  years. 
He  is  2l  Democrat  on  political  questions,  and  like  his  father  and  mother  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  Smith  married  Bertie  Zimmerman,  daughter  of  Samuel  Zimmerman, 
of  Port  Clinton,  Schuylkill  county,  and  they  have  two  children,  Albert  and 
Marguerite. 

HARRY  F.  SCHULZE,  New  Philadelphia  (Post  Office  Silver  Creek), 
Schuylkill  County,  Pennsylvania. 

THOMAS  SIMMONS,  outside  foreman  at  the  Maryd  colliery  in  Schuylkill 
township,  is  respected  as  one  of  the  substantial,  intelligent  residents  of  that 
section,  in  which  he  is  well  known.  He  has  been  employed  in  the  mines  in 
Schuylkill  county  all  his  life,  and  his  father,  Philip  Simmons,  followed  the 
same  occupation  here. 

Philip  Simmons  was  bom  in  England  and  was  reared  in  his  native  land, 
being  a  young  man  when  he  came  to  this  country.  For  a  time  after  his  arrival 
here  he  lived  at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  later  moved  to  near  Miners- 
ville,  this  county,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  Hfe,  dying  there  wh^n  seventy- 
two  years  old.  He  was  a  skilled  miner  and  so  engaged  for  many  years.  By 
his  marriage  to  Margaret  Lewis,  a  native  of  Wales,  daughter  of  William  Lewis, 
there  were  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  survive  at  this  writing  (1915): 
Sallie,  Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Priscilla,  Philip,  William,  Thomas  and  Owen. 
Mrs.  Simmons  came  to  America  when  a  young  girl. 

Thomas  Simmons  was  bom  March  14,  1865,  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill 
county,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  during  his  boyhood.  When  he 
went  to  work  it  was  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Mine  Hill  Gap  breaker,  for  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  and  from  that  humble  posi- 
tion he  worked  up  to  more  responsible  labors,  becoming  pumpman  and  engi- 
neer, and  eventually  outside  foreman  at  the  Silver  Brook  colliery,  where  he 
was  retained  for  two  years  in  that  capacity.  In  1906  he  came  to  the  Maryd 
colliery,  where  he  has  been  outside  foreman  continuously  to  the  present  time, 
having  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  men  in  his  charge.  Such  a  fine  grade  of 
coal  is  mined  at  this  working  that  the  output  is  in  constant  demand,  and  the 
men  are  steadily  employed  even  when  other  collieries  in  this  section  are  not 
being  operated  up  to  capacity. 

By  reason  of  his  long  association  with  mining  operations  in  the  locality  Mr. 
Simmons  is  very  well  known,  but  his  reputation  has  not  been  limited  to  his 
fellow  workers,  for  he  has  interested  himself  in  public  and  social  affairs,  enjoy- 
ing the  activity  and  responsibility  of  such  associations.  While  a  resident  of 
KKne  township  he  served  four  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board,  of  which 


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,1076  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

he  was  president  and  secretary,  doing  notably  efficient  work.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  MascMi,  belonging  to  Tamaqua  Lodge,  No.  238,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Consistory 
of  the  Valley  of  Bloomsburg,  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Reading,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Simmons  married  Clara  Hinkle,  who  was  bom  at  Buck  Mountain, 
Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Hinkle,  and  died  Jime  17. 
1900;  she  is  buried  at  Mahanoy  City.  Two  sons  were  bom  to  this  marriage: 
Roy  F.  and  Wilbur  E.,  both  of  whom  are  now  employed  as  machinists  at  the 
Maryd  colliery. 

GEORGE  BECK,  of  St.  Nicholas,  Schuylkill  county,  has  charge  as  outside 
foreman  of  the  St.  Nicholas  and  Suffolk  collieries,  where  about  fourteen  hun- 
dred men  are  now  employed.  The  settlement  of  the  town  of  St.  Nicholas 
began  in  1861,  simultaneously  with  the  opening  of  the  mine,  just  a  couple  of 
years  before  Mr.  Beck  was  bom,  and  he  has  been  employed  there  all  his  life, 
in  various  capacities,  but  always  faithful  to  duty  and  strict  in  his  adherence 
to  high  principles  of  conduct.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  John  Beck,  who  came 
to  this  country  from  Germany  in  the  year  1858,  landing  at  New  York  City. 
He  Settled  at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  for  several  years  was  em- 
ployed as  a  miner  at  the  Greenwood  colliery.  In  1865  he  located  at  St, 
Nicholas,  where  he  was  similarly  engaged  until  his  death,  in  1880.  He  is 
buried  at  Tamaqua.  In  Germany  Mr.  Beck  married  Margaret  Schultz,  and 
three  children  were  bom  to  them  there,  Eliza,  Mary  and  Henry.  After  the 
family  settled  in  the  United  States  the  following  children  were  bora :  Simon, 
Martha,  George,  Emma,  John  and  Annie. 

George  Beck  was  bom  May  7,  1863,  at  Tamaqua,  and  was  therefore  very 
young  when  the  family  settled  at  St.  Nicholas,  where  he  has  ever  since  had 
his  home.  At  the  age  of  six  y^ars  he  began  attending  public  school,  but  he 
was  only  eight  when  he  went  to  work,  picking  slate  at  the  breaker  where  he 
is  now  acting  as  outside  foreman.  After  two  years  at  that  work  he  was  put 
to  running  the  breaker  engine,  being  thus  employed  for  four  years,  during 
the  next  three  years  working  in  the  boiler  room,  as  assistant  fireman  two 
years  and  fireman  one  year.  Then  for  a  year  he  was  on  the  top  of  the  slope, 
pushing  cars,  ran  the  gigs  for  a  short  time,  and  when  nineteen  years  old 
started  carpenter  work  at  the  colliery.  After  a  year  he  was  given  work  with 
the  chain  gang,  at  carpentry,  for  four  years.  He  next  assisted  in  building 
the  present  St.  Nicholas  breaker,  which  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  anthracite 
region,  and  also  spent  some  time  repairing  mine  cars,  before  entering  upon 
the  work  at  which  he  has  since  been  retained.  Having  been  made  assistant 
outside  foreman,  he  continued  to  hold  the  position  for  sixteen  years,  until 
promoted  to  outside  foreman  in  September,  1905.  His  work  includes  super- 
vision of  the  Suffolk  as  well  as  the  St.  Nicholas  workings,  where  about  four- 
teen hundred  men  are  regularly  employed,  and  many  improvements  have  been 
made  in  these  mines  and  their  method  of  operation  under  his  able  direction. 
His  all-around  familiarity  with  their  equipment  is  an  advantage  of  great  value 
to  him  with  the  humerous  duties  comprised  in  his  work,  enabling  him  to 
decide  quickly  on  many  points  in  the  emergencies  which  arise  from  day  to 
day.    All  through  his  record  has  been  most  creditable. 

Mr.  Beet  married  Martha  A.  Piatt,  daughter  of  Ralph  B.  Piatt,  a  native  of 
England,  who  came  to  America  and  settled  at  St.  Nicholas.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Beck  have  two  sons :    G.  Raymond,  who  is  a  clerk  at  the  collieries  under  his 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1077 

father;  and  Wilbur  Ahlborn,  now  a  student  at  Lehigh  University,  class  of 
1917.  The  family  adhere  to  the  faith  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  religion. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Beck  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

HENRY  J.  WITTICH  became  a  resident  of  the  borough  ofj.TamaqUa 
five  years  ago,  and  in  business  and  social  connections  has  become  well  and 
favorably  knqwn,  especially  as  one  of  the  active  members  of  the  American 
Hose  Company,  of  which  he  is  now  first  assistant  foreman. 

Mr.  Wittich  is  of  German  descent,  his  father,  Henry  Wittich,  having  been 
bom  in  Germany.  On  coming  to  America  he  settled  at  Green  Point,  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business.  Henry  J.  Wittich  was  bom 
in  1880  in  Brooklyn,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  there.  When 
thirteen  years  old  he  began  to  learn  the  brewing  business  with  the  Leonard 
Eppig  Brewing  Company,  at  Brooklyn,  remaining  in  their  employ  for  a  period 
of  five  years.  He  then  entered  the  United  States  Brewers  Academy  in  New 
York  City,  where  he  took  an  expert  course  of  six  months,  after  which  he 
became  assistant  ale  brewing  foreman  at  the  Stevens  Brewing  Company, 
New  York  City.  When  he  had  been  in  their  service  two  years  he  became 
brewmaster  for  the  Franklin  Brewing  Company,  of  Brooklyn,  with  whom 
he  continued  for  the  next  seven  years,  until  his  removal  to  Tam^qua,  July  25, 
1910,  to  take  charge  of  the  Liberty  Brewing  Company.  This  concern  has  an 
up-to-date  plant  at  Tamaqua,  and  Mr.  Wittich  has  been  brewmaster  there 
to  the  present,  h|s  management  having  proved  highly  acceptable.  He  is 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  business  from  the  scientific  standpoint,  and  is 
also  well  qualified  for  the  executive  work,  attending  to  all  his  duties  with 
careful  precision  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Wittich  is  a  member  of  the  Masons  and  B.  P.  O.  Elks  (Tamaqua 
Lodge,  No.  592),  in  the  former  connection  belonging  to  Cornerstone  Lodge, 
No.  367,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Tamaqua 
Club,  of  the  Tamaqua  Maennerchor,  and  of  the  American  Hose  Company  of 
Tamaqua,  being  one  of  the  most  enthusiastic  workers  in  the  latter  organiza- 
tion, of  which  he  has  been  first  assistant  foreman  for  several  years. 

By  his  marriage  to  Kate  Johannes,  a  native  of  New  York  City,  Mr.  Wittich 
has  two  children,  Viola  and  Henry. 

GEORGE  W.  EBERT,  an  engineer  on  the  Reading  railroad,  now  located 
at  Gordon,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Ella  (Hughes)  Ebert, 
of  Berks  county,  this  State.  Mr.  Ebert  was  bom  near  Pottsville,  Pa.,  April 
8,  1853.  On  his  father's  side  he  is  a  descendent  of  a  passenger  on  the  famous 
**Mayflower,"  and  on  his  mother's  side  he  is  descended  from  Joseph  Hughes, 
a  famous  Quaker  schoolmaster  of  the  early  days  of  the  settlement  of  the 
Roaring  Creek  valley  in  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania. 

William  Ebert,  the  father  of  George  W.  Ebert,  was  born  in  Berks  county. 
Pa.  His  father  died  when  he  was  a  child.  His  first  work  was  as  stagecoach 
driver,  during  the  days  when  that  was  the  only  vehicle  used  upon  the  roads 
of  America  by  travelers.  Having  driven  a  coach  in  Schuylkill  county,  he 
was  thus  influenced  to  settle  near  the  town  of  Pottsville.  Here  he  assisted  in 
the  work  of  opening  the  wild  country  to  the  use  of  the  farming  pioneers, 
working  in  the  woods  as  lumberman  and  clearing  the  land  of  timber  and  bmsh. 
Later  he  moved  to  Ashland,  at  which  place  he  died  Dec.  7,  1893,  at  the  age  of 


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1078  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

seventy-eight  years.  His  wife  was  Ella  Hughes,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hughes, 
a  cabinetmaker  and  schoolteacher,  who  settled  in  the  Roaring  Creek  valley 
(now  Locust  township),  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  taught  the  first  school  in 
Kemtown,  in  1820.  He  afterwards  removed  to  New  Castle,  Schuylkill 
county,  where  he  died.  Mrs.  Ebert  died  in  May,  1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  William  and  Ella  (Hughes)  Ebert  had  children  as  follows:  (i) 
Edward,  bom  June  23,  1838,  was  a  member  of  the  48th  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
was  wounded  while  in  the  Civil  war.  (2)  Anna  M.,  bom  April  3,  1840,  is 
now  deceased.  (3)  Phoebe  R.,  bom  May  13,  1842,  is  deceased.  (4)  Eliza- 
beth, bom  Jan.  9,  1845,  is  the  wife  of  Henry  M.  Seitzinger.  (5)  Mary, 
bom  Feb.  26,  1847,  >s  the  wife  of  James  M.  Seitzinger.  (6)  Hannah,  deceased, 
was  bom  Feb.  13,  1849,  ^"d  was  the  wife  of  James  M.  Seitzinger.  (7) 
William,  bom  Feb.  11,  1851,  is  now  a  resident  of  Ashland.  (8)  George  W., 
born  April  8,  1853,  is  mentioned  below.  (9)  Jeremiah,  bom  May  i,  1858, 
died  in  Warren  county,  Pennsylvania. 

George  W.  Ebert  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Ashland,  and  his  first 
work  was  at  the  coal  breakers  there.  Afterwards  he  operated  a  sawmill.  On 
June  16,  1873,  he  came  to  Gordon  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Railway  Company,  starting  as  brakeman.  He  was  promoted 
gradually  to  conductor,  fireman  and  engineer,  in  which  last  capacity  he  is  still 
working.  On  Dec.  13,  1881,  Mr.  Ebert  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Levens,  daughter  of  James  and  Margaret  (McElheny)  Levens,  of  Miners- 
ville,  Schuylkill  county.  They  have  a  son,  James,  now  a  druggist  of  Tamaqua, 
Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ebert  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which 
he  has  been  a  tmstee  for  many  years.  She  is  an  ardent  worker  in  the  church 
andStmday  school. 

James  Levens,  father  of  Mrs.  Ebert,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  emigrated 
to  America,  landing  at  Philadelphia,  where  he  made  his  home  for  a  time. 
Going  to  Port  Richmond,  near  Philadelphia,  he  there  married  Margaret  Mc- 
Elheny, and  then  moved  to  Minersville,  and  later  to  Centralia,  Columbia 
county,  where  he  died  in  1884,  being  buried  at  Ashland,  which  is  near  Centralia. 
He  was  a  miner  by  occupation.  Mrs.  Levens  makes  her  home  with  George 
W.  Ebert,  her  son-in-law.  She  has  had  twelve  children,  of  whom  five  are 
deceased  (including  John),  the  others  being  as  follows:  James,  resident  in 
Centralia ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  W.  Ebert ;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Lange, 
of  Philadelphia;  Alexander,  a  resident  of  Hartford,  Conn.;  Sophia,  wife  of 
Nicholas  Conrad,  of  Philadelphia ;  Sarah,  wife  of  Matthew  Nealy,  of  Gordon ; 
and  William,  of  Tamaqua. 

JAMES  BURKHARDT  has  been  engaged  at  mine  work  all  his  life  and 
bears  a;i  excellent  reputation  for  skill  and  tmstworthiness  in  his  calling. 
The  fact  that  he  has  been  inside  foreman  at  the  Eagle  Hill  colliery,  in  Blythe 
township,  continuously  since  1902  shows  that  he  is  a  man  of  steady  char- 
acter, and  he  is  respected  for  his  sterling  qualities  wherever  known. 

Mr.  Burkhardt  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  of  German  descent,  his 
father,  Nicholas  Burkhardt,  having  been  born  in  the  Fatherland,  where  he 
passed  his  early  life.  Coming  to  America  when  a  young  man,  he  settled  at 
Minersville,  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and  there  made  a  permanent  home,  dyuig 
at  Minersville.  By  occupation  he  was  a  shoemaker,  and  he  worked  at  the 
trade  all  his  life.  To  his  marriage  with  Eliza  Bamwick  were  bom  five  chil- 
dren:   Elizabeth,  Annie,  Maria,  Lewis  and  James. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1079 

James  Burkhardt  was  born  at  Minersville  July  12,  1863,  and  obtained  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  there.  Like  many  boys  in  the  coal  r^ons, 
his  first  work  was  picking  slate  at  the  breaker,  and  he  was  so  employed  at 
the  Otto,  Phoenix  Park  and  Glendower  collieries.  A's  he  grew  older  he 
filled  different  positions  at  the  mines,  working  as  loader,  starter,  miner,  boss 
loader  and  fire  boss,  being  engaged  in  the  latter  capacity  for  twelve  years  at 
the  Glendower  colliery.  From  there  he  came  to  the  Eagle  Hill  colliery  in  the 
year  1902,  and  has  since  been  inside  foreman.  As  such  he  has  about  five 
hundred  men  under  his  charge.  Mr.  Burkhardt  is  well  known  in  this  region, 
and  has  the  favorable  regard  of  all  his  associates.  He  is  a  member  of  fhe 
Holy  Family  Catholic  Church  at  New  Philadelphia,  where  he  attends  mass 
with  his  family  every  Sunday. 

Mr.  Burkhardt  was  married  to  Mary  Gallagher,  who  was  bom  in  County 
Donegal,  Ireland,  daughter  of  Charles  Gallagher,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren: Charles,  who  is  attending  high  school  in  Pottsville;  and  James  and 
Severine,  who  go  to  school  in  Bl^e  township,  where  the  family  reside.  Mrs. 
Burkhardt  has  made  three  trips  to  her  old  home  in  Ireland  since  settling  in 
this  country. 

JOHN  H.  WITHELDER,  of  Newtown,  Schuylkill  county,  is  a  member 
of  the  third  generation  of  his  family  in  Reilly  township,  where  his  grand- 
father, Henry  Withelder,  settled  upon  coming  to  this  country.  He  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  where  he  spent  his  early  life,  being  a  young  man  of  twenty- 
two  years  when  he  arrived  in  America.  He  settled  at  Big  Vein,  in  Reilly 
township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  having  followed  mining  in  his  native  land 
became  a  coal  operator,  following  that  business  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
owned  the  Dundas  colliery  in  Reilly  township.  His  death  occurred  when 
he  was  forty-eight  years  old,  at  Newtown,  this  county,  where  he  was  well 
known,  and  he  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Qouser's  Church.  He  married 
Margaret  Arnold,  like  himself  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America 
when  eighteen  years  old.  They  had  a  large  family,  viz.:  George;  Lewis; 
Frederick;  Henry;  John;  Peter,  who  died  young;  Mary,  wife  of  Jacob  Miller; 
and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Thomas  Jones. 

John  Withelder,  son  of  Henry,  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  county,  where  he 
spent  all  his  life.  He  died  at  Newtown  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-one  years, 
and  is  buried  in  Clouser's  Church  cemetery.  During  all  the  time  he  worked 
he  was  employed  at  the  Middle  Creek  colliery.  His  widow,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Richards,  continues  to  reside  at  Newtown,  in  Reilly  township. 
They  had  one  child,  John  H. 

John  H.  Withelder  was  bom  July  5,  1885,  at  Newtown,  where  he  attended 
public  school.  When  but  nine  years  old  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  breaker 
of  the  Otto  colliery,  at  Branch  Dale,  Reilly  township,  continuing  at  that  work 
for  three  years.  He  was  then  put  to  mnning  jigs  for  two  years,  was  oiler 
at  the  breaker  for  the  next  three  years,  and  after  that  ran  an  engine  until 
Jan.  I,  1910,  when  he  became  assistant  outside  foreman.  He  still  holds  that 
position.  It  is  noteworthy  that  Mr.  Withelder  has  been  employed  at  the 
same  colliery  continuously  since  he  started  work,  and  he  has  been  advanced 
steadily  entirely  upon  his  own  merits  and  because  of  his  tmstworthiness.  He 
holds  the  respect  of  his  associates  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  His  home  is  still  at 
Newtown,  and  he  is  a  leading  member  of  St.  John*s  Reformed  Church  there, 
in  which  he  has  held  the  office  of  elder.     In  fraternal  connection  he  is  a 


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1Q80  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Royal  Arcanum  and 
Masons,  affiliated  with  the  following  bodies:  Swatara  Lodge,  No.  267,  F. 
&  A.  M,;  Tremont  Chapter,  No.  221,  R.  A.  M.;  Constantine  Commandery, 
No.  41,  K.  T.,  of  Pottsville;  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Reading.   . 

Mn  Withelder  is  married  to  Clara  Applebee,  daughter  of  Michael  Applebee, 
who  came  from  England  and  settled  in  Schuylkill  county.  They  have  two 
children:  Olive  May,  now  (191 5)  seven  years  old,  and  Rose  A.,  two  years 
old. 

ARTHUR  H.  DANIEL,  of  Pine  Grove,  who  has  recently  become  estab- 
lished in  business  at  that  point,  is  a  native  of  the  neighboring  county  of  Dauphin 
and  descended  from  one  of  the  famiUes  founded  there  in  the  old  days.  His 
grandfather,  Joel  Daniel,  followed  farming  there. 

Israel  Daniel,  father  of  Arthur  H.  Daniel,  was  bom  near  Gratz,  which 
is  in  the  upper  end  of  Ekiuphin  county,  just  opposite  the  western  point  of 
Schuylkill.  Agriculture  has  always  been  his  vocation,  and  he  is  still  living 
on  a  farm  near  the  town  of  Gratz.  His  wife,  Savilla,  also  a  native  of  Dauphin 
cotmty,  died  in  1901. 

Arthur  H.  Daniel  was  bom  at  Gratz,  Dauphin  county,  was  reared  on  the 
parental  farm  near  that  town,  and  attended  the  township  schools.  After  leav- 
ing school  he  assisted  his  father,  who  was  at  that  time  conducting  the  *'Union 
Hotel"  in  Gratz,  and  subsequently  he  made  an  independent  venture  in  the 
bottling  business  at  that  town.  He  carried  it  on  there  for  five  years,  manufac- 
turing all  kinds  of  soft  drinks,  and  in  October,  1913,  came  to  Pine  Grove  and 
started  the  business  there.  It  is  similar  to  the  establishment  he  had  at  Gratz, 
being  equipped  for  the  production  of  soft  drinks  of  all  kinds,  and  has  taken 
well  with  the  townspeople,  whose  appreciation  has  been  shown  in  liberal 
patronage.  Mr.  Daniel  has  made  a  beginning  which  augurs  well  for  his 
future  career. 

In  1909  Mr.  Daniel  was  married  to  Alice  Rehrar,  of  Pine  Grove,  daughter 
of  Aaron  and  Mary  Rehrar,  the  former  deceased,  the  latter  still  living  at  Pine 
Grove.  Four  children  have  been  bom  to  this  union :  Carrie,  Alberta,  Evalyn 
and  Paul.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  are  members  of  the  Pine  Grove  Lutheran 
Church,  and  always  ready  to  give  their  encouragement  and  support  to  move- 
ments affecting  the  welfare  of  the  borough. 

JOSEPH  WELLENDORF,  a  thrifty  farmer  of  Butler  township,  ScHuyl- 
kiU  Co.,  Pa.,  and  proprietor  of  a  bakery  at  Foimtain  Springs,  was  born  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  in  1847.  He  is  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Angeline  (La  Jeune) 
Wellendorf ,  the  father  a  native  of  the  same  portion  of  Germany,  and  the  mother 
a  native  of  Westphalia. 

Nicholas  Wellendorf,  the  father,  was  a  farmer,  and  resided  all  of  his  life 
in  the  Fatherland.  His  children  were :  Bernard,  now  living  retired  in  Phila- 
delphia ;  Mina,  residing  in  Germany ;  Marie,  deceased ;  Elizabeth  and  Henrietta, 
deceased ;  Joseph ;  and  Anna,  a  resident  of  Germany. 

Joseph  Wellendorf  was  educated  in  Germany,  where  he  learned  the  baker's 
trade.  He  came  to  New  York  in  1867  and  worked  there  as  a  baker,  after- 
wards journeying  over  the  Union,  following  his  trade  in  Philadelphia,  St. 
Louis,  Louisville,  Terre  Haute  and  Cincinnati.  In  1877  he  came  to  Ashland, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  1883  established  his  present  bakery  at  Fountain 


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SCHUYL-KILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1081 

Springs.  Mr.  Wellendorf  was  married,  in  Camden,  N.  J.,  to  Elizabeth  Bloom, 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  died  in  1908.  They  had  these  children:  Henry 
lives  in  Philadelphia ;  Albert  resides  in  the  State  of  New  York;  Katie  is  married 
and  living  in  Pennsylvania;  Angeline  is  the  wife  of  Neill  Weaver,  of  Ash- 
land; Nicholas  is  a  resident  of  Williamsport ;  Bernard,  living  in  the  State  of 
Iowa;  Andrew  is  in  the  United  States  navy,  stationed  on  the  "Louisiana"; 
Qara  resides  at  home;  and  Mary  is  residing  at  home.  Mr.  Wellendorf  is 
a  member  of  St.  Mauritius'  Roman  Catholic  Qiurch,  of  Ashland. 

DANIEL  C.  FRYER  belongs  to  a  family  of  German  origin,  founded  in 
Schuylkill  county  by  his  grandfather,  Bemhard  Fryer,  who  was  bom  in 
Germany  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man.  Settling  on  a  small  farm 
in  West  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  he  remained  there  imtil  his 
death,  industriously  cultivating  his  land  and  also  following  his  trade,  shoe- 
making.  He  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Zion's  Church,  in  West  Brunswick 
township.    His  children  were :    Jonas,  Daniel,  Bernhard  and  Susanna. 

Daniel  Fryer,  son  of  Bemhard  Fryer,  was  bom  on  thfe  homestead  in  West 
Brunswick  township,  following  farming  in  that  township  all  his  life,  and  was 
a  well  and  favorably  known  citizen  of  his  section.  He  died  on  his  farm  and 
is  buried  in  the  Zion  Church  cemetery,  in  West  Bmnswick  township.  He  is 
survived  by  his  wife,  Mary  (Laurence),  daughter  of  John  Laurence,  and  she 
continues  to  live  on  the  old  homestead.  Of  the  three  children  bom  to  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  Fryer,  Frank  and  Daniel  C.  are  living  at  Orwigsburg ;  Sallie  married 
John  Faust,  and  lives  in  West  Brunswick  township. 

Daniel  C.  Fryer  was  bom  April  29,  1871,  at  Pinedale,  in  West  Bmns- 
wick township,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the  local  public  schools.  Later 
he  attended  the  State  Normal  School  at  Lock  Haven,  and  taught  school  for  one 
ttrm  during  1895.  For  a  time  he  worked  in  the  tube  mill  at  Aubum,  this 
county,  was  subsequently  engaged  at  farm  work  for  J.  H.  Walbom  at  Orwigs- 
burg, and  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  late  Solomon  Moyer,  of  Orwigsburg, 
being  engaged  in  his  feed  store  for  three  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
began  to  leam  the  shoe  business,  working  three  years  in  the  factory  of  H.  S. 
Albright,  and  from  there  going  to  the  Wemer  Shoe  Company,  also  at  Orwigs- 
burg, where  he  remained  seven  years.  His  next  employers  were  Bickley  & 
Walbom,  with  whom  he  continued  for  about  nine  months,  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Orwigsburg  Shoe  Company,  of  which  he  was  secretary  from  the 
beginning  until  he  gave  up  the  business.  Mr.  Fryer's  duties  include  the  super- 
vision of  the  shipping  and  office  work,  for  which  he  was  very  well  adapted, 
as  the  efficiency  in  both  departments  attested.  His  conscientious  devotion  to 
everything  he  undertakes,  and  thorough  reliability,  are  qualities  highly  appre- 
ciated by  his  associates,  and  he  is  a  man  that  commands  respect  in  all  the 
relations  of  life.  ^       ,        .  .     „ 

Mr.  Fryer  has  long  held  membership  in  the  Reformed  Church,  origmally 
belonging  to  the  historic  old  Red  Church,  in  West  Brunswick  township,  which 
he  served  two  years  as  deacon,  and  is  now  united  with  the  church  at  Orwigs- 
burg, of  which  he  has  been  deacon  since  1908.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.  and  the  Independent  Americans. 

Mr.  Fryer  married  Kate  Becker,  daughter  of  Abraham  Becker,  who  was 
a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.  Six  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fryer,  namely:  Alvin,  Mabel,  George,  Daniel  A.,  Kate  (deceased)  and  Mary 
(deceased). 


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1082  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANL^ 

CHRISTIAN  MADER,  one  of  the  oldest  employees  at  the  Silver  Creek 
colliery,  in  Blythe  township,  has  been  stationary  engineer  there  since  1889. 
Such  a  record  of  service  is  sufficient  to  show  that  he  is  boUi  competent  and 
reliable,  and  his  high  personal  character  is  commensurate  with  his  industry. 

Mr.  Mader  is  of  German  extraction,  his  father,  Jacob  Mader,  having  been 
bom  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  from  which  country  he  came  to  America  when 
about  thirty  years  old,  accompanied  by  his  wife.  They  settled  at  Kaskawilliam, 
in  Blythe  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  he  was  engaged  at  mine  work, 
for  a  time  acting  as  inside  foreman  for  Mr.  Luther,  who  was  among  the  early 
coal  operators  in  this  region.  Later  he  located  at  Tuscarora,  this  county,  and 
he  continued  to  follow  coal  mining  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1866, 
when  he  was  fifty-three  years  old.  He  married  Rachel  Kramer,  daughter  of 
Christian  Kramer,  and  they  had  four  children :  Jacob,  who  died  when  seven 
years  old;  Dora  and  Mary,  twins,  also  deceased;  and  Christian. 

Christian  Mader  was  bom  Oct.  16,  1853,  at  Kaskawilliam,  and  spent  his 
boyhood  in  Schuylkill  township,  receiving  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  there  and  subsequently  attending  a  select  school  at  Pottsville,  this 
county.  For  one  term  he  taught  school,  at  New  Ringgold,  Schuylkill  county, 
but  he  did  not  like  the  profession  well  enough  to  continue  in  it.  For  about  three 
years  he  ran  an  engine  at  Tuscarora,  spent  two  years  at  East  Mines,  and  then 
returned  to  Kaskawilliam,  where  he  sank  a  shaft  and  was  employed  for  about 
two  years.  The  five  years  following  he  was  at  Lansford,  Pa.,  running  an 
engine,  and  thence  changed  to  New  Philadelphia,  this  county,  to  what  is 
known  as  the  **Shoo  Fly*'  workings.  In  the  year  1889  he  came  to  the  Silver 
Creek  colliery,  being  one  of  the  first  men  employed  there,  sank  the  shaft,  and 
has  been  serving  as  engineer  continuously  since.  Mr.  Maderis  very  well  known 
in  the  local  bodies  of  the  Masonic  faternity,  belonging  to  Tamaqua  Lodge, 
No.  238,  F.  &,A.  M.;  Tamaqua  Chapter,  No.  177,  R.  A.  M.;  Constantine 
Commandery,  K.  T.,  of  Pottsville;  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Reading,  Pa.  For  the  last  forty  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  affiliating  with  the  lodge  of  Middleport,  this 
county. 

Mr.  Mader  married  Susan  Guers,  daughter  of  Daniel  Guers,  of  Tumbling 
Run  Valley,  Schuylkill  county.  They  have  become  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Oliver  Link,  of  Port  Carbon,  Pa.; 
George  married  Lucy  Cooke,  and  they  reside  with  her  parents;  Laura  is  the 
wife  of  Francis  Knabb,  and  they  reside  at  Reading,  Pa. ;  Edwin,  who  is  em- 
ployed as  chief  clerk  to  George  B.  Hadesty,  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Coal  &  Iron  Company,  at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  married  Mary  Davis,  and  they  have 
two  children,  William  and  Edwin  fwho  was  bom  at  Tuscarora)  ;  Raymond  is 
at  home.  All  the  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church  but  Raymond, 
who  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

AARON  L.  RICE,  proprietor  of  a  popular  meat  market  in  Gordon,  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Pa.,  was  bom  July  5,  1881,  son  of  Charles  and  Isabella  (Seitzinger) 
Rice,  and  grandson  of  Frederick  Rice.  The  latter  was  a  pioneer  of  this 
county  and  an  employee  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  for 
many  years,  employed  in  the  machine  shops  at  Gordon.  His  children  were 
ten  in  number,  of  whom  six  are  living,  viz.:  William;  Charles;  Aaron; 
Louisa,  wife  of  Charles  Bergstresser,  of  Lykens,  Pa. ;  Arabella,  wife  of  Ells- 
worth Shoemaker,  of  Gordon ;  and  Mary,  residing  at  Gordon. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1083 

Charles  Rice,  father  of  Aaron  L.  Rice,  was  born  in  Berry  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  obtained  his  early  schooling.  He  adopted  the 
occupation  of  machinist  and  entered  the  Reading  shops,  having  been  in  the 
employ  of  the  company  for  over  thirty-five  years.  He  married  Isabella 
Seitzinger,  daughter  of  Israel  and  Margaret  (Heebner)  Seitzinger,  of  Gor- 
don, and  they  have  children  as  follows :  Frederick,  a  physician  and  sui^eon, 
of  Sunbury,  Pa.;  Margaret,  deceased;  Gertrude,  at  home;  Aaron  L. ;  Edith, 
at  home;  Estella,  wife  of  Harry  Gearhart,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.;  Charles,  who 
resides  at  Gordon ;  Ruth,  at  home ;  Cameron,  who  lives  at  home  and  is  in  the 
employ  of  his  brother  Aaron  L. ;  and  one  child,  Beatrice,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Aaron  L.  Rice  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Gordon,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  meat  cutter  in  the  Kleber  butcher  shop.  So  well  did  he  apply  him- 
self to  the  business,  and  so  successful  were  his  efforts,  that  in  1912  he  bought 
out  his  employer,  and  has  conducted  the  establishment  on  his  own  account  ever 
since.  He  does  his  own  killing  and  has  a  fine  packing  and  shipping  estab- 
lishment in  addition  to  the  meat  shop.  His  business  is  rapidly  increasing  and 
he  is  considered  one  of  the  rising  men  of  Gordon.  ^ 

Mr.  Rice  was  united  in  marriage,  Oct.  19,  191 3,  to  Mercy,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mercy  (Jones)  Valentine,  of  Ashland,  both  of  whom  are  residing 
in  that  place,  the  father  being  employed  in  one  of  the  collieries  there.  Mrs. 
Rice  is  one  of  three  children,  the  others  being  Anna,  the  wife  of  Edward 
Edwards,  residing  in  Philadelphia,  and  George,  who  resides  at  Port  Carbon, 
Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  Rice  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  is  very 
active  in  the  work  of  the  Sunday  school,  of  which  he  has  been  secretary  for 
the  past  sixteen  years. 

FREDERICK  WITHELDER,  of  Reilly  township,  at  present  filling  the 
position  of  truant  officer,  has  been  an  efficient  worker  in  the  public  service 
and  is  a  much  respected  citizen  of  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  is  of 
German  descent,  and  was  born  Nov.  2,  1852,  at  Brockton,  Schuylkill  county, 
son  of  Henry  Withelder. 

Henry  Withelder  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  spent  his  early  life  there, 
being  a  young  man  of  twenty-two  years  when  he  arrived  in  America.  He 
settled  at  Big  Vein,  Reilly  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  having  followed 
mining  in  his  native  land  became  a  coal  operator,  following  that  business  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  owned  the  Dundas  colliery  in  Reilly  township.  His 
death  occurred  when  he  was  forty-eight  years  old,  at  Newtown,  this  county, 
where  he  was  well  known,  and  he  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Clouser's  Church. 
He  married  Margaret  Arnold,  like  himself  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came 
to  America  when  eighteen  years  old.  They  had  a  large  family,  namely: 
George ;  Lewis ;  Frederick ;  Henry ;  John ;  Peter,  who  died  young ;  Mary,  wife 
of  Jacob  Miller;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Thomas  Jones. 

Frederick  Withelder  had  ordinary  school  advantages  in  his  youth,  and 
followed  mining  until  nineteen  years  old.  He  then  turned  to  wheelwrighting, 
at  which  he  worked  for  thirteen  weeks,  after  which  he  followed  the  barber's 
trade  for  thirteen  years.  For  a  time  he  worked  by  the  day,  and  in  1914  he 
was  made  truant  officer  of  Reilly  township,  where  he  has  also  served  as  as- 
sistant assessor.  The  family  is  much  esteemed  io  Reilly  township,  where  its 
members  have  been  favorably  known  ever  since  Henry  Withelder  arrived 
here.  Mr.  Frederick  Withelder  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
whidi  he  has  served  as  deacon. 


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1084  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr.  Withelder  was  married  to  Mary  Snyder,  daughter  of  George  L, 
Snyder,  and  she  died  in  October,  1906,  the  mother  of  children  as  follows: 
Margaret  married  Alfred  Griffith ;  Mary  married  ^George  Stein ;  Dora  married 
George  Griffith;  Frederick,  twin  of  Dora,  lives' at  home;  Elenora  married 
James  Brennen;  Henry  is  deceased;  George  and  Henrietta  are  at  home. 

JOHN  W.  DONMOYER,  proprietor  of  the  "Central  Hotel"  at  Pine 
Grove,  is  a  citizen  who  reflects  in  his  own  reliable  character  the  qualities  for 
which  the  name  has  become  so  respected  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  is  a  grand- 
son of  the  late  William  Donmoyer,  an  old  settler  of  this  section,  and  a  son  of 
Peter  B.  Donmoyer.  The  latter  was  bom  in  Pine  Grove  township  and  still 
lives  there,  now  leading  a  retired  life.  During  his  active  years  he  was  engaged 
in  mining  in  the  township.  He  married  Emma  Spancake,  daughter  of  the 
late  John  Spancake,  a  pioneer  settler  of  this  section  and  long  resident  in  Pine 
Grove  township,  where  he  followed  farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Donmoyer 
are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  the  eldest,  Frank,  resides  at  Tre- 
mont,  this  county;  John  W.  is  next  in  the  order  of  birth;  Harry  is  deceased; 
Irvin  lives  in  Pine  Grove  township;  Frederick  is  deceased;  Carrie  is  the 
wife  of  Clyde  Hesser,  of  Pine  Grove  township;  William  is  in  business  with 
his  brother  John ;  Benjamin  lives  at  home. 

John  W.  Donmoyer  was  bom  in  1880  in  Pine  Grove  township,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood,  meantime  attending  the  local  public  schools.  After  leav- 
ing school  he  turned  to  mine  work,  at  which  he  continued  for  twelve  years, 
until  he  became  interested  in  his  present  line.  Buying  the  "Central  Hotel" 
at  Pine  Grove,  he  has  since  conducted  it  to  the  satisfaction  of  a  steadily 
increasing  business  and  number  of  patrons.  His  sincere  desire  to  give  the 
best  accommodations  and  service  possible  has  drawn  trade  from  the  time  he 
assumed  the  ownership  of  the  hotel,  which  has  gained  much  in  popularity 
under  his  management.  Mr.  Donmoyer's  various  social  connections  also  make 
him  well  known.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Pine  Grove  Fire  Company,  of  the 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle, 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  (Aerie  No.  134,  of  Pottsville),  and  American 
Casualty  Company  of  Reading. 

In  1900  Mr.  Donmoyer  married  Eva  Christ,  who  was  bom  in  Pine  Grove, 
daughter  of  Aaron  and  Elizabeth  (Mowrey)  Christ,  the  latter  now  deceased; 
Mr.  Christ  makes  his  home  in  Pine  Grove.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donmoyer  have 
two  children :    Emma  and  Harry. 

FRANK  BOSCHE,  agent  at  Ashland  for  Peter  Barbey  &  Son,  brewers, 
of  Reading,  Pa.,  is  well  known  in  the  borough.  He  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill 
county,  bom  at  St.  Clair  Oct.  10,  1866,  son  of  Valentine  and  Catherine  (Bier- 
schmidt)  Bosche. 

The  parents  were  natives  of  Germany,  but  came  to  this  country  when  very  ' 
young,  and  they  were  married  at  Pottsville.  After  living  at  St.  Clair  for  a 
number  of  years  they  removed,  in  1876,  to  Locust  Gap,  this  county,  where 
they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  Mr.  Bosche  dying  twenty-two  years 
ago,  Mrs.  Bosche  twenty  years  ago.  After  settling  in  Schuylkill  county  he 
was  engaged  at  work  in  the  mines.  The  Bierschmidts  were  early  settlers  in 
Schuylkill  county,  and  Mrs.  Bosche  passed  her  younger  life  at  St.  Clair. 
Twelve  children  were  bom  to  her  and  her  husband,  namely :  Peter,  who  is 
deceased;  George,  deceased;  Lena,  deceased;  Joseph,  living  at  Locust  Gap; 

/ 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1085 

John,  of  Locust  Gap;  Frank;  Henry  and  Valentine,  twins;  Charles,  a  resident 
of  Locust  Gap;  Michael,  David  and  Lena  (2),  all  three  deceased. 

Frank  Bosche  attended  school  at  St.  Clair  and  Locust  Gap.  When  four- 
teen years  old  he  was  sent  to  work  in  the  mines,  where  he  was  employed  until 
seriously  injured,  losing  a  leg.  Then  he  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker, 
which  he  followed  for  nine  years  in  Locust  Gap,  until  he  engaged  in  business 
for  himself,  conducting  a  saloon.  Moving  thence  to  Ashland,  he  carried  on  a 
saloon  on  Center  street  for  seventeen  years,  and  in  1909  purchased  his  pres- 
ent place,  having  a  prosperous  saloon  and  cafe.  He  has  established  a  profitable 
trade,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  the"  borough,  belonging  to  the 
B.  P.  O.  Elks  and  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles. 

In  1899  Mr.  Bosche  married  Rosalia  Walsh,  of  Centralia,  Columbia  Co., 
Pa.,  daughter  of  David  and  Catherine  Walsh,  both  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Walsh  was  a  miner  by  occupation,  and  for  years  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  at  Centralia,  and  held  the  office  of  overseer  of  the  poor 
in  Columbia  county.  Five  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bosche: 
Catherine,  Francis,  Mary,  Helen  and  Rayrftond.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bosche  are 
members  of  St.  Joseph's  Church  of  Ashland. 

JACOB  S.  HONSBERGER,  now  living  retired  at  New  Ringgold,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  county  since  he  was  five  years  old.  He  is  a 
native  of  Bucks  county,  Pa.,  born  Dec.  5,  1840,  in  the  lower  end  of  Milford 
township.  His  grandfather,  Benjamin  Honsberger,  was  a  farmer  in  that 
county,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buriecj  at  Allentown,  Pennsylvania. 

William  Henry  Honsberger,  father  of  Jacob  S.  Honsberger,  was  bom 
in  1815  in  Bucks  county,  where  he  spent  the  earlier  part  of  his  life.  He 
became  an  expert  carpet  weaver,  and  followed  that  business  in  his  native  county 
until  his  removal  to  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  made  a  settlement  in  East 
Bmnswick  township.  Here,  besides  working  at  h^s  trade,  he  engaged  in 
agriculture,  acquiring  the  ownership  of  a  tract  of  thirty  acres  which  he  culti- 
vated very  successfully.  He  was  so  occupied  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1858,  at  McKeansburg.  Mr.  Honsberger  not  only  did  his  duty  by  his 
family,  but  also  in  the  larger  obligations  affecting  the  general  welfare.  He 
filled  the  office  of  constable,  took  an  active  interest  in  politics  as  an  old-schoo! 
Democrat,  and  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church, 
bearing  a  prominent  part  in  the  work  of  the  Sunday  school,  which  he  served 
as  superintendent.  He  and  his  wife  Lydia  are  buried  at  McKeansburg.  Mr. 
Honsberger  was  twice  married,  first  to  Lydia  Carver,  bom  in  181 7,  died  in 
1850,  daughter  of  Jacob  Carver,  whose  wife's  name  was  Kuder.  To  this 
union  were  bom  six  children:  Charles,  who  married  Lucy  Rehrig,  now 
resides  in  Zion  Grove,  Schuylkill  county ;  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army. 
Henry,  deceased,  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army;  he  married  Mary 
Marburger,  who  resides  in  Reading,  Pa.  Jacob  S.  is  next  in  the  family. 
William,  deceased,  served  in  the  Union  army;  he  married  Catherine  Dress, 
who  lives  in  Cressona,  Pa.  Martin,  deceased,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army 
and  died  shortly  after  the  war,  leaving  three  children.  Sarah  married  Frank 
Day  and  resides  in  Hartford,  Conn.  By  his  second  marriage,  to  Mrs.  Mary 
(Stanner)  Poffinger,  Mr.  Honsberger  had  the  following  children:  Edward 
married  Lizzie  Swartz,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Mary  married  John  Eck,  who 
was  killed  on  the  railroad,  and  she  resides  in  Easton,  Pa.  The  mother  is 
deceased.    By  her  union  with  Mr.  Poffinger  she  had  four  children :    Henry, 


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1086  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Francis,  Sarah  and  Priscilla.     Henry  and  Francis  were  in  the  Union  army, 
and  the  latter  was  killed  in  the  service. 

Jacob  S.  Honsberger  was  but  five  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Schuylkill  county,  the  family  settling  in  East  Brunswick  township,  where 
he  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools.  After  his  father's  death  he 
went  to  live  with  George  Moser,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he  went  to 
learn  his  trade,  meantime  working  on  the  Moser  farm.  Then  he  entered  the 
employ  of  William  Lenhart,  at  Drehersville,  this  county,  where  he  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  enlisted  from 
Drehersville,  on  Aug.  9,  1861,  in  Company  A,  48th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  the  command  being  as- 
signed to  the  9th  Corps,  under  General  Bumside.  In  1862  it  became  con- 
nected with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  the  spring  of  1863  General  Bumside 
was  relieved  by  General  McQellan,  and  the  9th  Corps  was  transferred  to 
Kentucky.  Under  this  enlistment  Mr.  Honsberger  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Newbem,  N.  C. ;  Second  Bull  Run ;  Shady  Coe ;  South  Mountain ;  Antietam ; 
Fredericksburg;  and  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.  He  reenlisted  in  January, 
1864,  at  Plains  Cross  Roads,  in  eastern  Tennessee,  in  the  same  company  and 
regiment,  as  a  Pennsylvania  veteran  volunteer,  and  participated  in  the  cam- 
paign of  General  Grant,  taking  part  in  the  first  battle  of  the  Wilderness; 
Spottsylvania ;  Cold  Harbor ;  siege  of  Petersburg ;  and  the  battle  of  Appomattox 
Court  House.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Harrisburg  in  August,  1865,  and  re- 
turned to  East  Brunswick  township,  where  he  resumed  work  at  his  trade. 
Not  long  afterwards  he  married  and  moved  to  near  Orwigsburg,  in  West 
Brunswick  township,  where  he  bought  a  small  tract  of  land  and  had  his  own 
blacksmith  shop,  working  industriously  and  prospering.  After  remaining 
there  eighteen  years  he  removed  to  New  Ringgold  borough  and  entered  the 
broom  manufacturing  business,  selling  the  output  of  his  factory  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  and  surrounding  counties.  When  he  gave  up  the  manufacturing 
business  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Lehigh  Coal  and  Navigation  Company, 
and  was  engaged  in  stripping  coal  near  Mauch  Chunk,  and  he  was  foreman 
for  that  company  for  sixteen  years.  Later  he  was  appointed  a  keeper  in  the 
insane  department  at  the  County  Home  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  a  position  he  held 
for  four  years,  since  when  he  has  lived  retired. 

Mr.  Honsberger  married  Mary  Matilda  Walbom,  who  was  bom  in  West 
Brunswick  township  in  January,  1846,  daughter  of  Uriah  and  Amanda  (Christ) 
Walbom,  and  the  following  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Ida  married 
Henry  L.  Miller,  and  they  reside  at  Port  Carbon,  Pa. ;  Henry  Uriah  married 
Ida  Sassaman  and  resides  at  Lansford,  Pa.;  Sarah  Amanda  married  Albert 
Gottshall,  and  they  make  their  home  at  Reading,  Pa. ;  William,  who  married 
Emma  Cope,  is  a  telegraph  operator  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
at  Reading,  where  he  resides;  George  W.  is  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  as  manager 
for  the  Westem  Union  Telegraph  Company;  Lydia  is  engaged  as  forelady 
in  the  laundry  of  the  Schuylkill  county  almshouse;  Gertrude  is  married  to 
I.  G.  Yost,  and  resides  at  Reading,  Pa.;  Edward  is  a  merchant  and  post- 
master at  Tarrs,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.;  Charles  Herman  married  Nellie 
Benedict. 

In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Honsberger  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  served 
his  fellow  citizens  in  the  capacity  of  school  director  for  twenty-four  years, 
first  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  and  later  in  New  Ringgold  borough.  He 
is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  100,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  New  Ringgold, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1087 

and  of  Severn  Post,  No.  no,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Mahanoy  City;  and  his  religious 
connection  is  with  the  United  Evangelical  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  chosen 
to  the  position  of  trustee  and  Stmday  school  superintendent. 

John  (or  Johan)  Walbom,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Honsberger,  was  bom 
near  Myerstown,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  June  30,  1799,  and  died  Aug.  13,  1872. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  Coming  to  Schuylkill  county  he  settled  in 
West  Brunswick  township  about  two  miles  east  of  Pinedale,  and  there  con- 
tinued to  farm  until  his  death.  He  is  buried  at  the  Red  Oiurch.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Susanna  Albright,  was  bom  Dec.  4,  1804,  and  died 
Oct.  30,  1884.  They  had  children  as  follows :  Daniel,  Uriah,  William,  Peter, 
Rebecca  (married),  Catherine  (married  John  Ketner),  Cyms  (deceased)  and 
Diana  (married  Martin  Moyer). 

Uriah  Walborn,  son  of  John,  was  a  farmer  in  West  Bmnswick  township, 
and  .followed  farming,  having  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  which  he  sold  when 
he  retired  and  moved  to  Pinedale.  He  married  Amanda  Christ,  a  daughter 
of  John  Christ,  and  they  had  the  following  children:  John,  who  married 
Katie  Bast ;  Edward ;  and  Mary  Matilda,  Mrs.  Honsberger.  The  father  died 
in  December,  1913,  aged  eighty-six  years,  the  mother  dyin^g  aged  seventy 
years,  and  they  are  buried  at  the  Red  Church  near  Orwigsburg. 

EDWARD  F.  BECK,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the 
Cressona  Powder  Company,  was  bom  at  Glenworth,  in  North  Manheim  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  Jan.  30,  1863,  son  of  George  Beck  and  grandson  of 
Jacob  Beck.    The  family  is  of  German  descent. 

Jacob  Beck  was  bom  in  1789  in  Reitlingen,  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  married.  The  year  of  his  marriage  (181 7)  he  came 
to  America  and  settled  in  the  Schuylkill  valley  in  Pennsylvania.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  was  employed  on  the  Schuylkill  canal,  between  French  Creek 
and  Pottsville,  afterws^rds  constmcting  and  repairing  the  locks  and  acting 
as  carpenter  foreman.  Having  considerable  knowledge  of  drafting  he  obtained 
the  position  of  assistant  engineer  in  the  survey  of  the  Mine  Hill  railroad,  which 
was  built  in  1828-30.  Between  1818  and  1822  he  made  his  home  in  Potts- 
ville, in  the  last  year  buying  a  farm  in  Manheim  township,  100  acres,  upon 
which  he  erected  a  sawmill  and  later  a  gristmill.  Around  this  centre  of 
activity  a  town  soon  sprang  up,  which  was  given  the  name  of  Beckville.  Mr. 
Beck  died  in  1850,  leaving  behind  him  a  heritage  of  honor  and  public  service 
which  was  ably  continued  by  his  posterity.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  held  many  of  the  church  offices,  being  treasurer  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  filled  the  office  of  school  director  for  a  num- 
ber of  years. 

In  1817  Jacob  Beck  was  married  to  Anna  Maria  Beider,  who  was  born  in 
1794  and  died  in  1870,  and  to  them  nine  children  were  born:  (i)  Elizabeth 
married  Joseph  Wilde,  whom  she  survived,  her  death  occurring  at  Hazle- 
ton.  Pa.  Their  children  were:  George  (deceased),  Joseph,  Bide,  Tillie, 
John  J.,  Charles,  and  Libby  (deceased).  (2)  Jacob  died  young.  (3)  Fred- 
erick, bom  Dec.  6,  1824,  died  in  North  Manheim  township.  He  married 
Magdaline  Hurleman,  and  they  had  three  children:  George  J.,  deceased; 
Mary  L.,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Weist,  of  Schuylkill  Haven;  and  Charles  F.,  a 
merchant  of  Cressona.  (4)  George  is  mentioned  below.  (5)  Edward  mar- 
ried Mary  Ann  Strauch,  and  had  one  son,  Isaac  G.  (6)  John,  who  died 
at  Beckville,  had  three  children,  William  J.,  Blanche,  and  Maria  (deceased). 


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1088  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

(7)  Mary  married  Emil  Stecker,  and  died  at  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.  She  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  George,  Henry  (deceased),  Naomi  (Mrs.  Lord),  JosejA, 
Ada  (Mrs.  Wentz),  and  Katie  (Mrs.  Sement),  the  last  named  deceased.  (8) 
Catherine  married  David  Qark  and  resides  at  Hazleton  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  Her  children  were:  Jennie  (Mrs.  Engle),  George  (deceased),  Qith- 
erine  (Mrs.  Samuel  Price),  Frank,  and  Potter  (deceased).  (9)  William,  a 
miller  of  Beckville,  had  these  children:  Ada,  widow  of  George  Dechert; 
John  J.,  of  Reading,  Pa. ;  Catherine,  Blanche  and  Annie,  all  unmarried ;  Mabel, 
wife  of  Edward  Silliman,  of  Mahanoy  City ;  and  Clarence,  who  lives  at  Kings- 
ton, Pennsylvania. 

George  Beck  was  bom  at  Beckville,  Pa.,  and  was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 
He  was  engaged  in  agriculture  during  the  greater  portion  of  his  life,  cultivating 
a  farm  of  about  fifty-five  acres  at  Glenworth,  Pa.  He  was  married  to  Salome, 
daughter  of  George  Hirleman,  and  they  had  children  as  follows:  Mary  J., 
wife  of  George  W.  Coover;  Barbara  L.,  wife  of  Charles  J.  Smith;  Katie,  wife 
of  WiUiam  Conner;  William  H.,  living  at  Hazleton,  Pa.;  George  J.,  who  died 
at  Hazleton ;  Edward  F. ;  and  David  F.,  who  died  at  Glenworth.  George  Beck 
was  bom  Aug.  ^i,  1827,  and  died  June  14,  1890.  His  wife,  Salome,  was 
bom  Oct.  6,  1826,  and  died  Dec.  3,  1909.  They  are  buried  in  the  Union  ceme- 
tery at  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Edward  F.  Beck  was  bom  on  the  old  family  homestead  at  Glenworth  and 
attended  public  school  in  North  Manheim  township.  He  leamed  the  trade 
of  wheelwright  at  Pottsville,  but  followed  it  for  only  a  few  years,  after  which 
he  worked  as  carpenter  for  the  Lehigh  Valley  Company  for  twelve  years.  Tin 
July,  1^98,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Cressona  Powder  Company,  and  has 
since  been  doing  all  of  the  mill  work  for  that  company,  being  an  all-around 
mechanic.  He  married  Katie  R.  Roeder,  daughter  of  Isaac  Roeder,  of 
Schuylkill  Haven,  and  to  this  union  five  diildren  have  been  bom:  Mattie 
A.,  a  graduate  of  the  Kutztown  State  Normal  School,  taught  school  for  three 
years  at  Schuylkill  Haven  and  is  now  at  the  University  t)f  Pennsylvania ;  C. 
Lester,  who  married  Ida  Brown,  resides  at  Schuylkill  Haven  and  is  superin- 
tendent of  the  electric  power  plant  there;  Preston  is  a  stenographer  for  the 
Coal  &  Iron  Co.,  at  Pottsville,  Pa.;  Harry  G.  is  an  electrician;  Olive  com- 
pletes the  family.  Mr.  Beck  is  a  I)emocrat  and  has  served  on  the  board  of 
health  of  his  district.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  and  of 
the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp  at  Pottsville,  and  of  Tribe  No.  82,  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  of  Cressona. 

JAMES  A.  MAURER  stands  at  the  head  of  the  building  business  in  his 
section  of  Schuylkill  county,  where  the  influence  of  his  high  standards  has 
been  of  appreciable  value  in  implanting  ideals  of  excellence  in  this  progressive 
region.  His  operations  have  been  principally  in  Minersville  and  vicinity,  and 
the  examples  of  his  work  are  numerous  enough  to  show  how  thoroughly  he 
has  intrenched  himself  in  the  general  favor.  Mr.  Maurer  is  a  native  of 
Schuylkill  county,  bom  near  Donaldson  in  the  Mahanoy  valley,  Feb.  24,  1865, 
son  of  George  Maurer.  His  grandfather  lived  and  died  near  Klingerstown, 
this  county. 

George  Maurer,  the  father,  followed  the  profession  of  school  teacher 
throughout  his  active  years,  and  was  well  known  in  that  connection  in  the 
Mahanoy  valley.  He  died  there  and  is  buried  in  the  church  cemetery  at 
Klingerstown.     By  his  marriage  to  Catherine  Kopenheffer,  daughter  of  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1089 

well  known  Fred  Kopenheffer,  of  Lykens  Valley,  Pa.,  he  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  namely:  Allen,  Emma,  Jackson,  James  A.,  Philip  and  George,  the 
last  named  dying  in  infancy. 

James  A.  Maurer  has  had  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  having  been 
only  a  boy  when,  his  father  died.  His  first  occupation  was  as  door  tender  at 
the  mines  at  East  Brookside,  and  when  he  was  only  ten  years  old  he  drove 
mules.  For  about  five  years  he  was  employed  at  East  Brookside  colliery,  and 
when  a  youth  of  seventeen  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  with  Daniel 
Umholtz,  with  whom  he  remained  for  five  and  a  half  years.  He  then  became 
foreman,  for  Daniel  Haws  at  Gordon,  for  a  time,  after  which  he  came  to 
Minersville  and  became  engaged  with  Adam  Hinkle  at  sub-contracting. 
Having  gained  considerable  experience  in  this  connection  he  began  general 
contracting  and  building  on  his  own  account,  and  much  of  the  first-class  work 
done  in  the  town  since  has  been  intrusted  to  him,  the  German  Lutheran  church 
and  many  other  substantial  buildings  at  Minersville  and  in  that  neighborhood 
being  of  his  construction.  He  keeps  from  ten  to  twelve  carpenters  steadily 
employed  and  is  always  well  supplied  with  work,  his  reputation  being  estab- 
lished upon  the  substantial  basis  of  satisfactory  work.  Besides  being  an 
authority  in  his  own  line,  Mr.  Maurer  is  looked  up  to  by  his  fellow  citizens 
of  all  classes,  being  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  the  borough,  a  member  of  the 
present  town  council,  and  active  in  every  forward  movement  in  the  community. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Minersville  and  one  of  the 
valuable  workers  in  the  congregation. 

Mr.  Maurer  married  Lydia  Miller,  daughter  of  Squire  George  G.  Miller, 
of  Lykens  Valley,  Pa.,  a  well  known  resident  of  that  section  for  many  years, 
where  he  is  a  successful  merchant  and  justice  of  the  peace  of  high  standing. 
Thirteen  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maurer,  namely:  Daniel 
A.,  Martha,  Annie,  Mary  (deceased),  Esther  (deceased),  Helen,  Tillie  (now 
attending  Ursinus  College),  George,  James,  Irvin,  Laura,  Paul  and  Harry. 

Daniel  A.  Maurer,  eldest  child  of  James  A.  Maurer,  was  reared  at  Miners- 
ville and  graduated  from  the  high  school  at  that  borough.  He  then  took  a 
course  at  the  Lehigh  University,  and  after  his  graduation  spent  five  years  in 
Kentucky  in  the  employ  of  the  Consolidated  Coal  Company.  He  is  now 
located  at  Fairmont,  W.  Va.,  in  the  employ  of  the  sanje  concern,  acting  as 
superintendent  of  the  electrical  plant  at  that  point. 

LEVI  E.  REINOEHL,  who  lives  retired  at  Pine  Grove,  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Schuylkill  county  and  hcis  been  a  resident  of  the  borough  from 
boyhood.  Born  Dec.  13,  1847,  at  Donaldson,  he  is  a  son  of  Henry  Reinoehl 
and  grandson  of  Henry  Reinoehl,  who  settled  in  the  county  at  an  early  day. 

Henry  Reinoehl,  father  of  Levi  E.,  was  very  young  when  the  family 
moved  to  Schuylkill  county,  lived  at  Donaldson  for  a  number  of  years,  died 
at  Pine  Grove,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  there.  By  occupation  he  was 
a  miner.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  from  Schuylkill  county,  serving 
three  months  in  the  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantiy,  and  later,  under  a  sec- 
ond enlistment,  in  the  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  with  which  he  remained  to 
the  end  of  the  war.  He  took  part  in  many  battles,  and  assisted  in  the  capture 
of  Jefferson  Davis.  Upon  the  close  of  hostilities  he  returned  to  Pine  Grove, 
and  there  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  forty-four 
years  old.  Mr.  Reinoehl  married  Harriet  Fasnacht,  a  native  of  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  and  she  also  died  at  Pine  Grove  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery 

T«L  n— SI 


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1090  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

there.  Of  the  six  children  bom  to  this  marriage  Emma,  the  eldest,  is  the 
widow  of  Jonathan  Leffer,  who  was  killed  in  the  Brookside  colliery;  Levi  E. 
is  next  in  the  family;  Joseph  and  Henry  were  killed  in  the  mines;  George  is 
deceased;  Lydia  is  the  wiclow  of  George  Opie. 

Levi  E.  Reinoehl  was  a  boy  when  the  family  removed  to  Pine  Grove,  where 
he  had  common  school  advantages.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  began  work 
at  the  mines,  where  he  continued  to  be  employed  for  the  next  forty-seven  years. 
His  progress  was  steady,  and  for  a  number  of  years  before  his  retirement 
he  was  engaged  on  contract  work.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Mine 
Workers'  Union.  Mr.  Reinoehl's  honesty  and  substantial  qualities  have  been 
rewarded  with  the  high  regard  of  all  who  have  known  him,  and  he  occupies  a 
creditable  position  among  his  townsmen.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Pine  Grove 
Fire  Company,  and  he  has  belonged  to  Washington  Camp  No.  49,  P.  O.  S. 
of  A.,  for  forty-five  years. 

In  1868  Mr.  Reinoehl  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Markey,  who  was  bom 
in  Pine  Grove,  daughter  of  George  and  Katie  (Sathan)  Markey,  old  resi- 
dents of  Schuylkill  county,  who  remained  in  Pine  Grove  township  until  they 
died.  Six  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reinoehl :  Ida  is  the  wife 
of  Robert  Qark  and  now  residing  in  Detroit,  Mich. ;  Mamie,  who  is  a  trained 
nurse,  is  in  Philadelphia;  Agnes  is  the  wife  of  William  Thomas,  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  Charles  met  an  accidental  death  at  Pine  Grove ;  Stella  is  the  wife  of 
Howard  Wertley,  who  conducts  a  drug  store  in  Philadelphia;  Bessie  is  en- 
gaged as  a  bookkeeper  in  Philadelphia. 

J.  S.  WHITE,  a  prominent  and  progressive  farmer  of  Butler  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  in  that  township  in  1874,  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Farr)  White,  the  father  a  native  of  England,  the  mother  of  Wales.  The 
grandfather  came  to  America  about  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century  and 
located  at  Williamstown,  Pa.,  where  he  lived  and  died. 

John  White,  father  of  J.  S.  White,  came  to  Schuylkill  county  after  the 
close  of  the  Civil  war  and  bought  a  farm,  which  he  cultivated  until  his  death, 
in  1895.  His  wife  died  in  1900.  He  married  Elizabeth  Farr,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  nine  in  number,  viz.:  James,  a  resident  of  Frackville;  Mary  J., 
widow  of  Harrison  Fisher;  Alice,  widow  of  Henry  Mader,  residing  in  Phila- 
delphia; John,  residing  at  Fountain  Springs;  William,  residing  at  Mount 
Carmel;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Louis  Mader,  of  Butler  township;  Martha,  wife  of 
Charles  Umlauf ,  of  Philadelphia ;  George,  residing  in  Butler  township ;  and  J.  S, 

J.  S.  White  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Butler  township,  and  after 
leaving  school  worked  on  the  farm  of  his  father.  After  his  marriage  he 
purchased  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  and  which  he  has  brought  into  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  conducting  a  general  farming  and  dairy  business. 
Mr.  White  was  married  'in  1894  to  Hannah  Hilgendorf,  who  was  bom  in 
Ashland,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Minnie  (Peal)  Hilgendorf.  By  this 
union  six  children  have  been  bom :  Frank,  Walter,  Harry,  Margaret,  Mary, 
and  one  who  died  in  infancy,  ^rs.  White  is  a  member  of  the  church  at 
Fountain  Springs. 

Frederick  Hilgendorf,  father  of  Mrs.  White,  was  bom  in  Germany,  and 
after  coming  to  America  resided  at  Ashland  and  worked  in  the  mines.  He 
died  there  Nov.  17,  1903.  By  his  wife,  Minnie  Peal,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Germany,  he  had  four  children :  Gussie,  deceased,  wife  of  Charles  Bentz- 
ler,  of  Butler  township ;  Frederick,  who  resides  at  Fountain  Springs ;  Hannah, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1091 

Mrs.  White;  and  Lottie,  the  wife  of  Frederick  Brazington.    Mrs.  Hilgendorf 
is  still  living  in  Fountain  Springs. 

PETER  ELISON,  of  Pottsville,  belongs  to  a  family  of  German  extrac- 
tion. Joseph  Elison,  his  grandfather,  lived  and  died  in  Germany.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  wheelwright  and  followed  it  to  some  extent,  but  eventually 
turned  all  his  attention  to  farming,  which  he  carried  on  until  his  death.  He 
married  Magdalena  Obergeffel,  and  they  reared  the  following  children :  Alois ; 
Charles,  who  still  resides  at  Pottsville,  Pa. ;  Augustus,  who  died  at  Pottsville  ; 
Joseph ;  and  a  daughter  who  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Germany.  Of 
this  family,  Joseph,  born  Jan.  12,  1849,  in  Orsghweier,  Baden,  Germany,  died 
July  8,  1884,  at  Godhaven,  Greenland.  He  was  a  sergeant  in  the  United  States 
army,  attached  to  Greeley's  Arctic  expedition,  and  died  after  having  been 
rescued  by  the  Schley  Relief  Squadron. 

Alois  Elison,  father  of  Peter,  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  and  was  reared 
in  his  native  land,  being  about  twenty  years  old  when  he  came  to  America. 
Settling  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  he  was  employed  in  the  Atkins 
Rolling  Mills  for  many  years,  and  afterwards  engaged  in  teaming  for  a  while. 
Then  he  went  into  the  hotel  business,  on  West  Mahantongo  street,  Yorkville, 
at  the  stand  where  his  son  Peter  was  afterwards  located,  continuing  in  this 
line  until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  11,  1896.  He  married  Walberga 
Brahler,  daughter  of  Peter  and  R^na  (Ritzel)  Brahler.  Mr.  Brahler  was 
a  native  of  Hesse,  Germany,  and  on  coming  to  America  settled  at  Pottsville, 
where  he  lived  and  died.  By  occupation  he  was  a  miner.  He  and  his  wife  had 
two  children,  Walberga  and  Theresa,  the  latter  deceased.  Six  children  were 
bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elison,  namely :  Anna  married  Valentine  Montage,  and 
has  two  children,  Bertha  and  Clara;  Mary  married  Joseph  Bettler,  of  Potts- 
ville, and  they  have  the  following  children,  Carl,  Paul,  Edward,  Dorothy, 
Florence,  Maria,  Clara  and  Mildred;  Joseph,  of  Pottsville,  married  Lottie 
Ackerman,  and  their  children  are  Anna,  Aloysius,  Agnes,  Robert,  John  and 
Charlotte;  George  married  Mary  Phillip,  and  their  children  are  Augustus, 
Francis  and  Helen;  Peter  is  next  in  the  family;  Caroline  married  Adam  J. 
Bender,  and  has  two  children,  Emma  and  Albert. 

Peter  Elison  was  bom  in  Pottsville  Nov.  2,  1877,  and  here  grew  to  man- 
hood, receiving  his  education  in  the  parochial  schools.  From  boyhood  he 
assisted  his  father.  In  1898,  when  the  Spanish-American  war  broke  out,  he 
enlisted  for  service  in  Company  H,  8th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  served 
nine  months  in  the  army.  After  his  return  to  Pottsville  he  was  employed  at 
a  local  brewery  for  some  time,  and  followed  this  with  three  years'  residence 
in  Philadelphia,  where  he  worked  for  the  Midvale  Steel  Company.  Retuming 
to  Pottsville,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Mellet  &  Nichter  Brewing  Com- 
pany, with  whom  he  continued  until  September,  191 3,  when  he  went  into  the 
hotel  business  as  proprietor  of  the  "Klondike  Hotel,"  which  was  established 
some  forty  years  ago,  and  where  he  had  had  some  previous  experience,  dur- 
ing his  father's  ownership.  Under  Mr.  Elison's  management  the  excellent 
patronage  enjoyed  by  this  house  was  fully  retained,  and  he  was  very  popular 
with  all  who  availed  themselves  of  his  hospitality.  He  has  recently  given  up 
the  hotel,  and  is  now  located  at  No.  1229  West  Market  street,  Pottsville.  Dur- 
ing his  connection  with  the  brewery  business  Mr.  Ellison  became  a  member 
of  the  United  Brewery  Workers,  and  fratemally  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Foresters  of  America.    He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Hose  Company,  and 


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1092  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

his  religious  connection  is  with  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Pottsville. 
Mr.  Elison  married  Mary  Post,  daughter  of  Joseph  Post,  of  Pottsville,  a 
well  known  employe  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company.    Four  children 
have  been  bom  to  this  marriage,  Elizabeth,  William,  Maria  and  Margaret. 

C.  LESTER  BECK,  superintendent  of*  the  electric  light  plant  at  Schuyl- 
kill Haven,  was  bom  Feb.  6,  1882,  at  Mahanoy  City,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  son 
of  Edward  F.  Beck,  grandson  of  George  Beck,  and  great-grandson  of  Jacob 
Beck,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Schuylkill  county. 

Jacob  Beck  was  bom  in  1789  in  Reitlingen,  Germany,  where  in  1817  he 
was  married  to  Anna  Maria  Beider,  who  was  bom  in  1794  and  died  in  1870. 
In  the  year  of  his  marriage  Jacob  Beck  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania, working  on  the  Schuylkill  canal  for  a  number  of  years.  Later  he 
became  assistant  engineer  in  the  survey  of  the  Mine  Hill  railroad,  which  was 
constructed  during  1828-30.  In  1822  he  came  to  Manheim  township,  bought 
a  farm  of  100  acres,  and  built  a  saw  and  grist  mill  there.  Here  grew  up  the 
settlement  which  later  gained  the  name  of  Beckville.  Mr.  Beck  was  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  held  the  office 
of  school  director  for  many  years.  By  his  marriage  with  Anna  Maria  Beider 
he  had  nine  children:  (i)  Elizabeth  married  Joseph  Wilde,  and  had  seven 
children:  George,  Joseph,  Bide,  Tillie,  John  J.,  Charles  and  Libby.  (2)  Jacob 
died  young.  (3)  Frederick  married  Magdaline  Hurleman  and  they  had  three 
children:  George  G.,  Mary  L.  (Mrs.  J.  W.  Weist),  and  Charles  F.  (4) 
Geoi^e  is  mentioned  below.  (5)  Edward  married  Mary  Ann  Strauch  and  had 
one  son,  Isaac  G.  (6)  John  had  a  family  of  three  children,  William  J.,  Blanche 
and  Maria.  (7)  Mary  married  Emil  Stecker  and  had  six  children:  George, 
Henry,  Naomi,  Joseph,  Ada  and  Katie.  (8)  Catherine  married  David  Clark 
and  is  the  only  survivor  of  this  generation,  living  now  at  Hazleton.  Her  five 
children  were:  Jennie,  George,  Catherine,  Frank  and  Potter.  (9)  William, 
a  miller  of  Beckville,  had  seven  children :  Ada,  John  J.,  Catherine,  Blanche, 
Annie,  Mabel  and  Clarence. 

George  Beck  was  bom  at  Beckville,  Pa.,  Aug.  31,  1827,  and  died  June  14. 
189P.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  cultivated  a  farm  of  fifty-five  acres 
at  Glenworth,  Pa.,  during  much  of  his  life.  He  married  Salome,  daughter 
of  George  Hirleman,  and  she  bore  him  seven  children:  Mary  J.,  wife  of 
George  W.  Coover;  Barbara  L.,  wife  of  Charles  J.  Smith;  Katie,  wife  of 
William  Conner;  William  H.,  living  at  Hazleton ;  George  J.,  who  died  at  Hazle- 
ton ;  Edward  F. ;  and  David  F.,  who  died  at  Glenworth.  Mrs.  Beck  was  bom 
Oct.  6,  1826,  and  died  Dec.  3,  1909.  She  and  her  husband  are  buried  in  the 
Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven. 

Edward  F.  Beck  was  bom  on  the  homestead  at  Glenworth  and  attended  the 
local  schools  in  North  Manheim  township.  He  learned  the  trade  of  wheel- 
wright at  Pottsville,  but  followed  it  only  a  few  years,  having  obtained  the 
position  of 'carpenter  with  the  Lehigh  Valley  Company,  which  he  held  for 
twelve  years.  In  July,  1898,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Cressona  Powder 
Company,  and  has  since  done  all  their  millwork.  He  married  Katie  R..  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  Roeder,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  they  have  had  five  children: 
Mattie  A.;  C.  Lester;  Preston;  Harry  G.,  and  Olive.  Mr.  Beck  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  has  served  on  the  board  of  health  of  his  district.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  of  Camp  No.  36,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Pottsville,  and 
of  Tribe  No.  82,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  of  Cressona. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1093 

C.  Lester  Beck  attended  the  public  schools  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  then 
took  a  course  in  electricity  from  the  International  Correspondence  Schools,  of 
Scranton.  He  also  attended  the  Kutztown  State  Normal  School  for  two 
years.  He  worked  for  two  years  with  the  Bell  Telephone  Company  through 
Schuylkill  coimty,  and  having  decided  to  make  electricity  his  life  work  took 
a  position  for  a  time  with  Sheets  &  Daddow,  electrical  contractors,  of  Potts- 
ville,  and  in  September,  191 2,  became  connected  with  the  Schuylkill  Haven 
electric  light  plant.  On  Jan.  i,  1914,  he  was  made  superintendent  of  the 
plant,  and  he  has  since  held  that  position  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  com- 
pany and  the  public.  Mr.  Beck  was  married  to  Ida  Brown,  whose  father 
died  wlien  she  was  but  a  child.  Their  home  is  on  Garfield  avenue,  Schuylkill 
Haven.  Mr.  Beck  is  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed  Church,  in  whose  work 
he  takes  an  active  part,  and  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  is  leader  of  the 
orchestra  of  his  church  and  for  five  years  has  played  clarinet  in  the  Third 
Brigade  band  of  Pottsville. 

EDWARD  ZIMMERMAN,  an  old-time  citizen  of  Pine  Grove,  now  liv- 
ing retired  at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  was  bom  at  Pine  Grove  Jan.  9,  1830,  and  the 
Zimmerman  fjimily  is  an  old  established  one  in  this  region.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  Zimmerman  and  grandson  of  Henry  Zimmerman,  who  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Pine  Grove  township  at  a  very  early  day  and  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits here  until  his  death. 

John  Zimmerman  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Pine  Grove  and  became  one  of 
the  prosperous  residents  of  this  section,  acquiring  the  ownership  of  consider- 
able property  in  the  vicinity,  including  the  place  where  his  son  Edward  Zim- 
merman lived  until  recently.  He  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Catherine  Gamble,  died  at  Pine  Grove.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  Edward  and  John  are  the  only  survivors,  John  living  at  Lock  Haven. 

During  his  boyhood  Edward  Zimmerman  attended  school  at  Pine  Grove. 
He  was  engaged  in  railroad  work  most  of  his  active  life,  for  more  than  forty 
years.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  showed  his  sympathy  with  the  Union 
cause,  enlisting  from  Pine  Grove  in  the  133d  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry, 
serving  under  Col.  Daniel  Nagle,  now  of  Pottsville.  He  was  in  the  army  about 
nine  months,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Harrisburg.  He  belongs  to  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  holding  membership  in  Wolf  Post,  No.  203,  of  Pine 
Grove.  For  the  upright  character  and  industrious  traits  he  manifested  through- 
out his  working  years  he  enjoys  the  unqualified  esteem  of  all  the  citizens  of 
the  borough  and  township,  where  he  is  widely  known. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Sarah  Elizabeth  Bowen,  of  Pine  Grove,  a  native 
of  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  descended  from  a  pioneer  family  of  that  county. 
Mrs.  Zimmerman  died  in  1909.  Two  children  were  bom  to  this  union, 
Magdalena  C.  and  Josephine,  the  latter  married  to  Mahlon  Faber,  of  Lebanon, 
Pa.    Mr.  Zimmerman  now  makes  his  home  with  Mrs.  Faber. 

FRANK  ZETTLEMOYER  is  an  enterprising  farmer  of  West  Penn  town- 
ship,  owning  and  operating  the  farm  where  he  was  bom.  His  father,  the  late 
John  Zettlemoyer,  settled  there  over  fifty  years  ago,  and  for  thirty  years  and 
more  occupied  an  honored  place  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  county. 

Peter  Zettlemoyer,  the  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  in  Albany  township, 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  following  agricultural  work  all  his  life.  It  is  remarkable  that 
when  he  died,  though  eighty  years  old,  he  had  a  full  head  of  black  hair.    His 


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1094  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

grandson  Frank  was  only  a  small  boy  at  that  time.  He  had  the  following  chil- 
dren :  John ;  Joseph,  who  went  West  to  Ohio ;  Pessita,  who  married  Alfred 
Frederici  (both  deceased);  Mary,  who  married  Samuel  Mengel;  Betsy,  who 
married  a  Mengel  and  (second)  a  Baer;  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Focht.  The  par- 
ents are  buried  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county.  Mr.  Zettlemoyer  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  a  I>emocrat  in  political  con- 
viction. 

John  Zettlemoyer,  son  of  Peter,  was  bom  in  Albany  township,  Berks 
county,  in  January,  1823,  was  educated  in  the  Albany  township  schools,  and 
worked  there  for  his  father  until  eighteen  years  old.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
wheelwright  with  David  Petery,  in  Albany  township,  Berks  county.  It  was 
from  Mr.  Petery  that  he  bought  the  farm  in  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  which  his  son  Frank  now  owns,  moving  there  a  year  after  he  made  the 
purchase,  and  there  he  made  his  permanent  home,  carrying  on  farming  and  his 
trade.  He  built  a  wheelwright  shop  on  the  place,  and  continued  to  work  at 
his  trade  about  twenty  years  in  connection  with  the  operation  of  his  farm, 
which  consisted  of  two  tracts,  one  of  sixtv-six  acres  with  farm  buildings,  the 
other  of  seventy-seven  acres  with  outbuildings.  All  told,  he  had  about  one 
hundred  acres  under  cultivation,  raising  general  crops  and  marketing  his 
produce  at  Tamaqua.  He  interested  himself  in  local  conditions,  and  served 
many  years  as  elder  and  deacon  in  Zion's  Lutheran  Church  in  West  Penn 
township.  Politically  he  supported  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
His  death  occurred  Feb.  29,  1892. 

Mr.  Zettlemoyer  married  Lydia  Shuman,  who  was  bom  in  1820,  and  died 
in  1876.  They  had  children  as  follows:  William,  deceased,  married  Kate 
Miller,  who  resides  at  Chain,  Pa.;  David  married  Polly  Hoppes,  and  they 
reside  at  Mahoning  Valley,  in  West  Penn  township;  James  married  Sarah 
Hoppes,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Samuel  lives  in  Texas ;  John  married  Lizzie 
Rubrecht,  who  is  deceased,  and  he  lives  at  Pottsville;  Lewis  married  Fiana 
Ziegler,  and  they  live  in  Texas ;  Jonas  married  Maggie  Heine,  and  they  made 
their  home  in  Philadelphia;  Frank  is  next  in  the  family;  Priscilla,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Christian  Metzger,  of  Tamaqua,  Pa. ;  Lucy  Ann  is  the  widow 
of  Joseph  Arner,  and  resides  at  Snyder,  Pa. ;  Mary,  the  widow  of  Tilghman 
Rex,  lives  in  Chicago,  111.;  Sarah,  deceased,  married  Henry  Hartzell,  of 
Orwigsburg,  Pa.;  Lydia  is  the  widow  of  Eli  Ohl,  and  resides  at  Snyders, 
Pa. ;  Amanda  married  John  Smith,  of  Chicago ;  Betsy  died  when  eight  years 
old;  Elvina  married  Solomon  Hoppes,  and  both  are  deceased.  The  parents 
are  buried  at  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn  township. 

Frank  Zettlemoyer  was  bom  Feb.  18,  1866,  and  was  educated  m  West 
Penn  township,  attending  Zion's  Church  school.  He  worked  for  his  father 
on  the  home  place  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  then  rented  the  farm 
from  his  father  until  the  latter's  death,  when  he  bought  the  property,  which 
he  has  been  conducting  successfully  ever  since.  Mr.  Zettlemoyer  has  demon- 
strated his  progressive  disposition  in  every  department  of  his  work.  The 
improvement  of  the  property  has  gone  steadily  forward'  under  his  management 
and  ownership,  the  present  dwelling  house  on  the  farm  is  of  his  constmction, 
and  everything  else  about  the  place  indicates  prosperity  and  up-to-date  ideas. 
He  has  been  notably  successful  in  his  farming  operations,  and  is  justly  ranked 
with  the  energetic  element  in  his  township  which  has  helped  to  advance  stand- 
ards all  over  the  locality. 

Mr.  Zettlemoyer  married  Sarah  Kistler,  who  was  bom  in  December,  1869, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1095 

daughter  of  Jonathan  K.  and  Lydia  (Shellhammer)  Kistler,  and  they  have 
had  three  children,  bom  as  follows:  David,  July  7,  1890;  Katie,  June  4,  1892; 
Mary,  Oct.  20,'  1897.  All  have  attended  the  West  Penn  township  schools, 
and  now  reside  at  home.  Mr.  Zettlemoyer  gives  his  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  In  religion  he  is  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  Zion's  Church  in  West  Penn 
township. 

Mrs.  Zettlemover  is  a  descendant  of  Johannes  or  John  George  Kistler, 
an  early  settler  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  through  his  son  Philip,  the  latter's  son 
Jonathan,  and  his  son  Jonathan  K.  Kistler.  A  complete  account  of  the  earlier 
generations  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Jonathan  K.  Kistler,  father  of  Mrs.  Zettlemoyer,  was  born  June  18,  1834, 
in  West  Penn  township,  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  there,  and  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm  and  in  the  mill.  After  his  marriage  he  bought  the  mill 
and  farm  of  his  father  and  slayed  there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Before 
his  marriage  he  served  in  the  Union  army,  enlisting  in  August,  1862,  in  Com- 
pany D,  173d  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  enrolled  at  Harris- 
burg  for  nine  months,  assigned  to  guard  duty  and  reserve  work,  and  discharged 
at  Harrisburg  in  1863,  returning  home.  Though  he  supported  the  Union  he 
was  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion,  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to 
Zion's  Church,  in  West  Penn  township,  and  assisting  faithfully  in  all  its  work. 
He  was  elder  and  deacon  of  the  church,  and  was  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday 
school.    He  is  buried  at  Zion's  Church. 

On  Jan.  24,  1864,  Mr.  Kistler  married  Lydia  Shellhammer,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Bower.  Mrs.  Shellhammer  was  bom  Aug. 
16,  1842,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Houser)  Shellhammer.  Their 
children  are  as  follows:  Charles  S.  is  a  resident  of  West  Penn  township; 
Kate  A.,  born  Sept.  13,  1866,  married  Alfred  Steigerwalt,  who  is  a  merchant 
at  Snyder,  this  county;  Jonathan  S.,  bom  July  24,  1868,  married  Ida  A.  Behler, 
and  they  reside  in  Mahoning  Valley,  in  West  Penn  township ;  Sarah,  bom  in 
December,  1869,  married  Frank  Zettlemoyer,  a  farmer  of  West  Penn  town- 
ship; David,  bom  June  23,  1871,  now  a  building  contractor  in  Weatherly, 
Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  married  Emma  Sittler;  Mary,  bom  September,  1873,  is  liv- 
ing with  her  mother  on  the  homestead  farm;  Lizzie,  bom  March  i,  1875, 
married  Aaron  Ruch,  a  farmer  on  the  homestead  farm  in  West  Penn  town- 
ship; Rev.  Jacob,  bom  Feb.  15,  1877,  now  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
at  East  Stroudsburg,  Pa.,  married  Lulu  Sittler;  William,  born  Feb.  26, 
1881,  a  mail  clerk  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  married  Carrie  Balliet;  Ellen,  bom 
April  18,  1883,  married  Leon  Walter,  who  is  employed  as  a  telegraph  operator 
in  Philadelphia;  Agnes,  bom  Dec.  31,  1884,  married  Ralph  Rubrecht,  who  is 
employed  in  the  freight  office  at  Allentown,  Pa. ;  Lydia,  born  May  4,  1879, 
died  when  nine  months  old ;  another  child  died  young. 

LEVI  FELLER,  loader  boss  at  the  Lincoln  colliery,  and  a  resident  of 
Pine  Grove,  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  his  locality.  He  was  bom  in 
Pine  Grove  borough  Dec.  9,  1865,  son  of  Adam  and  Catherine  (Brown) 
Feller.  The  parents  were  natives  of  Germany,  the  father  having  been  bom 
at  Baden,  and  the  mother  at  Nassau. 

Adam  Feller  came  to  the  United  States  in  young  manhood,  during  the  year 
1854,  and  located  at  Pine  Grove,  Pa.,  where  he  was  engaged  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life  as  a  shoemaker.  His  death  occurred  at  Pine  Grove.  The  mother 
came  to  the  United  States  when  she  was  sixteen  years  old.     She  bore  her 


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1096  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

husband  five  children:  Emma,  Adam,  Calvin,  Daniel  and  Levi.  During  the 
Civil  war  Adam  Feller  served  his  adopted  country  as  a  soldier,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  H,  39th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  a  regiment  called 
out  for  ninety  days'  service. 

Levi  Feller  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  borough,  and  not 
only  developed  his  mental  faculties,  but  early  learned  to  make  himself  useful 
from  a  material  standpoint.  In  1877  ^^  began  working  in  the  mines  in  his 
section,  and  proved  himself  so  useful  that  he  was  kept  on  day  work.  In 
time  his  services  were  rewarded  by  promotion  imtil  he  was  made  loader  boss 
at  the  Lincoln  colliery,  which  position  he  still  holds,  and  he  is  recognized 
as  a  skilled  workman,  one  who  is  fitted  to  control  those  imder  him.  It  is  an 
interesting  fact  that  all  of  his  work  has  been  done  in  connection  with  mines. 

Levi  Feller  was  married  to  Mary  Catherine  Saltzer,  a  daughter  of  Frank 
Saltzer,  of  Hegins  Valley.  The  Saltzer  family  is  of  French  extraction.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Feller  became  the  parents  of  four  children:  Robert  F.,  who  is 
deceased ;  Charles  H.,  who  is  foreman  at  the  Pine  Grove  brick  plant ;  Homer 
G.,  employed  in  the  mines;  and  Fred  S.,  attending  school.  Mr.  Feller  is  a 
member  of  the  board  of  health  of  Pine  Grove,  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest 
in  its  work.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a  valued  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  of  Pine  Grove,  in  which  he  has  held  all  the  lay  offices,  and 
he  has  also  been  treasurer  of  the  Sunday  school  connected  with  this  church. 
Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  being  eligible  because  of  his 
father's  services  to  the  Union.  A  man  of  strong  personality  and  unflagging 
energy,  Mr.  Feller  has  risen  through  his  own  efforts,  and  deserves  the  posi- 
tion to  which  he  has  attained  in  his  business  and  community. 

WALTER  E.  BROWN,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Porter  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  at  Muir,  in  that  township,  Nov.  26,  1875,  son  of 
Henry  and  Maria  (Stein)  Brown,  grandson  of  Jacob  Brown  (Braun),  great- 
grandson  of  Philip  Brown,  and  great-great-grandson  of  Peter  Braun. 

Peter  Braun  was  bom  in  Germany,  near  the  border  of  Switzerland,  and 
came  to  America  about  the  year  1770  in  company  with  two  brothers.  He  had 
been  induced  by  English  military  officers  to  come  to  this  country  and  fight 
the  colonists,  with  promises  of  a  farm  and  wealth,  but  was  captured  by  the 
Patriot  forces  and  later  became  a  servant  in  the  retinue  of  Gen.  George 
Washington.  One  of  his  brothers,  of  whom  all  trace  has  been  lost,  is  sup- 
posed to  have  met  his  death  in  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  while  another 
brother  served  under  the  command  of  General  Washington  for  seven  years. 
Peter  Brown  (Braun)  lived  in  Virginia  for  a  time,  but  after  the  w^r  drove  a 
supply  team  irort\  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburgh.  Later  he  settled  in  Berks  county, 
and,  being  an  adherent  of  the  Lutheran  faith,  joined  the  church  at  Host  or 
Yohst  and  became  an  active  worker  therein.  Some  years  later  he  came  to 
the  Williams  valley  and  bought  the  Neidlinger  tract,  now  known  as  the  John 
Hoffman  farm,  which  forms  the  greater  part  of  Tower  City.  He  lived  on  this 
tract  and  farmed  it  until  in  old  age  he  made  his  home  with  one  of  his  sons, 
Peter,  who  lived  on  a  farm  in  Clark's  valley  which  is  now  owned  by  Charles 
Kessler.  A  few  years  later  he  made  his  home  with  another  son,  Philip,  who 
lived  on  the  Josiah  Parker  farm.  (Parker  sold  the  farm  to  John  Houtz,  who 
sold  it  to  John  EHeter,  and  it  is  now  known  as  the  Henry  Bohr  farm.)  Here 
Peter  Brown  died  about  1835.    This  Peter  Brown  had  three  sons,  Jonas,  Peter 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1097 

and  Philip,  and  three  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  a  Reedy,  another  who 
became  the  mother  of  Michael  Goodman,  and  a  third  who  married  a  Snoke. 

Philip  Brown  married  Kate  Swab  and  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Walter 
E.  Brown.  He  was  the  father  of  William  C,  John,  Jacob,  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Sam  Romberger),  and  Pauline,  Mrs.  Abraham  Hand.  William  C.  Brown  had 
nineteen  children  by  two  vv^ives;  John  Brown  had  eight  children. 

Jacob  Brown,  the  grandfather  of  Walter  E.  Brown,  was  bom  in  Lykens 
township,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  was  six  months  old  when  brought  to  Schuylkill 
county  by  his  parents,  and  except  for  a  period  of  a  few  years  resided  hpre 
all  his  life.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years, 
eleven  months,  one  day,  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  surviving  and  the 
last  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  Williams  valley.  He  remembered  the  primi- 
tive conditions  of  this  valley,  where  instead  of  towns  there  were  forests, 
when  instead  of  roads  there  were  paths  or  Indian  trails,  and  the  childhood 
scenes  and  pictures  of  which  were  more  real  to  him  than  the  Tower  City  of  his 
later  years.  As  early  as  1845  he  worked  at  the  old  Lorberry  colliery,  at  which 
time  the  coal  was  taken  to  market  through  a  canal  which  ran  through  Pine 
Grove.  He  helped  drive  the  first  tunnel  at  the  Short  Mountain  colliery  at 
Lykens,  and  at  that  time  was  paid  one  dollar  per  day,  although  his  expenses 
were  not  so  heavy  as  they  are  at  this  time,  his  meals  costing  him  six  cents.  In 
1863  he  worked  at  the  Osterman  drift  near  Keffers,  and  also  kept  a  boarding 
house,  helped  build  the  State  road  from  Goodspring  to  Rausch  Gap,  and 
kept  what  is  known  now  as  "Shadle's  Tavern,"  along  the  above  road.  His 
death  took  place  at  the  home  of  Monroe  Brown,  and  the  funeral  services, 
held  at  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church,  Orwin,  Rev.  Ira  F.  Frank  officiat- 
ing, were  largely  attended;  interment  was  made  in  the  adjoining  cemetery. 
Mr.  Brown  married  Elizabeth  Heberling,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  as  follows:  Simon,  living  at  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county; 
Henry;  Harriet,  of  Reiner  City,  the  widow  of  Christian  Weaver;  Philip 
and  Andrew,  who  died  at  Reiner  City ;  Hiram,  of  Philadelphia ;  and  Monroe, 
of  Reiner  City,  who  died  about  two  years  ago. 

Henry  Brown,  the  father  of  Walter  E.  Brown,  was  born  in  Porter  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  16,  1852,  and  was  reared  upon  his  father's  farm. 
At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  began  to  work  in  the  mines  and  continued  to  be 
thus  employed  until  1903,  after  which  he  resided  on  his  farm  in  Porter  town- 
ship, a  tract  of  twenty-two  acres,  until  his  death,  Nov.  T.'jy  1915.  He  married 
Maria  Stein,  a  daughter  of  Christian  Stein,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and 
came  to  America  as  a  young  man.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  had  the  following 
children:  •Walter  E. ;  Ada  May,  who  died  young;  Sadie,  who  married 
George  Kuntzelman;  Edna,  who  married  Edward  Carl;  Harper,  an  assist- 
ant mine  foreman  at  Goodspring ;  Guy,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa. ;  Roy,  a  resi- 
dent of  Porter  township ;  Ray,  of  Port  Carbon,  Pa. ;  Lottie,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Irey;  Mattie,  who  married  Wayne  Kahler;  Lillie,  who  died  young; 
Earle,  residing  at  home;  and  Harold,  at  school.  Henry  Brown  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  Porter  township  for  some  years,  and  fraternally 
was  affiliated  with  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Evangelical  Church  until  1890,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  which  he  served  as  trustee.  For  many  years  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  at  Orwin. 

Walter  E.  Brown  attended  the  public  schools  of  Orwin  and  began  to 
work  in  the  mines  when  but  twelve  years  of  age.  Until  fourteen  he  worked  in 


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1098  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

the  coal  breaker,  was  then  a  laborer  in  the  mines  for  two  years,  and  when  six- 
teen years  old  began  tunnel  work,  a  line  in  which  he  is  well  known,  having  done 
a  great  deal  of  contracting  in  digging  tunnels.  In  fact,  he  has  been  connected 
with  the  driving  of  almost  every  tunnel  of  importance  during  recent  years, 
including  two  tunnels  at  Brookside  colliery,  one  at  Lincoln  and  one  at  Good- 
spring.  He  continued  to  devote  himself  entirely  to  this  work  imtil  19 lo, 
when  he  came  to  his  present  farm  in  Porter  township,  which  was  formerly 
owned  by  William  Alspach.  He  has  a  well  cultivated  property  with  good 
buildings,  and  bears  the  reputation  of  being  a  skillful  and  progressive  farmer. 
Mr.  Brown  married  Clara  Kessler,  daughter  of  Joel  Kessler,  and  they 
have  these  children :  Ada,  who  married  Sherman  Kessler ;  Viola,  a  graduate 
of  the  high  school,  and  now  teaching  in  Porter  township ;  Edgar,  also  a  grad- 
uate of  the  high  school ;  and  Dorothy,  Howard,  Martha  and  Clara.  Mr.  Brown 
has  always  been  ready  to  do  his  part  in  civic  service,  having  been  auditor  of 
the  township,  and  at  present  being  president  of  the  township  school  board. 
He  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  fraternal  circles,  and  at  this  time  holds 
membership  in  Lodge  No.  267,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Tremont,  Schuylkill  county; 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  which  he  served  as  district  deputy  for  five  years ;  and 
the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America. 

WILLIAM  J.  RUMP,  proprietor  of  the  "Suedberg  HoteV  and  an  in- 
ventor of  some  ability,  is  a  resident  of  Suedberg,  this  county.  .He  was  bom 
at  Lorberry  Junction,  Tremont  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  May  18,  1867, 
a  son  of  Peter  Rump,  and  a  grandson  of  Matthias  Rump.  The  latter  was 
bom  in  Germany,  and  it  was  while  he  and  his  wife  were  crossing  the  ocean 
on  their  way  to  the  United  States  that  Peter  Rump  was  bom  to  them,  on 
board  the  ship,  at  the  time  disabled  in  English  waters.  Upon  his  arrival  in 
the  New  World  Matthias  Rump  came  to  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and  here 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  useful  life,  following  the  occupation  of  shoe- 
maker. While  living  in  Germany  he  gave  his  country  the  customary  military 
service. 

Peter  Rump  was  reared  at  Lorberry  Junction,  Schuylkill  county,  where 
he  later  became  a  miner,  and  continued  in  this  line  of  work  all  of  his  active 
life.  EKiring  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  for  service  in  Company  D,  loth  Pennsyl- 
vania Vol.  Inf.,  for  three  months,  and  later  reenlisted  in  Company  H,  39th 
Pennsylvania  Militia,  under  Capt.  J.  W.  Barr.  In  later  life  he  became  a 
valued  member  of  Wolf  Post,  No.  203,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Pine  Grove.  Peter 
Rump  was  married  to  Hannah  E.  Berger,  a  daughter  of  Nelson  Berger.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Peter  Rump  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Rump  had  twelve  children,  eight  sons  and  four  daughters, 
of  whom  two  sons  and  two  daughters  are  deceased.  The  living  are :  Johanna, 
Harriet,  Lillie,  Bessie,  Rosie,  Lucretia,  Harper  C.  and  William  J. 

William  J.  Rump  was  only  a  lad  when  he  began  working  in  the  mines  at 
Lower  Rausch  Creek  colliery,  as  a  slate  picker,  and  for  several  years  there- 
after he  continued  to  work  in  these  mines  in  the  West  End.  Until  1892  he 
was  associated  with  this  kind  of  work,  in  that  year  going  to  the  West,  where 
he  spent  eighteen  months.  On  his  retum  he  resumed  his  mining  operations, 
so  continuing  until  1908,  when  he  embarked  in  the  hotel  business  at  Suedberg. 
He  conducts  his  hostelry  in  a  very  creditable  manner,  which  attracts  the  travel- 
ing public,  his  hotel  being  well  ordered  and  the  cuisine  noted  far  and  wide. 
In  addition  to  his  other  activities,  Mr.  Rump  has  made  himself  known  as  an 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1099 

inventor,  having  on  the  market  two  patents  that  are  in  great  demand,  a  noz- 
zle for  sausage  stuffers  and  lard  presses,  and  an  improvement  on  miners'  ' 
lamps.  During  the  Spanish- American  war  Mr.  Rump  displayed  his  patriotism 
by  enlisting  for  service  in  Company  G,  4th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  from 
Pine  Grove,  under  Capt.  J.  W.  Unbenhauer,  and  he  saw  active  service  in  line 
of  battle  one  mile  North  of  Guama  Hill,  Porto  Rico,  on  the  13th  day  of 
August,  1898.  The  troops  were  withdrawn  upon  the  signing  of  the  peace 
protocol. 

William  J.  Rump  was  married  to  Rickie  Shoch,  a  daughter  of  Gotlieb 
Shoch,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  who  served  his  adopted  country  through- 
out the  conflict.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rump  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Lillie 
E.  and  Roma  L.  Mr.  Rump  is  a  charter  member  of  Taliahia  Tribe,  No.  374, 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  of  Pine  Grove,  and  he  also  belongs  to  Camp  No. 
223,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Suedberg.  A  well  read  man,  Mr.  Rump  keeps  him- 
self thoroughly  posted  regarding  the  trend  of  public  opinion,  and  can  always 
be  relied  upon  to  give  his  support  to  those  measures  which  look  towards  the 
advancement  of  the  community. 

WILLIAM  F.  BICHT,  tax  collector  for  Porter  township,  is  one  of  the 
well  known  men  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  was  bom  April  15,  1852,  in  Kallen- 
mark,  near  Halle,  on  the  Saale,  in  the  province  of  Saxony,  Germany,  April 
15,  1852,  a  son  of  Gotlieb  Bicht.  The  latter  served  in  the  Grerman  army,  and 
rounded  out  his  life  in  his  native  land.  . 

Growing  up  in  his  home  place,  William  F.  Bicht  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  and  after  reaching  the  age  of  nineteen  years  traveled  from  place  to 
place,  working  at  his  calling.  At  diflferent  times  he  was  in  Saxony,  Alsace, 
Bavaria,  Baden  and  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  eventually  at  Strassburg, 
going  from  the  latter  place  to  Switzerland.  There  he  married,  and  for  four 
years  thereafter  continued  to  live  in  Switzerland,  in  1880,  with  his  wife  and 
three  children,  setting  sail  for  the  United  States.  They  arrived  at  Castle 
Garden,  New  York  City,  May  13th  of  that  year,  and  thence  came  at  once  to 
Reiner  City,  Pa.,  to  join  Mr.  Bicht's  brother,  Gotlieb  Bicht,  who  had  come 
here  in  1866  and  engaged  in  mining.  Subsequently  this  brother  went  to  Potts- 
ville,  Pa.,  where  he  died.  Immediately  following  his  arrival  William  F. 
Bicht  began  working  in  the  mines,  and  continued  at  that  work  until  1908,  at 
the  same  time  following  his  trade.  Finding  an  opening  in  1908,  he  built  him- 
self a  shop,  and  carried  on  blacksmithing  there.  In  1894  he  had  erected  a 
very  handsome  residence  at  Reiner  City.  A  stanch  Republican,  Mr.  Bicht 
ser\'ed  Porter  township  for  six  years  as  treasurer;  was  treasurer  of  the 
school  board  for  one  year,  and  in-^iQii  was  elected  township  collector,  which 
office  he  has  since  held.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
Knights  of  Pythias.  In  religious  matters  he  belongs  to  the  Evangelical 
Church. 

In  1876  Mr.  Bicht  was  married  in  Switzerland  to  Anna  Schweitzer,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  these  children:  William,  who  lives  at  Reiner 
City;  Charles,  who  died  in  1913;  Ernest,  who  died  in  1898;  Annie,  who  mar- 
ried Howard  Updegrave ;  and  Lydia,  who  married  Charles  Reiner.  The  eldest 
three  children  were  born  in  Switzerland.  A  man  of  high  principles,  Mr.  Bicht 
has  discharged  the  duties  of  his  several  offices  ably  and  honorably,  and  he 
stands  deservedly  v^ell  with  his  fellow  citizens. 


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1100  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ELLIS  J.  ENGLISH,  watchman  at  the  West  Brookside  colliery,  at  Tower 
City,  Pa.,  was  bom  at  English  Mills,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  8,  1855,  son  of 
John  W.  and  Mary  Jane  (Campbell)  English,  and  a  grandson  of  James 
English. 

The  great-grandfather  of  Ellis  J.  English  was  the  progenitor  of  this  fam- 
ily in  America,  coming  from  the  North  of  Ireland  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
war^and  serving  in  that  struggle  as  a  soldier  of  the  Patriot  army.  Later  he 
settled  at  Williamsport,  in  Lycoming  county.  Pa.,  where  several  members  of 
this  old  family  still  reside.  He  was  a  large  landowner,  became  a  well-to-do 
and  highly  respected  citizen,  and  died  in  advanced  years.  His  son,  James 
English,  the  grandfather  of  Ellis  J.  English,  was  also  a  well  known  figure  in 
Lycoming  county,  where  he  was  largely  engaged  as  a  farmer  and  in  the 
handling  of  timber.  He  was  the  owner  of  a  sawmill  and  a  gristmill,  and  in 
addition  to  a  well  cultivated  and  valuable  farm  was  the  owner  of  much  timber 
land.  His  children  were:  Timothy,  Rice,  John  W.,  Stephen,  Ellis,  and  sev- 
eral daughters. 

John  W.  English,  the  father  of  Ellis  J.  English,  grew  up  in  Lycoming 
county  and  there  followed  farming  and  lumbenng  at  English  Mills,  which 
place  was  named  in  the  family's  honor.  In  1879  he  removed  to  Tioga  county, 
Pa.,  where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  continued  to  be  so  occupied 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  i,  1894,  when  he  was  seventy  years  of 
age.  Mr.  English  was  a  man  of  industry  and  integrity,  and  had  the  full  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  the  people  of  his  community.  He  married  Mary  Jane 
Campbell,  a  member  of  an  old  North  of  Ireland  family  which  came  to  Amer- 
ica about  the  same  time  as  did  the  forebear  of  the  English  family.  Mrs.  Eng- 
lish survives  her  husband,  having  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight 
years,  and  lives  at  Covington,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.  Six  children  were  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  English:  Ellis  J.;  Leslie;  John;  William;  Mary,  who  married 
George  W.  Smith;  and  Viola,  who  married  Darius  Darling. 

Ellis  J.  English  was  given  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lycoming 
county,  after  leaving  which  he  was  for  a  time  employed  on  his  father's  farm 
and  at  lumbering.  For  six  years  he  also  had  experience  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Cherry  Flats,  Tioga  county,  and  during  this  time  served  in  the 
capacity  of  assistant  postmaster.  In  the  spring  of  1889  Mr.  English  came  to 
Tower  City,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  conducted  a  store  until  about  1895, 
in  which  year  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Reading  Company.  Since  1907 
he  has  been  watchman  at  the  West  Brookside  colliery,  being  one  of  his  com- 
pany's most  tmsted  and  valuable  men. 

Mr.  English  married  Ida  Updegrave,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Liebold)  Updegrave.  She  died  Sept.  8,  1910,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Greenwood  cemetery,  at  Tower  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  English  had  three 
children:  Eva,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Tower  City  high  school,  class  of 
T909,  and  resides  at  home;  Elia,  who  is  a  graduate  of  St.  Joseph's  Hospital, 
Reading,  Pa.,  class  of  April,  191 5,  and  now  a  professional  trained  nurse; 
and  Daniel  Webster,  who  is  a  medical  student  at  Philadelphia,  preparing 
for  a  career  as  a  chemist.  Mr.  English  and  his  children  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

MICHAEL  WELDON,  of  Mahanoy  City,  has  been  stationed  at  the 
North  Mahanoy  colliery  for  almost  twenty  years,  in  a  responsible  capacity. 
Since  1904  he  has  been  inside  foreman.     He  is  one  of  the  highly  esteemed 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1101 

citizens  of  the  borough,  and  his  father,  James  Weldon,  was  a  respected 
resident  of  this  section  of  Pennsylvania  most  of  his  active  life.  The  latter 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  America  when  a  young  man,  and  first  located 
at  New  Castle,  Del.  But  after  a  short  stay  there  he  came  to  Schuylkill  county, 
Pa.  For  a  brief  period  he  was  at  Mount  Laflfer,  near  Pottsville,  was  sub- 
sequently at  Big  Mine  Run  until  1865,  and  thereafter  at  Locust  Summit, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  his  death,  in  1903.  He  followed  railroad  work. 
To  his  marriage  with  Helen  Holland  were  bom  these  children:  John,  who 
lives  at  Philadelphia;  James,  of  Locust  Dale,  Pa.;  Ellen,  who  is  a  resident 
of  Locust  Gap,  Pa.;  Michael;  and  Thomas,  who  died  in  1915  at  Philadelphia 
(he  was  a  well  known  mine  superintendent  in  West  Virginia). 

Michael  Weldon  was  born  Oct.  2,  i860,  at  New  Castle,  Del.,  and  was  a 
mere  child  when  he  came  to  Pennsylvania.  He  has  made  his  own  way  in  the 
world,  having  earned  promotion  to  the  position  he  now  holds  by  the  efficient 
discharge  of  every  duty  assigned  him.  Beginning  as  a  breaker  boy  when  only 
eight  years  old,  he  has  always  been  employed  at  the  mines.  He  went  to 
work  underground  at  the  age  of  eleven,  and  was  engaged  as  a  regular  miner 
until  1897,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  North  Mahanoy  colliery,  at  Ma- 
hanoy  City,  in  the  Schuylkill  section.  Here  he  filled  the  position  of  fire  boss 
until  1904,  when  he  was  advanced  to  inside  foreman,  and  his  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  workings,  conscientious  attention  to  all  the  details  of  his  labors, 
and  general  competence,  have  made  his  services  thoroughly  satisfactory. 
He  has  excellent  personal  standing,  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
fraternally  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus. 

Mr.  Weldon  married  Margaret  C.  Kelley,  of  Locust  Dale,  and  they  have 
the  following  children:  Mary,  a  graduate  of  the  local  high  school,  now  a 
public  school  teacher  in  Mahanoy  City;  Nellie,  a  bookkeeper  at  the  Wool- 
worth  store  in  Mahanoy  City;  Rose,  a  graduate  of  the  Mahanoy  City  high 
school,  living  at  home;  and  Marguerite,  Bernard  and  James,  all  attending 
school. 

THE  MERCANTILE  CLUB  of  Minersville,  notwithstanding  its  name, 
was  established  as  a  purely  social  organization  and  has  been  so  maintained 
during  its  continuous  existence  of  a  quarter  of  a  century.  A  record  of  un- 
broken popularity  bears  witness  that  it  has  served  its  purpose  most  admir- 
ably. Founded  Sept.  22,  1889,  by  a  few  men,  its  present  membership  of  fifty 
includes  representatives  of  the  leading  business  interests  of  the  borough.  On 
Oct.  2,  1889,  the  club  rented  rooms  in  the  David  A.  Jones  building,  and  on 
March  i,  1890,  leased  the  second  floor  of  the  Quinn  building,  where  it  was 
quartered  for  over  five  years,  on  Sept.  i,  1895,  removing  to  its  present  home 
m  the  Odd  Fellows  building.  The  club  rooms  are  handsomely  furnished,  with 
abundant  provisions  for  comfort  and  pleasure  in  the  way  of  inviting  leather 
chairs  and  couches,  billiard,  pool  and  card  tables,  all  of  which  are  thoroughly 
enjoyed  by  those  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  the  club.  It  occupies  a  dis- 
tinct place  in  the  social  system  of  the  community. 

Mr.  William  H.  Potter  was  the  first  president  of  the  club,  and  Mr.  Heck- 
man  was  the  first  secretary.  The  present  officers  (1914)  are:  George  Ball, 
president;  Ira  Jones   (publisher  of  the  Free  Press),  secretary. 

WILLIAM  EBERLY,  proprietor  of  the  "Continental  Hotel'*  at  Adams- 
dale,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  born  m  Pine  Grove  township,  this  county,  Dec. 


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1102  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

29,  1854.    Upon  the  paternal  side  he  is  of  Irish  ancestry,  and  his  forbears 
were  among  the  pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

Jacob  Eberly,  the  grandfather,  was  bom  in  Ireland  and  came  to  America 
when  a  small  boy,  settling  in  Pine  Grove  township.  He  was  a  farmer,  owned 
land  there,  and  died  on  his  farm  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He  is 
buried  in  the  old  cemetery  attached  to  the  Pine  Grove  Church.  His  chil- 
dren were  three,  Elizabeth,  Nancy  and  George. 

George  Eberly  was  bom  in  Pine  Grove  township  and  grew  up  there.  He 
became  a  carpenter  and. for  many  years  was  employed  by  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  Railway  Company,  living  at  Birt's  Hill,  in  Pme  Grove  township, 
where  he  owned  two  small  farms.  He  retired  a  few  years  previous  to  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy-three ;  his  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Pine  Grove  cemetery.  He  married  Sarah  Royer,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two,  and  they  had  five  children :  William,  Mary  Ann,  John,  Ehnira 
and  Lyman. 

William  Eberly  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm  wh^re  he  remained  until 
his  eighteenth  year.  Then  he  went  to  Reading,.  Pa.,  working  there  for  two 
years,  and  thence  moved  to  Lenhartsville,  Berks  county,  working  for  about 
seven  years  in  the  construction  and  repairing  of  county  bridges.  He  was  in 
the  bakery  business  for  ten  years,  then  ran  a  hotel  at  Pine  Grove  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  retumed  to  Lenhartsville  for  a  year.  Going  to  Ham- 
burg he  bought  a  hotel,  ran  it  for  four  years,  and  then  retired  for  a  time. 
He  came  to  Adamsdale  and  on  May  2,  1900,  leased  the  hotel  he  is  at  present 
conducting,  which  he  has  operated  with  much  success.  He  has  a  fine  trade 
and  has  gained  the  esteem  and  respect  of  his  patrons  and  the  public  generafly. 

Mr.  Eberly  married  Anna  Maria,  daughter  of  Frank  Fenstermacher,  of 
Longswamp  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  their  children  are  as  follows: 
George  Franklin,  a  farmer,  living  at  Windsor  Castle,  Berks  county;  and 
Charles,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 

Mr.  Eberly  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  at  Kutztown, 
Pa.,  and  of  the  Liquor  Dealers'  Association  of  Schuylkill  County.  He  attends 
the  Reformed  Church.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  independent  in  local 
affairs. 

MICHAEL  SCHOENEMAN,  of  Pottsville,  has  for  forty  years  been  in 
charge  of  the  manufacturing  department  at  the  county  jail,  where  he  has  also 
acted  as  under  keeper.  His  long  retention  in  the  public  service  shows  the  value 
placed  upon  his  work  by  his  fellow  citizens.  Mr.  Schoeneman  is  a  native 
of  Cjermany,  bom  May  21,  1842,  in  Wurtemberg,  son  of  Frederick  Schoene- 
man, who  lived  and  died  in  that  country.  The  father  was  an  educated  man 
and  engaged  as  a  clerk.    The  grandfather  was  a  school  teacher  in  Germany. 

Michael  Schoeneman  obtained  a  public  school  education  in  his  native 
land  and  first  worked  at  farm  labor  with  his  grandmother.  He  then  learned 
weaving,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  two  years,  and  followed  the  trade 
throughout  the  period  of  his  residence  in  Germany,  learning  to  do  fine  work. 
Leaving  for  America  in  May,  1864,  he  landed  at  New  York  City  in  June,  and 
then  proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  spent  two  weeks.  Coming  from 
there  to  Schuylkill  Haven,  Schuylkill  county,  he  found  employment  unload- 
ing canal  boats,  and  was  thus  engaged  for  eight  years.  He  then  took  up  the 
work  of  carpet  weaver,  in  which  he  was  very  successful,  following  it  until 
appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  weaving  department  of  the  county  jail  at 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1103 

Pottsville,  in  1874.  Under  his  supervision  the  knitting  business  was  started 
at  the  institution,  the  product  being  men's  cotton  socks,  which  have  a  large 
sale.  Mr.  Schoeneman  has  managed  the  affairs  under  his  charge  most  effi- 
ciently, and  is  a  highly  respected  resident  of  Pottsville.  During  the  many 
years  of  his  service  he  has  had  a  variety  of  interesting  experiences  with  long 
and  short  term  prisoners,  and  besides  attending  strictly  to  the  duties  of  his 
position  has  been  able  to  do  much  good  among  them,  directly  and  indirectly. 

In  1867  Mr.  Schoeneman  married  Lucinda  Eiler,  daughter  of  Daniel  Eiler, 
an  early  settler  of  North  Manheim  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  her 
grandfather  Eiler  took  up  government  land;  he  had  three  tracts  where  the 
borough  of  Schuylkill  Haven  is  now  located.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schoeneman  had 
a  family  of  six  children,  viz.:  John,  a  carpenter,  who  is  livings  in  Pottsville; 
Katie,  who  married  John  Nettlinger  and  (second)  Henry  Tntchler;  Emma, 
Mrs.  George  John;  William,  a  carpenter;  Mary,  who  married  Milton  Noll; 
and  Carrie,  who  married  Clinton  Lawbach. 

Mr.  Schoeneman  is  a  member  of  Pulaski  Lodge,  No.  216,  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  Pottsville;  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  belongs  to  the  German  Lutheran 
Church.  He  does  not  support  the  principles  of  any  one  political  party,  voting 
independently.  In  January,  1865,  a  few  months  after  his  arrival  in  this 
country,  he  enlisted  for  the  Union  service  during  the  Civil  war,  joining  the 
50th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  but  was  never  called  upon,  the  war  closing 
shortly  afterwards.  The  fact  tjiat  he  was  not  familiar  with  the  English 
language  kept  him  from  enlisting  sooner.  His  patriotism  has  never  lessened 
during  the  fifty  years  which  have  elapsed  since,  and  he  has  always  been  a 
good  citizen. 

ADAM  J.  BROWN,  formerly  deputy  sheriff  of  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  was 
born  in  1875  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he  now  resides,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  H.  Brown,  grandson  of  Adam  K.  Brown  and  great-grandson  of 
Adam  Brown,  all  of  whom  lived  in  Schuylkill  county.  The  family  is  of 
German  origin  and  is  well  known  and  respected  in  upper  Berks  and  lower 
Schuylkill  counties.  ' 

Adam  Brown,  the  great-grandfather,  was  bom  in  Berks  county,  was  an 
iron  worker,  and  had  a  forge  in  Berks  coimty  for  a  time.  Then  he  moved 
to  Reading,  but  after  his  son  Adam  K.  Brown  bought  a  farm  near  Pine 
Grove,  Schuylkill  coimty,  he  lived  there  with  him.  He  was  killed  in  an  acci- 
dent at  the  railroad  crossing  near  Pine  Grove,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
Mr.  Brown  had  five  children:  Isaac  C. ;  Mary,  married  to  Isaac  Sell; 
Louisiana,  who  married  Isaac  Sotsin  and  (second)  Andrew  Reber;  Sarah; 
and  Adam  K. 

Adam  K.  Brown  was  bom  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  boatman  on  the  Schuylkill  canal  for  about  twenty  years.  He 
met  his  death  near  Bordentown,  N.  J.,  in  the  spring  of  1859,  being  killed,  it 
is  supposed  in  an  assault  made  upon  him  by  two  negroes.  His  body  was 
brought  to  Schuylkill  Haven  and  buried  at  Hetzel's  Oiurch,  in  Washington 
township.  Adam  K.  Brown  had  purchased  a  farm  near  Pine  Grove,  upon 
which  his  father  resided  with  him.  Adam  K.  Brown  was  married  to  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  Simon  and  Sarah  (Helm)  Schropp  and  granddaughter  of  Jacob 
Helm,  a  native  of  Berks  county  who  settled  in  Schuylkill  county.  Mrs. 
Brown  died  in  1898  and  is  buried  in  the  Union  cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven. 


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1104  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

The  children  of  Adam  K.  and  Sarah   (Helm)   Brown  were:  William  H.; 
John  M.,  of  Schuylkill  Haven;  and  Adam  K.,  also  residing  in  that  borou^ 

William  H.  Brown  was  bom  in  Washington  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  followed  the  occupation  of  farmer.  Later  he 
conducted  "Brown's  Hotel"  at  Schuylkill  Haven  for  about  five  years,  after 
which  he  had  charge  of  the  hospital  at  the  almshouse  near  the  borough  for 
four  years.  He  next  purchased  a  small  farm  in  North  Manheim  township 
and  cultivated  it  for  about  seven  years.  He  now  resides  at  Orwigsburg.  Mr. 
Brown  was  married  to  Eliza  Werley,  who  was  bom  in  Lehigh  county,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Werley,  and  died  March  8,  1901 ;  she  is  buried  in  the  Union 
cemetery  at  Schuylkill  Haven.  By  this  marriage  there  were  four  children: 
Adam  J. ;  Lovinia,  wife  of  Oscar  Fidler,  living  in  Schuylkill  Haven ;  William 
R.,  living  in  the  same  place;  and  Mary  E.,  who  is  urunarried. 

Adam  J.  Brown  attended  the  public  schools  of  Schuylkill  Haven  and  then 
became  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company, 
remaining  in  the  employ  of  that  company  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years.  He 
then  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  county  jail  at  Pottsville,  remained  there  for 
three  years,  and  subseque;itly  spent  eight  months  in  the  soliciting  of  insurance. 
Having  been  appointed  deputy  under  Sheriff  Patrick  J.  Murphy,  he  served  as 
such  until  Jan.  i,  191 4. 

Mr.  Brown  married  Dora  Weaver,  daughter  of  Charles  F.  Weaver,  of 
Cressona,  Schuylkill  county,  and  they  have  had  one  son,  Russell  C,  who  is 
attending  school.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  party,  as  well  as  in  everything  which  is  conducive  to  the  wel- 
fare and  prosperity  of  the  borough  and  county.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Reformed  Church,  and  treasurer  of  its  Sunday  school,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  of  Schuylkill  Haven. 

DAVID  JONES,  now  living  retired  at  Mahanoy  City,  is  an  old-time 
miner  and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  well  known  and  respected  among  his 
associates  in  all  the  walks  of  life.  He  is  a  native  of  Wales,  bom  Dec.  16, 
1841,  at  Llangynidr,  in  Breconshire,  and  passed  his  earlv  life  in  that  country. 
His  parents  were  Thomas  and  Ann  (Lewis)  Jones,  the  latter  dying  in  Wales. 
The  father  came  to  the  United  States  in  185 1.  In  his  own  coimtry  he  had 
been  a  miner,  and  he  sought  employment  of  the  same  kind  here,  settling  at 
New  Mines,  near  Minersville,  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  where  he  found 
work.  He  continued  to  follow  mining  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1864  at  Mahanoy  City,  this  county. 

David  Jones  was  ten  years  old  when  he  came  to  America  with  his  father, 
and  soon  afterward  he  commenced  to  work  at  the  breaker,  picking  slate.  As 
he  acquired  experience  and  gained  in  strength  he  was  given  more  responsible 
work,  and  he  advanced  through  the  various  grades  until  he  became  a  full- 
fledged  miner.  In  that  capacity  he  continued  to  be  engaged  for  about  thirty 
years  in  all,  until  1902,  after  which  he  did  outside  work  at  the  mines  for  one 
year.  He  has  since  lived  retired,  spending  his  days  in  well  earned  leisure. 
During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Jones  served  in  the  Union  army  under  two  enlist- 
ments. At  Reading  he  joined  the  53d  Pennsylvania  Regiment  for  three 
months,  later  enlisting  in  Company  F,  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  with  which 
he  served  two  years.  His  army  experiences  included  many  hardships.  He  is 
one  of  the  few  veterans  at  Mahanoy  City,  and  an  honored  oflf^cer  of  Severn 
Post,  No.  no,  G.  A.  R.,  of  that  place.    His  industrious  life  and  consistent 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1105 

honesty  have  gained  him  the  good  will  and  esteem  of  all  who  have  coqie  in 
contact  with  him. 

Mr.  Jones  married  Mrs.  Anna  Jenkins,  who  died  March  15,  191 5,  and  is 
buried  at  Mahanoy  City.  They  have  four  children :  John  Jenkins,  who  lives 
at  Mahanoy  City;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Hughes;  Daniel  Jenkins  and  Sarah 
Jenkins,  both  at  home. 

SOLOMON  MAURER,  who  is  living  retired  at  Gordon,  Schuylkill  p).. 
Pa.,  after  fifty  years'  service  in  the  dangerous  and  responsible  work  of  rail- 
road engineer,  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  county.  May  12,  1842,  son  of  George 
and  Marie  (Snyder)  Maurer.  Peter  Maurer,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
Solomon  Maurer,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  and  of  German 
birth. 

George  Maurer  was  a  farmer  and  lumberman  and  assisted  in  the  work 
of  clearing  up  this  county  to  make  way  for  the  work  of  agriculture.  He  was 
married  near  Gordon  to  Marie,  daughter  of  Henry  Snyder,  an  early  resident 
of  the  county,  and  their  children  were  eight  in  number,  viz.:  Adaline,  wife 
of  John  Arnold,  of  Schuylkill  coimty;  Mary,  deceased  wife  of  Thomas 
Myers ;  Lucy,  deceased  wife  of  Benjamin  O.  Reinard,  of  this  county ;  Louisa, 
residing  in  California,  the  wife  of  Moses  Snyder;  Sallie,  deceased  wife  of 
Jacob  Shultz,  of  Mount  Carmel;  Elizabeth,  deceased  wife  of  Daniel  Fet- 
terolf,  also  deceased;  Solomon,  mentioned  below;  and  Oscar,  a  resident  of 
Harrisburg,  Pa.    The  father  died  in  1880,  and  the  mother  is  also  deceased. 

Solomon  Maurer  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Gordon  and  worked  on  a 
farm  during  his  childhood  and  youth.  When  a  young  man  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  and  in  time  was 
promoted  to  the  position  of  eijgineer,  which  he  held  continuously  for  fifty 
years,  retiring  in  1912,  having  been  pensioned  by  the  company.  He  then 
bought  a  farm  near  Gordon,  and  for  the  last  four  years  has  been  residing 
upon  it  and  superintending  its  cultivation.  When  the  Civil  war  heg3in  Mr. 
Maurer  enlisted  in  Company  H,  17th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  conflict,  being  mustered  out  in  1865  ^^  Cloud's  Mill,  Va.  He 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Gettysburg,  Cedar  Creek,  Fredericksburg,  Chan- 
cellorsville,  and  many  other  important  engagements.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  returned  to  this  county  and  re-entered  the  employ  of  the  railroad  com- 
pany. Mr.  Maurer  was  married  on  May  26,  1866,  to  Abbie  Fetterolf ,  a  native 
of  northern  Mahantongo  township,  Schuylkill  coimty,  and  they  have  had 
these  children:  Amelia,  Mary,  Joseph,  Emma,  Elsie  and  Charles.  Mr. 
Maurer  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Gordon.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  local  G.  A.  R.  post,  and  is  still  affiliated  with  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men  and  thfe  Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics. 

Joseph  Fetterolf,  father  of  Mrs.  Maurer,  was  a  farmer  of  Mahantongo 
township,  where  he  died  in  1880.  His  wife,  Abbie  Rice,  was  also  a  native 
of  that  township,  and  is  deceased.  To  them  were  bom  twelve  children,  of 
whom  Hettie,  wife  of  Edward  BoHch,  of  Gordon,  is  now  deceased ;  Joseph  is 
deceased;  Caroline,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  George  Hepler;  Elizabeth,  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  Ephraim  Conrad ;  Henry  is  a  resident  of  George- 
town, Schuylkill  county;  Abbie  is  Mrs.  Maurer;  Daniel  is  residing  at  Barry 
Station,  Schuylkill  county;  Amelia,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  James  Thomas: 
Alice  is  the  wife  of  Rudolph  Geist,  a  resident  of  Northumberland  county; 
Samuel  lives  at  Darby,  near  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

Vol.  n— 32 


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1106  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

WILLIAM  (Z,  FLEMING,  of  PottsviUe,  has  been  engaged  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania  railroad,  as  track  foreman  in  Schuylkill  county,  for  the  last  thirty 
years,  during  which  time  he  has  made  an  enviable  record  for  efficiency  and 
intelligent  attention  to  his  duties.  Mr.  Fleming  was  bom  at  Bamesville,  this 
county,  June  lo,  1868,  and  is  of  Irish  parentage,  his  father,  Patrick  Fleming, 
having  been  a  native  of  Ireland. 

Patrick  Fleming  came  to  this  country  when  a  youth  of  eighteen,  and  first 
located  at  Marietta,  in  Lancaster  coimty,  Pa.,  where  he  was  a  pudcUer  at  the 
old  Marietta  Furnace.  His  service  there  covered  a  period  of  about  six  years. 
He  was  next  at  Beaver  Brook,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  in  the  employ  of  the  Dodson 
Coal  Company,  as  a  foreman  at  the  collieries,  and  continued  with  this  con- 
cern for  about  seventeen  years,  after  which  he  was  with  Coxe  Brothers  & 
Company,  taking  contracts  for  loading  coal.  He  was  so  engaged  for  about 
nine  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  wjsnt  to  Mahanojr  City,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  turned  to  the  trade  he  had  learned  in  early  hfe,  that  of  stone- 
mason. There  he  resided  tmtil  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1891.  Mr.  Flem- 
ing married  Bridget  Culhatle,  a  native  of  Goldsboro,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  she 
survives  him,  now  making  her  home  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  county.  They 
had  a  large  family,  namely:  Catherine,  who  died  young;  Patrick;  William  C; 
John  H. ;  Mary;  Thomas;  Michael;  Edward,  who  was  killed  Oct.  2,  19 10, 
by  a  blast  at  the  William  Penn  colliery;  Peter;  and  Kate. 

William  C.  Fleming  was  given  the  advantages  of  the  public  school  in  his 
boyhood,  and  began  work  as  a  door  boy  at  the  mines.  In  time  he  became  a 
regular  miner,  but  he  did  not  continue  long  in  this  line  of  work.  Meantime 
he  had  been  continuing  his  studies,  taking  two  of  the  Scranton  Correspondence 
Schools  courses,  one  a  general  course,  and  the  other  in  penmanship,  carrying 
this  on  along  with  his  work  for  about  eleven  months.  After  a  brief  employ- 
ment as  brakeman  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  he  took  an  exami- 
nation, and  as  a  result  was  one  of  the  seven  chosen  to  go  to  Shenandoah  as 
track  foreman  for  the  company.  This  was  in  1887,  and  he  has  held  this 
position  ever  since,  remaining  at  Shenandoah  imtil  May  21,  1895,  after  which 
he  was  located  at  St.  Clair  for  nine  months.  He  has  since  been  at  Potts- 
viUe. Mr.  Fleming  has  charge  of  Division  No.  27,  on  the  Philadelphia  & 
Erie  line,  having  five  and  a  half  miles  of  main  track  imder  his  supervision 
and  directing  the  work  of  fourteen  menT  He  has  had  inany  interesting  ex- 
periences during  his  career  as  a  railroad  man,  but  the  most  notable  one  was 
not  in  the  line  of  his  work.  In  1908  he  w^s  a  passenger  on  a  train  which  was 
wrecked  at  Malone's  Cut,  and  though  badly  injured  about  the  head  lost  no 
time  in  signaling  other  trains  of  the  danger.  His  coolness  and  bravery  were 
acknowledged  in  the  following  letter: 

.  Wilkes  Barre,  Pa.,  June  29,  1908. 

Mr.  W.  C.  Fleming, 

Foreman  S.  D.  No.  27. 
Dear  Sir :  The  superintendent  and  assistant  engineer  desires  me  to  convey  to  you  their 
appreciation  of  the  manner  in  which  you  conducted  yourself  immediately  after  the  wreck 
to  train  No.  403  on  Saturday,  A.  M.,  at  Malone's  Cut,  on  which  train  you  were  a  passenger. 
They  desire  to  thank  you  for  the  interest  displayed  by  you  in  using  such  wise  jud^ent  to 
take  a  flag  and  protect  any  other  trains  from  danger  when  you  yourself  were^  injured. 

I  wish  to  join  my  superior  officers  in  commending  you  for  using  such  excellent  judg- 
ment at  this  time.  Yours  truly, 

W.  F.  Court, 
Supervisor. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1107 

Mr.  Fleming  still  carries  the  marks  of  the  injuries  he  received  on  this 
occasion. 

In  1905  Mr.  Flemine  married  Mary  Gould,  of  Manor  street,  Columbia, 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Richard  Gould,  who  still  resides  there.  They 
have  four  children :  William  R.,  John  J.,  Mary  C.  and  Vincent  P.  The  fam- 
ily home  is  at  No.  449  East  Mauch  Chunk  street,  Pottsville.  Mr.  Fleming  is 
a  member  of  the  Phoenix  Fire  Company,  of  that  borough.  Politically  he  is 
a  Democrat. 

JOHN  H.  MARTIN,  foreman  in  the  machine  shops  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Railway  Company  at  Gordon,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  was  bom  in 
that  town  in  1871,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Catherine  (Donahoe)  Mar- 
tin, the  former  a  native  of  Ireland  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Wales. 

Thomas  Martin  came  to  America  in  1864  ^md  settled  in  Gordon.  There 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Reading  Company  as  repairman,  was  promoted 
to-  brakeman,  conductor,  fireman  and  engineer,  and  finally  retired  by  the 
company  upon  a  pension.  He  and  his  wife  Catherine  (Donahoe)  had  ten 
children:  John  H.,  the  eldest,  is  mentioned  below;  William  is  deceased; 
Michael,  Mary,  Thomas,  Edward  and  James  are  also  deceased;  Frank  is  a 
resident  of  Gordon ;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Reif ,  of  Gordon ;  Charles 
resides,  in  Philadelphia. 

John  H.  Martin  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Gordon,  and  at  the  age  of 
twelve  started  to  work  in  the  colliery  there,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  old.  He  then  entered  the  machine  shops  of  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Railway  Company  as  an  apprentice.  From  1897  ^^  1898  he 
worked  as  brakeman  on  the  railroad,  returning  to  the  shops,  of  which  he 
was  made  foreman  in  1907,  a  position  which  he  has  ever  since  held.  In 
July,  1 891,  Mr.  Martin  married  Margaret  Curran,  daughter  of  James  and 
Ann  Curran,  and  of  the  children  bom  to  them  Elizabetti  and  Grace,  twins, 
are  deceased;  Mary  was  bom  Oct.  31,  1900;  and  Anna  was  bom  in  1910. 

Mr.  Martin  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church ;  of  Sarto  Council, 
Knights  of  Columbus ;  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians ;  the  Brotherhood  of 
Locomotive  Firemen  and  Engineers;  and  the  Citizens'  Fire  Company,  No.  i, 
holding  the  office  of  chief  fire  marshal.  He  is  also  assistant  deputy  State 
marshal.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  served  an  enlistment  in  Company 
F,  N.  G.  P.,  of  Girardville. 

JACOB  A.  HESS  is  a  respected  resident  of  Minersville,  where  he  has 
been  settled  for  almost  thirty  years.  He  is  an  official  of  the  local  G.  A.  R. 
post  and  well  and  favorably  known  to  his  fellow  citizens  in  the  borough. 
Mr.  Hess's  forefathers  came  to  this  region  from  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  his 
grandfather  making  his  home  at  Greenbrier,  Northumberland  county,  where 
he  followed  farming.  His  children  were:  Solomon,  John,  David,  Abraham, 
Gideon,  Mrs.  Ressler  and  Mr&.  Sol.  Laudenslader. 

Abraham  Hess,  father  of  Jacob  A.  Hess,  was  a  shoemaker  by  occupation 
and  for  a  period  of  fifty-five  years  was  in  business  in  that  line  at  Gratz,  Dau- 
phin Co.,  Pa.,  being  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  that  place.  Having 
removed  thence  to  Short  Mountain  farm,  he  lived  there  for  about  thirty  years, 
after  which  he  settled  at  Loyalton,  Dauphin  cotmty,  where  he  erected  the  well 
known  "Loyalton  House,"  which  he  conducted  for  a  time.  He  died  there 
when  about  seventy-five  years  old.    By  his  marriage  to  Catherine  Hoffman  he 


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1108  SCHUYLliiLL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

had  a  family  of  six  children,  namely:  Mary,  Adeline,  Emma,  Amanda  (de- 
ceased), Jacob  A.  and  Edward.  Mrs.  Hess's  father,  Jacob  HoflFman,  lived 
in  the  locality  known  as  Specktown,  where  the  family  settled  during  the  days 
when  the  Indians  were  still  in  that  region. 

Jacob  A.  Hess  was  bom  Jan.  29,  1840,  at  Gratz,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
lived  there  imtil  fifteen  years  old,  meantime  attending  the  public  school.  He 
was  then  engaged  in  farm  work  at  Short  Mountain,  whence  he  removed  to 
Williamstown,  Dauphin  county,  living  at  that  place  for  eleven  years.  In 
.1886  he  came  to  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  where  for  a  period  of  thir- 
teen years  he  was  employed  at  the  Oak  Hill  colliery,  until  he  took  his  present 
position  at  the  '^Washington  Hotel,"  Minersville,  where  he  has  charge  of  the 
yard  and  stables. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Hess  served  eleven  months  in  the  Union  army, 
being  a  member  of  Company  H,  210th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  con- 
nected with  the  5th  Corps,  3d  Brigade,  2d  Division,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
He  is  a  popular  member  of  Lawrence  Post,  No.  17,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Minersville, 
and  well  known  among  his  comrades,  at  present  serving  as  senior  vice  com- 
mander of  his  post.    The  Hess  family  are  Methodists  in  reli^ous  connection. 

Mr.  Hess  married  Amanda  Klinger,  "daughter  of  Elias  Klmger,  of  Union- 
town  (Pillow  post  office),  Dauphin  county,  and  the  following  children  have 
been  bom  to  them :  Cora  is  the  wife  of  William  Stutzman ;  Annie  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Stottler;  Mary  is  unmarried;  William,  who  lives  at  home,  and 
assists  his  father,  is  also  well  known  in  this  locality  as  a  photographer,  having 
done  considerable  work  in  that  line  at  Minersville;  John  is  a  clerk  in  the 
Philadelphia  postoffice;  Mabel  is  the  wife  of  George  Hay. 

JOHN  W.  PRICE  has  been  employed  at  the  Buck  Mountain  colHerv  ever 
since  he  started  out  to  earn  his  own  living,  and  the  fact  that  he  is  now  inside 
foreman  at  the  Vulcan  slope  there  indicates  that  he  has  been  faithful  to 
every  trust  and  proved  his  efficiency  in  all  the  duties  assigned  him.  His  father, 
John  J.  Price,  is  also  one  of  the  reliable  workers  at  the  Buck  Mountain  col- 
liery. He  was  bom  in  Wales,  where  he  followed  mining  until  he  brought 
his  family  to  America,,  in  the  year  1887.  He  first  settled  at  Mahanoy  City, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  later  moving  to  New  Boston,  this  county,  where  he  was 
employed  at  the  mines,  returning  to  Mahanoy  City  for  a  time,  and  eventually 
settling  at  Buck  Mountain.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Price,  and  of  the  chil- 
dren bom  to  them  three  are  living :    Thomas,  John  W.  and  William. 

John  W.  Price  was  bom  in  Wales  in  1804,  and  was  a  child  when  the 
family  settled  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Ma- 
hanoy township  and  Mahanoy  City  for  a  few  years,  and  when  a  boy  of  ten 
began  to  work  on  the  breaker  at  the  Buck  Mountain  colliery,  being  steadily 
promoted  as  opportunity  offered.  He  had  experience  in  most  of  the  different 
,  kinds  of  work  about  the  mines  until  he  became  fire  boss,  holding  that  position 
until  made  assistant  inside  foreman.  On  June  16,  1912,  he  was  promoted  to 
his  present  position,  being  inside  foreman  at  the  Vulcan  slope,  where  he  has 
made  a  creditable  record.  About  three  hundred  and  twenty  men  are  em- 
ployed on  the  inside  at  this  colliery,  and  his  duties  are  numerous,  demanding 
close  and  constant  attention.  Though  one  of  the  younger  mine  foreman  in 
this  region  he  has  a  high  reputation. 

Mr.  Price  is  well  known  among  the  local  fratemal  organizations,  being 
a  member  and  past  master  of  Mahanoy  City  Lodge,  No.  357,  F.  &  A.  M., 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1109 

and  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  and  also  belcMigs  to  the  I.  O.  o'  F. 
He  was  married  to  Mamie  Krauch,  and  they  have  three  children,  namely: 
Thehna,  Margaret  and  John.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Piurch. 

PETER  HOAK,  late  of  Pottsville,  was  bom  in  that  borough  July  6, 
1873,  and  was  of  German  descent.  Peter  Hoak,  his  father,  was  bom  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  and  came  to  America  in  1850,  landing  aft  New  York.  After 
spending  a  few  weeks  in  that  city  he  proceeded  to  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and 
located  at  Pottsville,  where  he  worked  by  the  day,  obtaming  his  first  employ- 
ment at  Branch  Dale,  at  the  Otto  colliery.  Subsequently  he  was  employed  as 
supervisor  at  Yorkville  borough  for  fourteen  years,  and  was  afterwards  en- 
'  gaged  in  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  shops  for  about  nine  years  before  his 
retirement.  For  several  years  he  served  as  police  officer  of  Yorkville  borough. 
His  death  occurred  Feb.  21,  1908.  He  married  Theresa  Scheafer,  also  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  seven  children  were  bom  to  this  tmion,  namely: 
Frank,  who  is  living  at  Yorkville,  Pa. ;  Katie,  Mrs.  E.  F.  Welker,  of  Potts- 
ville; Barbara,  deceased;  John,  deceased;  Peter,  deceased;  William,  living 
with  his  mother  in  Pottsville;  and  Catherine,  deceased. 

Peter  Hoak  was  reared  in  Pottsville  and  attended  the  local  public  schools. 
When  fourteen  years  old  he  went  to  work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Richardson 
colliery.  Glen  Carbon,  where  he  remained  one  year.  Then  for  one  year  he 
was  employed  upon  a  brickyard  for  Isaac  Rich,  and  his  next  position  was 
with  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company,  by  whom  he  was  employed  for 
fourteen  months.  He  then  went  to  work  for  D.  G.  Yuengling  &  Son,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  and  in  1901  he  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business,  taking  charge  of  the  **West  End  Hotel"  at  Pottsville.  His 
experience  there  covered  a  period  of  seven  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  moved  to  the  location  at  Seventh  and  Minersville  streets,  Pottsville,  where 
he  conducted  a  saloon  business  until  his  recent  death.  It  is  in  the  Fifth  ward. 
Mr.  Hoak  was  popular  with  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances  and  commanded 
a  profitable  trade.  He  was  a  Republican  on  political  questions  and  his  relig- 
ious connection  was  with  St.  John's  Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  Hoak  married  Theresa  Elisbn,  daughter  of  Charles  Elison,  of  Potts- 
ville, and  of  the  ten  children  bom  to  their  union  five  survive :  Clara,  Florence, 
Dorothy,  Vincent  and  Robert.  Francis  died  when  nine  months  old ;  Catherine 
died  when  nineteen  days  old ;  and  three  others  died  in  infancy. 

Joseph  Elison,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Peter  Hoak,  lived  and  died  in  Ger- 
many. He  learned  the  trade  of  wheelwright,  and  afterwards  followed  farm- 
ing, which  he  continued  imtil  his  death.  To  him  and  his  wife,  Magdalena 
(Obergeffel),  were  bom  five  .children:  Alois,  who  died  in  Pottsville,  Pa.; 
August,  who  died  in  Pottsville;  Joseph,  who  died  at  Godhaven,  Greenland; 
Charles;  and  Catherine,  who  is  living  at  the  old  homestead  in  Germany. 
Of  this  family  Joseph,  bom  Jan.  12,  1849,  in  Baden,  Germany,  died  July  8, 
1884,  at  Godhaven,  Greenland.  He  was  a  sergeant  in  the  United  States  army, 
attached  in  1888  to  Lieutenant  Greeley's  Arctic  Expedition,  and  succumbed 
after  the  party  was  rescued  by  Schley's  Relief  Squadron. 

Charies  Elison,  father  of  Mrs.  Hoak,  was  bom  Nov.  22,  1844,  in  Ger- 
many, where  he  served  three  years  in  the  regular  army.  Coming  to  America 
in  1868,  he  landed  at  New  York  City  Feb.  29th,  and  continued  his  journey 
to  Pottsville,  Pa.    He  was  a  shoemaker,  and  after  following  his  trade  for  over 


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1110  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

twenty-five  years,  doing  custom  work,  turned  his  attention  to  teaming,  which 
he  carried  on  for  several  years.  He  also  engaged  to  some  extent  in  farm 
work  and  in  marketing,  during  this  time  residing  at  Yorkville,  where  he  held 
the  position  of  health  officer  for  fourteen  years,  imtil  that  borough  was  made 
part  of  Pottsville.  He  married  Catherine  Sippel,  who  died  Aug.  4,  1903,  the 
mother  of  the  following  children:  Frank  and  Charles  reside  at  Pottsville; 
Theresa  is  the  widow  of  Peter  Hoak,  of  Pottsville;  Mamie  married  Robert 
Ryan,  and  lives  at  Pottsville;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  William  Dimmerling; 
Bertha  married  James  Limdy,  of  Tamaqua,  Pa.;  Frederick  lives  at  Potts- 
ville; Florence  is  the  wife  of  John  Kuss,  of  Pottsville. 

CHARLES  F.  SCHIEF,  a  respected  resident  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  has 
made  his  home  at  that  borough  ever  since  he  came  to  America,  in  the  year 
1880.  Mr.  Schief  is  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  bom  in  1862  at 
Oberbergen.  He  was  reared  in  the  Fatherland,  learned  the  trade  of  baker 
there  with  his  father,  and  on  coming  to  America  settled  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 
and  continued  to  follow  his  trade.  He  is  now  in  the  employ  of  Charles  L. 
Lutz,  a  baker  of  Pottsville.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  and  known  as  a  man  of  estimable  qualities,  industrious,  and  thor- 
oughly deserving  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  everyone. 

Mr.  Schief  married  Sofie  Millershane,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Miller- 
shane,  and  children  as  follows  have  been  bom  to  their  imion:  Carl,  a  rail- 
road conductor,  who  is  now  living  in  South  Dakota ;  and  Frederick,  William, 
Luther,  George  and  Walter,  all  of  Schuylkill  Haven.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Frederick  Millershane,  father  of  Mrs.  Schief,  was  a  native  of  Germany 
and  followed  farming  there.  He  served  eight  years  in  the  German  army, 
taking  part  in  the  Franco-Prussian  war.  He  died  in  Germany  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-two  years,  and  his  wife  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-nine.  They 
were  the  parents  of  sevfen  children,  viz.:  Mary,  Joan,  Sofie,  Louisa,  Fritz, 
Wilhelm,  and  Carl.  As  is  the  custom  in  Germany  the  three  sons  were  trained 
in  the  German  army,  and  now,  with  their  sons,  are  engaged  in  the  present 
war.  Mrs.  Schief  is  the  only  one  of  her  family  to  come  to  America.  She 
has  made  three  return  visits  to  the  home  in  Germany  where  she  was  born. 
In  1907  she  built  the  beautiful  residence  on  Market  street,  Schuylkill  Haven, 
the  commodious  eighteen-room  dwelling  which  the  family  occupies.  She 
owns  other  valuable  real  estate  besides. 

WILLIAM  TIELMAN,  of  Butler  township,  has  long  been  a  highly 
respected  citizen  in  his  section  of  Schuylkill  coimty,  where  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  over  twenty  years.  By  his  industry  he  has  placed  him- 
self in  comfortable  circumstances,  and  has  done  his  share  towards  advancing 
the  agricultural  standards  of  the  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Tielman  was  bom  in  Germany,  in  the  Rhine  province,  Aug.  16,  1861, 
and  his  parents,  Engelbert  and  Louisa  (Weiand)  Tiehnan,  lived  and  died' 
in  that  country.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  six  still 
survive,  viz.:  Robert,  Albert  and  Matilda,  all  in  Germany;  Leonard,  who 
lives  with  his  brother  William;  and  Charles,  a  resident  of  Kulpmont,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

William  Tielman  was  educated  in  his  native  land,  living  there  until  twen- 
ty-three years  old,  and  on  coming  to  America  landed  at  New  York.    He  soon 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1111 

located  at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  worked  in  the  mines  four 
years.  Then  he  went  West,  spending  nine  years  in  the  State  of  Colorado, 
where  he  took  up  a  homestead  and  carried  on  farming  to  some  extent.  Re- 
turning to  Schuylkill  coimty  he  bought  his  present  place  in  Butler  township, 
and  has  since  devoted  himself  to  its  cultivation,  giving  some  attention  to  dairy- 
ing along  with  his  general  farming  interests. 

In  1891  Mr.  Tielman  married  Alvina  Ruth,  like  himself  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, bom  in  Westpreussen,  daughter  of  John  and  Augustina  (Mielke)  Ruth, 
who  came  to  America  in  an  early  day.  Mr.  Ruth  is  deceased,  and  his  widow 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Tielman.  Six  children  have 
been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tielman,  three  sons  and  three  daughters:  Hilda, 
Walter,  Martha,  Freda.  William  and  Elmer.  The  parents  are  members  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Church. 

CHRIST  J.  ROONEY  has  recently  been  placed  in  charge  of  the  opera- 
tions at  No.  2  shaft  of  the  Maple  Hill  colliery,  at  Shenandoah,  as  inside  fore- 
man, a  promotion  which  he  has  won  by  serious  attention  to  evenr  duty  assigned 
to  him.  As  fire  boss  at  the  mine  for  ten  years  he  gained  close  familiarity 
with  every  detail  of  the  extensive  workings,  which  are  among  the  largest  in* 
the  local  anthracite  fields,  and  he  has  had  long  experience  at  the  actual  work 
of  mining,  so  that  he  is  well  qualified  to- fill  his  present  position  satisfactorily. 
His  father  and  grandfather  also  followed  mine  work  in  this  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania. His  grandfather,  Christ  Rooney,  was  bom  in  County  Dublin,  Ire- 
land, came  to  America  in  young  manhood,  and  was  an  early  settler  at  Potts- 
ville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  At  first  he  did  railroad  work,  but  later  he  built  a 
home  at  Cumbola,.  this  cotmty,  and  removed  to  that  place,  working  at  the 
mines  while  residing  there.  Finally  he  moved  to  Scranton,  Pa.,  where  he 
died.    He  was  the  father  of  three  children :  Mary  Ann,  Ellen  and  Andrew. 

Andrew  Rooney,  father  of  Christ  J.  Rooney,  was  born  at  Pottsville,  and 
spent  all  his  life  in  Pennsylvania.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  employed 
at  the  mines,  on  shaft  and  slope  work,  and  driving  tunnels.  In  1868  he  removed 
to  Centralia,  Columbia  county,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  con- 
tinuing same  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1910.  He  is  buried  at  Cen- 
tralia, and  his  widow,  Mrs.  Ellen  (Sweeny)  Rooney,  still  resides  there.  Chil- 
dren as  follows  were  bom  to  them:  Christ  J.,  Edward,  Andrew,  John,  Kate, 
Mary,  Ellen,  Esther  and  Jennie. 

Christ  J.  Rooney  was  bom  in  Pottsville  June  16,  1854,  and  received  his 
education  in  Schuylkill  county,  being  in  his  fifteenth  year  when  he  moved  with 
the  family  to  Centralia.  He  began  work  in  the  Bellman  shaft,  and  was  em- 
ployed at  many  diflFerent  collieries,  among  them  the  Eagle  Head  and  Silver 
Creek.  Retuming  to  Centralia  for  a  short  stay,  he  soon  located  at  Girardville, 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  for  a  time.  Again  he 
went  to  Centralia,  and  continued  mining,  later  acted  as  foreman  for  the  Lehigh 
Company  at  Mount  Carmel  for  two  years,  and  then  spent  two  years  at  Ashland, 
W.  Va.  Once  more  he  retumed  to  Centralia,  and  subsequently  spent  two 
years  at  Trevorton,  Northumberland  county,  where  he  sank  a  slope  and  did 
tunnel  work.  He  was  next  in  the  employ  of  the  Lehigh  company  as  fire  boss 
at  Packer  No.  3  colliery  for  a  time,  from  there  changing  to  the  Morea  colliery, 
in  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  robbing  pillars  for  one  year, 
until  1900.  Then  he  came  to  the  Maple  Hill  colliery,  where  he  has  since  been 
stationed.    During  his  first  six  months  here  he  was  engaged  in  driving  gang- 


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1112  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ways,  and  then  for  ten  years  he  acted  as  fire  boss,  from  which  position  he  was 
advanced  to  assistant  inside  foreman.  He  continued  in  that  capacity  for  four 
years,  on  March  i,  1915,  becoming  inside  foreman,  having  full  charge  of  No. 
2  shaft  Mr.  Rooney  is  a  memter  of  the  Catholic  Church,  the  iSiights  of 
Columbus,  and  the  Foresters  of  America,  and  his  personal  reputation  is  above 
reproach. 

Mr.  Rooney  married  Annie  Purcell,  of  Centralia,  Pa.,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  a  large  family:  Andrew  J.,  a  graduate  of  the  Medico-Chirurgical 
College,  Philadelphia,  now  practicing  medicine  at  Mahanoy  City;  Edward; 
Christ,  also  a  graduate  of  the  Medico-Chirurgical  College  of  Philadelphia,  now 
in  practice  at  Shenandoah,  this  county ;  Ellen ;  Jettie ;  Annie ;  Thomas ;  JcAn ; 
Mary;  Agnes;  Flora,  and  Josephine. 

JOHN  SHIREY  is  a  trusted  foreman  at  the  Maple  Hill  colliery  in  Ma- 
hanoy township,  one  of  the  most  important  workings  in  the  Schuylkill  district, 
where  some  one  thousand,  six  hundred  men  and  boys  of  the  region  find  regu- 
lar employment.  The  nature  of  his  duties  has  brought  him  into  personal  touch 
with  most  of  them,  and  in  his  long  connection  with  operations  at  the  collieries 
he  has  acquired  a  wide  acquaintance  among  mine  workers  especially,  though 
his  friends  are  by  no  means  limited  to  his  fellow  employees. 

Mr.  Shirey  belongs  to  a  i^ioneer  ^family  of  Schuylkill  county,  his  great- 
grandfather having  settled  here  at  an  early  day.  His  children  were:  George, 
Daniel,  Samuel,  Mary  and  Margaret.  Samuel  Shirey,  the  grandfather,  was 
bom  near  Ciunbola,  Schuylkill  county,  and  died  at  Bear  Ridge,  this  coimty. 
He  is  buried  at  Port  Carbon.  He  was  en^^ed  in  the  timber  business.  His 
family,  Henry,  Joseph,  Edward  and  Angelme,  are  all  deceased. 

Henry  Shirey,  son  of  Samuel,  was  bom  at  Cumbola,  and  in  his  early  life 
began  railroading,  following  that  line  for  many  years.  When  about  thirty- 
eight  years  old  he  located  at  Shenandoah,  this  county,  and  thereafter  did  out- 
side work  at  the  mines,  being  employed  at  the  Maple  Hill  colliery  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Barbara  (Roop)  Shirey,  now  (191 5)  over 
seventy  years  of  age,  is  living  at  St.  Nicholas,  Schuylkill  county.  They  had 
the  following  children:  John,  Adam,  Reuben,  Wilfred  (who  is  in  the  West), 
George,  Sevilla  (of  Philadelphia),  Mary  (of  Maple  Hill)  and  Elizabeth  (who 
died  yotmg  J. 

John  Shirey  was  born  Jan.  i,  1863,  at  Cumbola,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
had  ordinary  public  school  advantages  in  early  boyhood.  When  nine  years 
old  he  had  his  start  at  mining  in  the  usual  way,  picking  slate  at  the  breaker  in 
the  employ  of  Lewis  Sutter,  at  Wadesville,  this  county.  He  was  also  at  the 
East  Mine  shaft,  doing  outside  work,  and  later  came  to  Shenandoah,  where 
he  was  chief  mnner  and  gig  boss  at  the  Indian  Ridge  colliery.  His  next  work 
was  at  the  Knickerbocker  colliery,  whence  he  came  to  the  Maple  Hill  colliery 
to  take  the  position  of  assistant  outside  foreman.  He  held  it  continuously  for 
fourteen  years  following,  until  transferred  to  the  Hammond  colliery  as  outside 
foreman,  being  there  three  years,  and  similarly  engaged  at  the  Knickerbocker 
colliery  for  three  years.  In  1910  he  returned  to  the  Maple  Hill  colliery,  where 
he  had  been  assigned  to  his  present  duties  as  outside  foreman.  These  ex- 
tensive workings,  with  the  large  force  required,  demand  expert  supervision, 
and  tihe  utmost  proficiency  on  the  part  of  the  foremen  who  oversee  operations, 
and  the  very  fact  that  a  man  is  chosen  for  such  responsibilities  shows  that 
he  has  proved  his  worth  and  has  an  established  reputation  for  reliability. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1113 

Mr.  Shirey  is  a  valued  citizen  of  Shenandoah,  and  an  esteemed  associate  of 
his  fellow  members  in  Mahaoioy  City  Lodge,  No.  695,  B.  P.  O.  Elks ;  Wash- 
ington Camp  No.  112,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Shenandoah;  and  Lodge  No.  515, 
I.  O.  O.  R,  of  Shenandoah.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church  at  Shenandoah. 

Mr.  Shirey  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Callihan,  daughter  of 
John  Callihan,  of  Frackville,  Pa.    They  have  no  children. 

FRANK  B.  PATTERSON,  of  New  Boston,  Schuylkill  county,  though  a 
young  man  has  worked  his  way  up  from  minor  positions  to  that  of  outside 
foreman  with  the  Mill  Creek  Coal  Company,  in  whose  employ  he  has  been 
since  boyhood.  That  he  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  men  generally  is 
shown  in  the  fact  that  he  has  been  the  head  of  the  Mahanoy  township  school 
board  for  six  years,  an  imusual  honor  but  one  well  deserved. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  bom  in  Luzerne  county,  Pa.,  May  28,  1882.  His  father, 
the  late  Joseph  S.  Patterson,  was  a  pative  of  Lansford,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  died 
in  191 1,  and  is  buried  in  the  Charles  Baber  cemetery  at  Pottsville,  Schuyl- 
kill county.  For  many  years  he  was  engaged  as  store  manager,  by  various 
coal  companies.  He  married  Miriam  Bynon,  of  Summit  Hill,  Pa.,  who  now 
lives  at  Hazleton,  this  State,  and  they  had  two  children,  Harry  B.  and  Frank 
B.  The  former  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  is  now  a  practicing  physician,  located  in  Pittsburgh. 

Frank  B.  Patterson  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  at  Potts- 
ville and  Mahanoy  township,  Schuylkill  county.  When  a  boy  he  went  to  work 
with  the  engineer  corps  of  the  Mill  Creek  Coal  Company,  being  so  employed 
about  three  years,  after  which  he  held  various  positions  about  the  colliery 
at  New  Boston,  receiving  promotion  gradually  but  steadily  until  he  reached 
the  grade  of  foreman.  He  assisted  in  pumping  out  the  water  at  the  Boston 
mine,  which  took  eighteen  months,  and  has  since  had  charge  of  the  work 
outside,  with  about  three  hundred  men  under  his  direction.  He  is  well  and 
favorably  known  in  this  section,  for  his  high  character  as  well  as  for  his 
competence  in  mine  work.  Mr.  Patterson  has  been  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
having  interested  himself  in  the  general  welfare  from  early  manhood,  and  he 
has  not  hesitated  to  give  his  time  in  the  service  of  the  community.  His  intelli- 
gence and  honorable  intentions  are  so  well  recognized  that  he  was  made  presi- 
dent of  the  township  school  board  when  first  elected  to  that  office,  six  years 
ago,  and  has  held  the  position  continuously  since,  a  comment  on  his  fidelity 
to  its  duties  which  need  not  be  amplified.  He  is  a  member  of  the  English 
Lutheran  Church,  and  socially  a  Mason  and  an  Elk,  belonging  to  Mahanoy 
City  Lodge,  No.  357,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Mizpah  Chapter,  No.  252,  R.  A.  M. ;  Ivanhoe 
Commandery,  No.  31,  K.  T.,  of  Mahanoy  City;  and  Mahanoy  City  Lodge, 
No.  696,  B.  P.  O.  Elks. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  married  to  Inez  Geiger,  daughter  of  George  Geiger, 
well  known  in  this  district  as  lieutenant  of  the  C.  &  I.  police,  which  position 
he  filled  for  thirty-five  years;  he  is  a  resident  of  New  Boston.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Patterson  are  the  parents  of  one  daughter,  Marion,  bom  Feb.  15,  1915. 

MAT.  SABALESKI,  of  Minersville,  has  lived  in  that  borough  from  boy- 
hood, and  for  a  number  of  years  was  engaged  in  mine  work,  but  since  1912 
has  been  in  business  on  his  own  account.  He  is  a  native  of  Russia,  bom  in 
1887,  son  of  William  Sabaleski,  who  was  also  born  in  Russia  and  came  to 


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1114  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

America.  The  father  hved  for  a  time  in  Luzerne  coimty,  Pa.,  but  did  not 
remain  in  this  country,  returning  to  his  native  land,  where  he  died. 

Mat.  Sabaleski  came  to  America  when  sixteen  years  old,  and  for  six  months 
afterwards  lived  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  then  came  to  Minersville,  Pa.,  where 
he  first  worked  by  the  day  and  later  engaged  in  mining,  which  he  followed 
for  a  period  of  about  ten  years.  In  191 2  he  embarked  in  the  wholesale  liquor 
business,  which  he  has  since  conducted,  handling  fine  wines  and  all  kinds  of 
spirits,  and  he  has  built  up  a  wide  trade.  His  business  location  is  at  No. 
136  North  street.    Mr.  Sabaleski  was  naturalized  Sept.  i,  1906. 

Mr.  Sabaleski  married  Frances  Meliski,  and  they  have  two  children,  Leo 
and  Albert.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lithuanian  Church,  and  also  belongs  to 
St.  Charles  Uniform  Body,  and  to  the  Citizens'  Lodge. 

GEORGE  D.  KREITZER,  for  the  last  eleven  years  inside  foreman  at  the 
New  Boston  colliery  of  the  Mill  Creek  Coal  Company,  is  considered  one  of 
the  most  capable  mine  workers  in  the  district,  and  has  a  high  reputation  for 
reliability  wherever  known.  A  native  of  Germany,  he  was  bom  April  2,  1871, 
son  of  the  late  Fiorina  Kreitzer.  The  father  followed  mining  in  Germany, 
until  he  brought  his  family  to  America,  in  1S82,  landing  at  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Thejr  first  located  in  Luzerne  county,  this  State,  and  on  May  4,  1886,  Mr. 
Kreitzer  came  to  New  Boston,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  continued  to  do 
mine  work  until  his  death,  in  1912.  He  is  buried  in  the  German  Catholic  ceme- 
tery at  Mahanoy  City.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  ^Rad)  Kreitzer,  has  resided  at 
Frackville,  this  county,  since  1894.  Mr.  Kreitzer  made  his  home  at  New 
Boston  from  1886  to  1894.  Four  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kreitzer: 
George  D.;  Pauline,  wife  of  Harry  Shadle,  of  Frackville;  and  Thomas  and 
Ulrich,  both  living  with  their  mother. 

George  D.  Kreitzer  had  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  public  schools 
until  he  began  work,  in  the  year  1884.  He  started  as  a  slate  picker  at  the 
Tom  Hicken  breaker,  and  in  the  spring  of  1886  came  to  New  Boston,  where 
he  filled  the  various  positions  assigned  to  boys,  tending  door,  driving  mules, 
running  cars,  etc.  From  time  to  time  he  was  advanced,  until  he  became  a 
regular  miner,  being  so  engaged  for  six  and  a  half  years.  In  1900  he  passed 
the  examination  for  mine  foreman,  after  which  he  was  fire  boss  at  the  Buck 
Mountain  colliery  for  some  time.  In  August,  1904,  he  returned  to  New 
Boston  to  take  the  position  of  inside  foreman  at  the  colliery  of  the  Mill  Creek 
Coal  Company,  and  he  has  been  retained  in  that  capacity  continuously  since. 
About  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  are  employed  regularly  on  the  inside  at 
these  operations,  and  Mr.  Kreitzer  has  proved  his  intelligence  and  good 
judgment  in  overseeing  their  work,  performing  all  his  duties  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  superiors.  Personally  he  is  respected  by  all  who  know  him, 
and  has  the  favorable  regard  of  his  associates  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  of  the  St.  Joseph  Society  at  Mahanoy 
City. 

Mr.  Kreitzer  married  Mary  Rodgers,  daughter  of  James  and  Lucy 
Rodgers,  and  four  children  have  been  lx)m  to  them :  James,  Mary,  Florence 
(who  died  when  four  years  old),  and  Helen. 

JOHN  TOOLE,  of  Minersville,  was  born  in  Primrose,  Cass  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  Dec.  9,  1855.     On  Oct.  24,  1877,  he  married  Sarah  A. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1115 

\ 
Donohoe,  who  died  Oct.  i6,  1910.    To  them  were  bom  six  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living,  Helen,  Lillian  and  James. 

Mr.  Toole  has  been  the  local  representative  of  the  American  Book  Com- 
pany, of  New  York,  for  the  last  fifteen  years. 

JOHN  MILTON  STAUFFER,  of  Hazleton,  Pa.,  prominent  in  business 
circles  as  a  banker,  manufacturer  and  coal  operator,  is  a  member  of  an  old 
Pennsylvania  family  which  has  contributed  many  high-class  citizens  to  the 
Commonwealth.  He  was  bom  Feb.  13,  1863,  in  Ringtown,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  son  of  Benneville  StauflFer,  and  is  descended  from  Hans  StauflFer,  who 
was  a  Mennonite  and  a  native  of  Switzerland,  bom  in  1655  at  Altzheim  or 
Weisenau.  In  1710  he  came  to  America  with  his  sons  Jacob,  Daniel  and 
Henry,  and  hens  buried  in  the  Mennonite  cemetery  at  Valley  Forge,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Jacob  Stauffer,  son  of  Hans,  was  born  in  Switzerland  in  1696,  came  with 
his  father  to  America,  and  is  buried  in  the  Mennonite  cemetery  at  Bally,  Berks 
Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

Christian  Stauffer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  Dec.  18,  1728,  died  July  14, 
1797,  and  is  buried  at  Bally,  Pa.  He  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  serving 
throughout  the  war,  was  under  the  command  of  "Mad  Anthony'*  Wayne, 
and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Three  Rivers,  Canada,  Ticonderoga,  Brandy- 
wine,  Monmouth,  Stony  River,  Green  Spring  and  Yorktown. 

John  StauflFer,  second  child  and  only  son  of  Christian,  was  born  Dec.  24, 
1758,  in  New  Hanover  township,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  and  lived  in  his  native 
county  until  1809,  when  he  settled  in  Ryan  township,  Berks  (now  Schuyl- 
kill) county.  On  May  10,  1839,  he  moved  with  his  son  David  to  the  Catawissa 
valley.  He  died  March  5,  1845,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son  Jacob  at  Broad 
Mountain,  Schuylkill  county,  and  is  buried  in  Locust  Valley,  near  Mahanoy 
City,  Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  StauflFer  was  always  a  farmer.  He  was  a 
Mennonite,  like  his  father  and  earlier  ancestors,  but  under  the  influence  of 
Rev.  Mr.  ShaeflFer,  a  Lutheran  missionary  who  came  into  their  district,  all  his 
children  became  Lutherans.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  On  Dec.  18, 
1782,  he  married  Elizabeth  Yerger,  who  is  buried  with  him  at  Locust  Valley. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  Jacob,  Rebecca  (Mrs.  Peifer),  John,  Elizabeth 
(Mrs.  Drase),  Catherine  (Mrs.  Puhl),  George,  Isaac,  Henry;  Magdalene 
(Mrs.  Bittler),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Shell),  David  (married  Maria  Anne  Andreas), 
Joseph  and  Amos. 

David  StauflFer,  son  of  John,  was  bom  Feb.  21,  1804,  near  the  Trappe,  in 
Montgomery  county,  and  was  five  years  old  when  the  family  moved  to  Ryan 
township,  in  what  is  now  Schuylkill  county,  settling  on  the  Klingaman  farm, 
five  miles  southeast  of  Mahanoy  City.  Later  he  moved  to  Pottsville,  Pa.,  in 
which  town  he  was  a  pioneer  settler,  and  thence  to  Tuscarora,  Schuylkill 
county.  He  was  superintendent  of  construction  on  a  portion  of  the  Schuylkill 
Valley  railroad,  and  also  of  the  opening  and  operation  of  important  coal  work- 
ings, serving  mostly  as  outside  foreman.  In  May,  1839,  he  moved  to  Union 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  bought  five  hundred  acres  of  land, 
principally  timbered,  and  he  sold  considerable  of  this  tract  to  his  brothers, 
retaining  160  acres  for  himself.  He  built  a  log  cabin  thereon  and  set  about 
the  work  of  clearing,  making  great  improvement  in  the  property.  The  log 
cabin  was  his  dwelling  for  almost  six  years,  until  he  completed  a  better  resi- 
dence a  short  distance  from  it,  moving  into  the  new  house  in  1844.    He  con- 


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1116  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

tinued  to  make  his  home  on  that  place  until  1855,  when  he  purchased  a  tract 
of  sixty-five  acres  in  what  is  now  Ringtown  borough,  on  which  were  located 
a  store,  dwelling  and  hotel.  Having  formerly  been  in  the  hotel  business  at 
Middleport  he  resumed  it  at  his  new  location,  carrying  on  the  hotel  there  for 
three  years  and  retiring  in  1858.  Mr.  StauflFer  enjoyed  a  long  life,  dying 
July  12,  1887.  His  father  was  a  Mennonite,  as  the  earlier  ancestors  had 
been,  but  as  previously  mentioned  the  children  were  converted  to  the  Lutheran 
faith,  and  David  Stauffer  was  duly  received  into  the  denomination  by  con- 
firmation. He  was  an  earnest  member  of  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  at  Ringtown. 

On  Jan.  26,  1829,  Mr.  Stauffer  married  Maria  Anne  Andreas,  who  was 
bom  Jan.  13,  1809,  in  East  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Maria  Gertrude  (Guldnerin).  Andreas,  whose  children  were: 
Salome  (Mrs.  Henry  Rumbel),  Maria  Anne,  Catherine  (Mrs.  John  Bankes), 
Peter  and  Rebecca  (Mrs.  John  Rumbel).  Daniel  Andreas  came  from  North- 
ampton county  to  Union  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  be  worked  at  his 
trade  until  he  died;  he  was  a  hamessmaker,  and  also  followed  shoemaking. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  he  adhered  to  the  Reformed 
faith.  Mrs.  Maria  Anne  (Andreas)  StauflFer  survived  her  husband  a  few 
years,  passing  away  Jan.  21,  1892,  and  hers  was  the  first  funeral  held  in  the 
new  Reformed  Church  at  Ringtown.  She  is  buried  with  her  husband  in  St. 
Paul's  Lutheran  cemetery  near  that  borough.  They  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Daniel  M.,  bom  May  18,  1831,  died  Aug.  16,  1898; 
he  was  twice  married,  to  Amanda  De  Frane  and  Amanda  Maurer,  respectively. 
Joseph,  bom  May  18,  1833,  married  Retta  Lindermuth,  of  Ringtown.  Benne- 
ville,  bom  April  8,  1836,  married  Mary  Ann  Brobst,  and  they  are  mentioned 
below.  Angeline,  bom  Nov.  29,  1838,  is  the  widow  of  J.  A.  Seeley,  and 
lives  at  Hazleton,  Pa.  Sarah  A.  G.,  bom  April  13,  1841,  married  Jacob  Rumbel 
(deceased)  and  (second)  Joseph  A.  Long,  and  lives  in  the  Conyngham  valley, 
Luzeme  (Jo.,  Pa.  David,  bom  June  22,  1843,  niarried  Lucy  A.  Zimmerman, 
and  they  live  at  Ringtown,  Pa.  William,  bom  June  10,  1845,  married  Martha 
Bean,  and  died  March  3,  1876.  Franklin,  bom  Jan.  29,  1848,  married  Mary 
Ann  Barrow,  and  they  live  at  Hazleton,  Pa.  Elias  K.,  bom  Feb.  15,  1850, 
married  Missouri  Ann  Goho,  and  they  live  at  Ringtown.  Mary  C,  born  April 
27,  1854,  is  the  wife  of  Theodore  A.  Breisch,  and  they  live  at  Nuremberg, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

Benneville  StauflFer  was  born  April  8,  1836,  at  Tuscarora,  and  spent  most 
of  his  youth  in  Union  township,  where  he  began  his  education  in  the  local 
schools.  Later  he  was  a  student  at  the  Bloomsburg  (Pa.)  State  Normal 
School  and  Dickinson  Seminary,  at  Williamsport,  Pa.  Coming  to  Ringtown 
he  taught  there  for  a  time,  being  the  first  teacher  engaged  there  after  the  organi- 
zation of  the  public  schools  in  that  section.  Then  he  taught  one  term  at  Mc- 
Keansburg,  this  county,  returning  thence  to  Ringtown,  where  he  embarked  in 
the  mercantile  business,  conducting  a  general  store  for  five  years.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  continued  teaching  in  Union  township,  later  served  some  time 
as  clerk  in  the  county  commissioner's  oflfice  at  Pottsville,  and  then  for  four 
years  was  clerk  of  the  Schuylkill  county  almshouse.  In  1881  he  moved  to 
Beaver  Meadows,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  where  for  seven  years  he  held  the  position 
of  outside  foreman  with  Coxe  Bros.  &  Co.,  coal  operators.  From  there  he 
went  to  Hazleton,  where  he  was  storekeeper  for  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad 
company  for  a  period  of  six  years.    Because  of  ill  health  Mr.  Stauffer  retired 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1117 

from  active  labor  about  ten  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  i, 
1910.  He  had  filled  th^  office  of  assessor  and  other  minor  public  positions  in 
Union  township,  was  a  Democrat  in  political  connection,  and  fraternally  be- 
longed to  the  Masons  and  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  (Washington  Camp  No.  219, 
of  Beaver  Meadows).  His  Masonic  affiliations  were  with  Hazle  Lodge,  No. 
327,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Hazleton;  Hazleton  Chapter,  No.  277,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
Motmt  Vernon  Commandery,  No.  73,  K.  T.,  of  Hazleton.  Mr.  Stauffer  joined 
St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at  Ringtown  and  took  an  active  in- 
terest in  its  work,  serving  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  Later 
he  united  with  Trinity  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at  Hazleton,  which  he 
served  for  years  as  elder  and  deacon,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees. 

On  Dec.  25,  1861,  Mr.  Stauffer  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Brobst,  who  was 
bom  in  May,  1838,  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  (Gilbert)  Brobst,  and 
granddaughter  of  Henry  Gilbert,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Catawissa  valley; 
he  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  ninety-five  years.  Her  great-grandfather,  An- 
drew Gilbert,  lived  at  Girard  Manor,  now  included  in  East  Union  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  and  his  was  the  first  name  drawn  for  jury  service  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  the  jury  meeting  at  Orwigsburg  in  181 1.  He  always  wore  knicker- 
bockers. The  Gilberts  were  English,  and  an  old  family  of  Schuylkill  county. 
The  Brobsts  came  from  Berks  county.  Pa.  Five  children  were  bom  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Benneville  StauflFer:  John  Milton;  Laura  E.,  bom  Dec.  17,  1865, 
who  Uves  in  Hazleton,  Pa.;  Mary  C,  born  Oct.  j,  1867,  who  was  married 
Aug.  17,  1890,  to  Prof.  Henry  Krebs,  who  is  supermtendent  of  public  schools 
in  Plainfield,  N.  J.;  William  T.,  born  July  26,  1876,  an  attorney  at  law,  of 
Newport  News,  Va.;  and  Frances  Jenette,  bom  April  3,  1878,  a  teacher  in 
New  York  City. 

John  Mihon  Stauffer  received  his  education  at  Ringtown,  attending  the 
PHt)lic  schools  there  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced  to  teach. 
The  first  term  he  was  at  Slabtown,  North  Union  township,  the  second  term 
at  Rimibel's  school,  in  Union  township,  moved  to  Hazleton,  and  taught  one 
term  in  Sugar  Loaf  township,  Luzeme  county.  When  school  closed  in  the 
spring  he  resumed  his  studies  at  the  Millersville  State  Normal  School.  Then 
he  taught  four  terms  in  the  Leviston  school,  in  Banks  township,  Carbon  Co., 
Pa.,^nd  later  for  three  years  at  Beaver  Meadows,  that  county.  There  he 
commenced  lumbering,  and  in  1898,  when  that  place  became  incorporated  as 
a  borough,  he  was  honored  as  the  choice  of  his  fellow  citiz^ens  for  first  chief 
burgess,  holding  the  office  creditably  for  three  years.  In  1904  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  borough  school  board,  and  in  1905  was  elected  poor  director 
of  the  Middle  Coal  Field  poor  district;  after  serving  one  tefm  he  retired, 
and  was  reelected  after  an  interval  of  one  term,  being  still  a  member  of  that 
board,  having  been  reappointed  for  a  term  of  five  years  from  April  i,  1916. 
In  1898  Mr.  Stauffer  went  into  the  coal  business  as  an  operator,  having  work- 
ings at  Audenried,  Llewellyn  and  Shamokin,  and  he  continued  in  that  line 
until  recently,  at  the  same  time  carrying  on  lumbering.  At  present  he  is  the 
treasurer  and  general  manager  of  the  Harleigh  Iron  Works,  of  Hazleton, 
general  machinists,  dealers  in  scrap  iron,  etc. ;  a  director  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Ringtown,  which  he  helped  to  organize ;  a  director  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Hazleton;  and  vice  president  of  the  Weatherly  Foundry  & 
Machine  Company,  of  Weatherly,  Carbon  county.  He  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Weatherly,  of  which  he  was  a  director  and 


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1118  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

vice  president  for  years;  helped  to  organize  the  People's  Savings  &  Trust 
Company  of  Hazleton;  and  in  1895  organized  the  Citizens'  Water  Company 
of  Beaver  Meadows,  serving  as  secretary  from  that  time  until  he  left  Beaver 
Meadows,  in  1904.  Since  his  removal  to  Hazleton  he  has  served  one  term 
as  school  director.    He  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Stauffer  has  numerous  social  connections.  In  April,  1881,  he  became 
a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  265,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Ringtown,  later 
changing  his  membership  to  Washington  Camp  No.  219,  at  Beaver  Meadows. 
He  is  a  past  president,  and  served  five  terms  as  district  president.  At  present 
he  is  affiliated  with  Washington  Camp  No.  91,  at  Hazleton.  While  at  Beaver 
Meadows  he  was  also  affiilated  with  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a  past  grand  of 
the  lodge  there;  and  he  belonged  to  the  Beaver  Meadows  Council,  Jr.  O.  U. 
A.  M.  He  still  holds  membership  in  Hazle  Lodge,  No.  327,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
Hazleton ;  Hazleton  Chapter,  No.  277,  R.  A.  M. ;  Mount  Vernon  Commandery, 
No.  73,  K.  T.,  of  Hazleton ;  Caldwell  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree,  Valley 
of  Bloomsburg;  Irem  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Wilkes-Barre^  and  Hazle- 
ton Lodge,  No.  200,  B.  P.  O.  Elks.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Centennial 
Memorial  Association  of  Valley  Forge,  and  was  treasurer  and  one  of  the  di- 
rectors of  that  organization.  In  religion  Mr.  Stauffer  is  a  Lutheran,  and  was 
originally  a  member  of  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Ringtown; 
he  was  superintendent  of  its  Simday  school  when  but  seventeen  years  of  age. 
At  present  he  unites  with  Trinity  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Hazleton. 

On  Nov.  20,  1889,  Mr.  Stauffer  was  married  to  Carrie  Madara,  of  Frack- 
ville,  who  was  bom  Oct.  30,  1863,  in  New  Castle,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
children  as  follows  have  been  bom  to  them:  Bird  Leroy,  bom  Aug.  31,  1890, 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Hazleton  high  school  and  of  the  College  of  Business,  of 
Wyoming,  Luzeme  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  took  the  commercial  course,  and  is  now 
clerk  to  the  superintendent  of  construction  of  the  Lehigh  Navigation  Electric 
and  Affiliated  Companies.  Raymond  Madara,  bom  Feb.  28,  1892,  is  a  machin- 
ist at  the  Harleigh  Iron  Works,  Hazleton,  where  he  resides,  and  is  a  member 
of  Washington  Camp  No.  91,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.;  he  married  Catherine  Cooney, 
who  was  bom  March  22,  1892,  daughter  of  Martin  L.  and  Catherine  (Crotty) 
Cooney,  natives  of  Bellefonte,  Pa.  Guy  Robert,  bom  Aug.  3,  1893,  is  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Hazleton  high  school  and  of  the  Hazleton  Business  College,  and 
is  now  located  at  Shamokin,  Pa.;  he  married  Anna  Bontz.  Caroline,  bom 
Sept.  20,  1895,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Hazleton  high  school,  and  is  living  at 
home.  John  Milton,  bom  Jan.  3,  1899,  and  Grace  Rowe,  bora  Jan.  28,  1901, 
are  attending  school  at  Hazleton.  The  family  home  is  at  No.  424  West  Broad 
street,  Hazleton. 

The  Madara  family,  to  which  Mrs.  Stauffer  belongs,  have  been  prominent 
in  the  history  of  Schuylkill  county.  Many  of  the  name  have  been  stonemasons, 
and  it  was  a  Madara  who  built  the  foundation  for  the  Henry  Clay  monu- 
ment at  Pottsville.  John  R.  Madara,  Mrs.  Stauffer's  father,  was  bom  in  New 
Castle,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  and  for  some 
time  he  followed  the  lumber  business  there.  Later  he  was  in  the  general 
mercantile  business  at  Frackville,  this  county,  and  subsequently  held  the  posi- 
tion of  foreman  at  the  Ellsworth  colliery,  in  New  Castle,  after  his  retirement 
living  at  Frackville  with  his  daughter  Hannah,  Mrs.  W.  P.  Holt.  He  died  in 
July,  1914,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  In  his  earlier  years  Mn  Madara 
was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  that  borough,  where  he  held  the  office  of 
chief  burgess.     He  was  school  director  of  New  Castle  township  a  number 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1119 

of  tenns,  and  filled  all  the  other  township  offices,  being  considered  one  of  the 
most  efficient  public  men  in  that  vicinity  by  those  whom  he  had  served  so 
well.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  in  religion  a  Methodist.  He  and  his 
wife,  Hannah  (Okum),  are  buried  in  the  family  plot  at  St.  Clair,  Schuylkill 
county.  They  had  the  following  children :  Mary,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
W.  H.  Barrow,  of  Ringtown;  Carrie,  Mrs.  StauflFer;  Ella,  wife  of  William 
J.  Price,  of  Shamokin,  Pa.;  Hannah,  Mrs.  W.  P.  Holt,  of  Frackville;  Maud, 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Hoover,  of  Hazleton;  Sadie,  Mrs.  W.  H.  ShaeflFer,  of  Tamaqua; 
and  Harry  E.,  at  present  chief  burgess  of  Frackville,  who  married  Gussie 
Price. 

Mrs.  Stauffer  received  her  education  in  the  common  schools  of  New  Castle 
township.  She  was  but  eleven  years  old  when  her  mother  died,  and  she  kept 
house  for  the  family  until  her  marriage.  She  belongs  to  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Hazleton. 

CHARLES  FREDERICK  DITCHEY,  of  Shenandoah,  present  sheriff 
of  Schuylkill  county,  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  youngest  sheriff  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania.  He  went  into  the  office  with  one  of  the  largest  majori- 
ties ever  received  by  any  candidates  for  office  in  the  county,  and  his  record 
so  far  shows  no  likelihood  that  his  administration  will  in  any  way  impair  the 
remarkable  popularity  which  he  previously  enjoyed  among  his  fellow  citizens. 
It  is  a  general  saying  that  "everybody  is  his  friend,"  and  it  is  also  well  imder- 
stood  that  he  deserves  everybody's  good  will  because  of  his  close  attention 
to  his  obligations  and  his  conscientious  attempt  to  perform  the  duties  of  his 
high  office  without  fear  or  favor.  He  possesses  a  strong  personality,  not 
easily  influenced,  and  well  balanced  judgment,  characteristics  which  have  been 
apparent  in  his  official  services  much  to  his  credit. 

Mr.  Ditchey  is  of  German  and  Irish  ancestry.  His  grandparents,  John  and 
Wilhelmina  (Hermann)  Ditchey,  were  natives  of  Germany,  whence  they 
came  to  this  country  several  years  after  their  marriage,  in  1847,  locating  near 
Middleport,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  at  Whitfield  Patch.  John  Ditchey  became  a 
mine  worker,  and  was  so  engaged  until  killed  in  the  mines,  by  a  fall  of  coal, 
about  1857.  We  have  the  following  record  of  his  family:  Minnie,  bom  in 
Germany,  married  Francis  Gallagher  (she  has  no  children) ;  Kate,  bom  in 
German)^  married  Fred  Johns  and  has  seven  children,  William,  Fred,  Jacob, 
Peter,  Frank,  Harry  and  Charles ;  Caroline  married  August  Kirby,  and  both  are 
deceased  (they  had  two  sons,  Jacob  and  Charles)  ;  Jacob  W.  is  the  father  of 
Charles  F.  Ditchey;  Frederick  married  Dora  Krese,  and  they  had  children, 
Frederick,  Leo,  Arthur,  Raymond,  Mabel,  Lottie  and  Dorothea.         j|^ 

Jacob  W.  EHtchey  was  bom  in  September,  1853,  near  Middleport/aM  was 
therefore  about  four  years  old  when  his  father  was  killed.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Schuylkill  county,  receiving  his  education  at  Patterson,  and  followed 
mine  work  until  1885,  being  engaged  on  the  construction  of  breakers.  That 
year  he  was  "closed  in"  in  the  mine  and  when  rescued  gave  up  the  occupa- 
tion, never  even  returning  to  the  mine  for  his  tools.  In  time  he  became  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  and  retail  liquor  business,  in  which  he  was  successful,  and  he 
is  still  interested  in  that  line,  though  not  now  directly  connected  with  it.  For 
some  time  he  lived  at  Tamaqua,  where  he  was  a  merchant  for  twenty-five  years, 
and  he  now  resides  at  Leibysville,  in  West  Penn  township,  this  county,  where 
he  is  in  business  as  proprietor  of  the  "Leibysville  Hotel,"  which  is  considered 
the  most  popular  hotel  in  the  county.    He  has  valuable  real  estate  holdings  in 


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1120  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  Ditchey  married  Elizabeth  O'Keefe,  and  a  family  of 
eight  children  has  been  bom  to  this  union,  namely :  Charles  Frederick  is  the 
eldest ;  Franklin  J.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  at  Tamaqua, 
married  Nora  I)elay  and  h^s  two  children,  Francis  and  Edith ;  Minnie  is  the 
wife  of  Albert  Berrigan,  who  is  assistant  foreman  of  the  Potts  Powder  Com- 
pany at  Reynolds,  this  county,  and  they  have  two  children,  John  and  Alphonso; 
oarah  A.,  who  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Shifferstine,  of  Tamaqua,  is  fiie  wife 
of  Herbert  Dreher,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  George  W.  Stiles  Construc- 
tion Company  of  Chicago,  111.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Anna  B.  and 
Charles;  Elmer  J.  is  assisting  his  father  in  business  and  lives  at  home;  Jacob 
W.,  Jr.,  is  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Dreher,  in  Chicago;  Bernard  J.  and 
John  K.  are  members  of  the  firm  of  J.  W.  Ditchey's  Sons,  wholesale  liquor 
dealers,  of  Tamaqua. 

Charles  F.  Ditchey  was  bom  March  31,  1881,  at  Mahanoy  City,  and  ob- 
tained his  education  at  Tamaqua,  attending  the  common  and  high  schools.  He 
received  his  early  business  traming  in  his  father's  employ,  and  as  his  father  was 
agent  at  Tamaqua  for  the  Lauer  Brewing  Company,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  he  was 
thoroughly  grounded  in  the  principles  of  the  trade  to  which  all  Ws  active  busi- 
ness years  have  been  devoted.  In  i8qo  he  started  driving  a  delivery  wagon 
for  the  company  at  Tamaqua,  in  1901  was  appointed  agent  at  that  point,  and 
so  continued  until  1903,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Shenandoah  as  repre- 
sentative of  the  Lauer  Company,  establishing  their  agency  in  that  borough 
Feb.  4,  1904.    He  gave  it  up  when  he  became  sheriff. 

Mr.  Ditchey  has  been  an  active  worker  in  the  Democratic  party  ever  since 
he  attained  his  majority,  and  while  living  at  Tamaqua  was  a  member  of  the 
standing  committee  there.  He  was  elected  assessor  of  that  borough,  resigning 
upon  his  removal  to  Shenandoah,  where  he  has  since  resided.  On  Nov.  6, 
1913,  he  had  the  honor  of  being  elected  sheriff  of  Schuylkill  county  by  the 
rousing  majority  of  3,600,  a  tribute  which  he  has  tried  to  merit  since  he 
assumed  the  duties  of  the  office.  While  at  Tamaqua  Mr.  Ditchey  joined  va- 
rious social  bodies  there,  belonging  to  the  Citizens*  Fire  Company,  the  Benev- 
olent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  (of  which  he  is  past  State  vice  president), 
and  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles. 

On  Nov.  9,  1904,  Mr.  Ditchey  married  Augusta  M.  Kline,  Father  Schuettle- 
heafer  performing  the  ceremony.  They  have  had  two  children:  Elizabeth 
Theresa,  bom  Aug.  12,  1905,  and  Augusta,  bom  Feb.  11,  1908.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ditchey  are  members  of  the  Holy  Family  Roman  Catholic  Church.  Mr. 
Ditchey  gave  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  to  that  church. 

Mrs.  Ditchey  was  bom  in  Shenandoah,  daughter  of  Adolph  Kline,  a 
native  of  Germany,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  learned  the  trade  of 
shoemaker.  Mr.  Kline  came  to  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  in  i860,  and  in  1863 
settled  at  Shenandoah,  where  he  opened  a  shop  at  the  comer  of  White  and 
Centre  streets  and  followed  shoemaking.  Later  he  became  a  miner.  He  mar- 
ried Theresa  Boneberger,  who  died  Oct.  25,  191 5,  and  Mr.  Kline  made  his 
home  with  his  daughter  Mrs.  Ditchey,  until  his  death,  Jan.  17,  1916.  He  is 
buried  in  the  Annunciation  Cemetery  at  Shenandoah.  They  had  the  following 
children  besides  Mrs.  Ditchey:  Michael,  who  was  formerly  a  steam  shovel 
engineer  (he  is  not  married)  ;  and  Charles,  member  of  the  firm  of  Kline  & 
Coyle,  tobacco  manufacturers  of  Shenandoah  (he  married  Anne  Woods,  and 
they  have  children,  Charles,  Margaret,  Julia,  Peter  and  John). 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1121 

WILLIAM  J.  BROWN  occupies  an  honorable  position  among  his  fellow- 
citizens  in  Shenandoah,  serving  them  at  present  in  the  capacity  of  chief  burgess, 
to  which  office  he  was  elected  in  1913.  He  has  proved  his  title  to  their  confi- 
dence by  the  observance  of  the  utmost  integrity  in  all  his  relations  with  them 
during  a  long  residence  in  the  borough,  and  his  attitude  on  every  question 
concerning  the  local  welfare  has  been  so  consistently  public-spirited  that  he 
may  well  be  considered  worthy  of  the  highest  honor  in  their  gift.  His  official 
acts  have  in  no  way  impaired  the  good  opinion  he  won  in  private  life. 

Mr.  Brown  is  a  native  of  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  bom  July  2,  1864. 
He  is  of  Irish  descent,  his  father,  Michael  Brown,  having  been  bom  m  County 
Mayo,  Ireland.  He  died  when  comparatively  a  young  man,  being  killed  on 
the  railroad,  land  is  buried  in  the  Catholic  cemetery  at  Minersville.  By  his 
marriage  to  Margaret  Brown  (no  relation)  he  had  one  child,  William  J.  The 
widow  remarried,  becoming  the  wife  of  Henry  Pugh,  a  miner,  of  Minersville, 
and  to  this  union  was  bom  one  son,  James,  now  a  mine  foreman  at  Mount 
Carmel,  Pa.;  he  married  Martha  Griffith.  Mr.  Pugh  died  at  the  s^e  of 
seventy  years,  Mrs.  Pugh  at  the  age  of  sixty,  and  they  are  turied  in  the 
Protestant  cemetery  at  Minersville. 

Mrs.  Margaret  (Brown)  Brown  was  bom  at  Minersville,  where  her  father, 
James  Brown,  a  native  of  Scotland,  settled  after  his  arrival  in  this  country. 
He  was  a  miner  all  his  life.  He  is  buried  at  Minersville,  but  his  wife,  Jane 
(Gilmore),  is  interred  at  Mount  Carmel.  They  were  married  in  Scotland, 
and  had  children  as  follows:  William,  who  was  killed  while  serving  in  the 
army  during  the  Civil  war ;  Jane ;  Agnes ;  and  Margaret.  James  Brown  was 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

William  J.  Brown  was  reared  by  his  matemal  grandmother.  He  had  public 
school  advantages  at  Jonestown  (near  Minersville),  but  was  only  nine  years 
old  when  he  commenced  work  at  the  Wadlinger  breaker,  at  Forestville,  picking 
slate  there  for  three  years,  until  the  breaker  was  bumed.  His  next  employ- 
ment was  at  the  Kitty  Drift,  owned  by  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company, 
at  what  was  known  as  Woodside,  where  he  was  under  the  foremanship  of 
Thomas  James,  and  was  engaged  in  pushing  coal.  From  there  he  went  to 
Thomaston  (Heckscherville  valley),  this  county,  where  he  drove  mules  for 
two  years,  the  inside  foreman  there  being  then  Monroe  Sheffler;  this  was  also 
a  Philadelphia  &  Reading  property.  When  he  left  this  place  he  went  to  Helf en- 
stein  and  walked  over  the  mountains  to  Locust  Gap,  where  he  was  employed 
in  loading  dumpers  under  the  breaker  for  six  months,  changing  then  tO\the 
Spring  colliery,  where  he  did  inside  work,  with  Charles  Richman  as  fore- 
man. He  commenced  regular  mining  when  between  sixteen  and  seventeen 
years  old,  working  in  the  breast  as  miner's  assistant  for  one  year  and  then 
taking  charge  of  a  breast  for  three  years  at  the  Spring  colliery  at  Locust  Gap. 
Removing  to  Mount  Carmel,  he  found  work  in  the  Bells  Tunnel  colliery,  owned 
by  Mr.  Bickel,  and  after  his  day's  work  in  the  mines  was  over  put  in  his 
evenings,  for  six  months,  serving  an  apprenticeship  to  the  barber's  trade  during 
the  four  years  of  his  residence  there.  He  was  next  located  at  Ashland,  where 
he  was  in  the  hotel  business  one  year,  meantime  marrying,  and  on  his  retum 
to  Mount  Carmel  he  opened  a  tea  store,  also  selling  groceries,  fish,  oysters, 
etc.  This  business  he  carried  on  for  one  year,  until  attacked  by  an  illness 
which  kept  him  in  the  hospital  for  a  month.  For  a  short  time  thereafter  he  was 
in  Philadelphia,  where  he  worked  three  months  for  the  Mansey  Transfer 
Company  in  the  Pennsylvania  freight  depot,  on  Fifty-second  street.    During 

Vol.  11—33 


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1122  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

that  time  his  family  remained  in  Moimt  Carmel.  In  November,  1891,  Mr. 
Brown  settled  at  Shenandoah,  opening  the  barber  shop  which  he  carried  on 
successfully  for  the  next  twenty  years,  selling  it  out  in  191 1.  He  combined 
other  lines  profitably  with  his  main  business,  selling  picture  frames,  taking 
orders  for  framing,  and  handling  cigars.  In  August,  191 1,  he  took  a  pleasure 
trip  to  Boston,  remaining  there  until  January,  1912,  and  upon  his  return  to 
Shenandoah  assisted  his  son  for  a  time  in  the  laundry  business,  being  so  en- 
gaged until  November,  191 2.  Then  he  resumed  his  old  occupation,  mining, 
at  the  Turkey  Rim  slope.  No.  8,  having  charge  of  the  repairmen,  and  retained 
the  position  imtil  he  assumed  the  duties  of  chief  burgess  of  Shenandoah,  to 
which  office  he  had  been  elected  in  November,  1913.  He  took  office  on  Jan. 
5,  1914,  and  has  filled  the  responsibilities^  of  chief  executive  of  the  borough 
in  a  dignified,  intelligent  manner,  giving  practically  all  his  attention  to  his 
official  duties.  However,  he  carries  on  a  wholesale  trade  in  cigars,  having 
many  patrons  in  this  section  of  Schuylkill  coimty.  Mr.  Brown  owns  a  fine 
property  on  West  Oak  street,  She^iandoah,  where  he  resides.  He  deserves 
great  credit  for  the  position  he  has  attained,  for  he  has  advanced  entirely  by 
his  own  efforts,  and  all  who  know  him  concede  that  he  merits  all  he  has  gained. 
He  is  a  Democrat  and  a  Catholic,  his  religious  connection  being  with  the 
Church  of  the  Annimciation  at  Shenandoah ;  socially  he  affiliates  with  Division 
No.  2,  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  and  with  Shenandoah  Lodge  No.  1179, 
of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  to  Catherine  Cecilia  Gibbons,  who  was  bom  May 
15,  1869,  at  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.,  where  she  spent  her  early  life  and  received 
her  education.  She  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage,  engaged  as  a  dress- 
maker and  designer.  Mrs.  Brown  is  one  of  the  leading  workers  in  the  Church 
of  the  Annunciation  at  Shenandoah,  a  member  of  the  Sacred  Heart  Society, 
and  of  the  Sodality  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  At  present  she  is  serving 
as  county  vice  president  of  the  Ladies'  auxiHary  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians,  was  president  of  the  organization  for  two  years,  and  had  already 
been  financial  secretary  four  years  when  reelected  in  December,  191 5,  for  two 
years  more.    She  is  also  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  Isabella. 

Mr.  and  Mrs*  Brown  have  had  the  following  children:  (i)  Mary,  bom 
Feb.  15, 1889,  died  when  six  months  old.  (2)  William  Leo,  bom  April  11, 1890, 
received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  at  Shenandoah,  and  while 
here  was  employed  at  the  mines,  throwing  chains,  and  doing  other  work  of 
the  same  kind.  But  he  was  ambitious  to  get  ahead,  and  leaving  home  he  went 
to  Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  attended  Franklin  Institute.  He  has  become  an 
expert  electrician,  now  holding  the  important  position  of  inspector  for  the  Edi- 
son Electric  Company  in  that  city.  He  married  Alta  Sheflott,  of  New  London, 
Conn.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Leo  and  William.  (3)  John  Francis,  bom 
Jan.  7,  1892,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Shenandoah,  attending  high 
school,  and  is  now  engaged  as  manager  of  Clark  Brothers'  grocery  store  at 
Shenandoah.  (4)  J^^in,  bora  Nov.  16,  1893,  died  March  2,  1904.  (5)  Anna 
Gertrude,  bora  June  20,  1895,  was  educated  in  the  borough  schools.  She 
is  now  a  trained  nurse,  having  graduated  from  St.  Agnes  Hospital,  Phila- 
delphia, in  June,  191 5,  and  is  at  present  supervising  nurse  of  the  Visiting 
Nurses  Association  of  Shenandoah,  Pa.  (6)  Walter  James,  bora  Jan.  26, 
1897,  was  educated  in  the  home  schools  and  is  now  employed  in  Clark  Brothers' 
store.    (7)  Margaret  and  (8)  Henry,  twins,  bora  May  26,  1898,  died  when  two 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1123 

months  old.     (9)   Raphael  David,  bom  Jan.  9,   1901,  and   (10)   Catherine 
Agnes,  born  Jan.  17,  1903,  are  attending  school. 

Walter  Gibbons,  Mrs.  Brown's  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  County  Mayo, 
Ireland,  and  passed  all  his  life  in  that  country.  His  occupation  was  farming. 
He  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Barrett,  are  buried  in  County  Mayo. 
They  were  Roman  Catholics  in  religious  faith.  Their  children  were :  Patrick, 
who  married  Mary  Lee,  is  a  farmer  in  Chester  county.  Pa. ;  Catherine  is  the 
wife  of  Michael  Dorsey,  superintendent  of  the  gas  works  at  Wilmington,  Del. ; 
Mary,  unmarried,  lived  in  West  Chester,  Pa.;  John  was  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Brown. 

John  Gibbons,  son  of  Walter,  was  bom  in  Newport,  County  Mayo,  Ire- 
land, and  received  his  education  in  his  native  land.  He  was  a  man  of  remark- 
able intelligence  and  excellent  character,  a  great  believer  in  temperance,  and 
endeavored  to  carry  out  his  ideas  in  his  domestic  life  and  his  relations  with  all 
his  fellows.  His  family  was  brou^^ht  up  in  a  high  moral  atmosphere,  and  Mrs. 
Brown  has  taken  pride  in  foUowmg  his  example  in  the  training  of  her  own 
children.  When  a  young  man  John  Gibbons  went  to  England,  and  there,  as  in 
his  own  coimtry,  did  farm  work.  He  was  married  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  after  his  marriage  settled  at  Hull.  On  coming  to  America  he  landed  at 
New  York  and  thence  proceeded  to  Locust  Gap,  Pa.,  where  he  entered  the 
mines  as  a  contractor,  being  so  engaged  for  a  few  years.  He  then  bought 
land  on  East  avenue,  Mount  Carmel,  and  built  a  home  at  that  place,  where 
he  resided  the  rest  of  his  life,  continuing  to  follow  mining.  He  died  when 
fifty-three  years  old,  of  injuries  received  in  the  mines,  at  which  time  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Brown,  was  eleven  years  old.  Mr.  Gibbons  supported  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  politics,  in  which  he  took  considerable  interest;  he  served  as 
tax  receiver  at  Mount  Carmel.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Church 
of  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel,  and  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  that  church. 

Mr.  Gibbons  married  Mary  Gibbons,  who  was  bom  near  Westport,  in 
County  Mayo,  Ir^and,  daughter  of  David  and/ Mary  (Moran)  Gibbons,  but 
of  a  different  clan  than  that  to  which  her  husband  belonged.  David  Gibbons 
belonged  to  a  family  of  shipbuilders  in  Ireland,  where  some  of  the  name  are 
still  in  the  business.  He  was  a  native  of  County  Mayo,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  yet  a  young  man.  His 
widow  lived  to  be  over  eighty  years  old.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
viz.:  Bridget  married  Michael  McGuiness  (both  now  deceased)  and  had  five 
children ;  Mary  married  John  Gibbons,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years ; 
Thomas,  who  now  lives  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  married  Mary  Ann  Re)molds  (de- 
ceased), and  of  their  children  one  son,  Thomas,  is  a  priest  (St.  Mary's  parish, 
St.  Paul,  where  he  is  very  popular ;  he  was  one  of  the  youngest  priests  at  the  time 
of  his  ordination),  John  is  a  lawyer,  Ann  is  Mrs.  Crawford  (her  husband  is  a 
lawyer  in  Virginia),  Martin  went  to  the  State  of  Washington,  and  Ella  is 
Mrs.  Farley  (her  husband  is  in  the  restaurant  business  in  Missoula,  Mont.; 
they  have  two  children,  Mrs.  Sarah  King,  whose  husband  is  a  railroader  in 
St.  Paul,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Martin,  of  the  State  of  Washington)  ;  Ellen  married 
Edward  Muldowney  (both  are  deceased),  but  had  no  children;  Anne  married 
Hugh  McDonald  (he  is  deceased)  and  had  eight  children;  Martin  mar- 
ried Bridget  O'Donnell  (both  deceased)  and  had  a  large  family;  Michael 
married  and  had  one  child,  John.  The  family  were  Roman  Catholics.  Mr. 
Gibbons  is  buried  in  County  Mayo.  His  widow  came  to  America,  lived  for  a 
time  at  Locust  Gap  and  later  at  Mount  Carmel,  and  is  buried  at  Ashland, 


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1124  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Schuylkill  Co^,  Pa.  In  her  ybunger  days  she  was  an  expert  fisher,  being  as 
competent  as  any  man. 

To  John  and  Mary  Gibbons  were  bom  children  as  follows :  Margaret,  bom 
in  Yorkshire,  England,  married  Thomas  Neary,  and  they  became  3ie  parents 
of  sixteen  children;  she  is  deceased.  Annie,  bom  in  Hull,  England,  bved  at 
Mount  Carmel,  where  she  followed  dressmaking  and  designing;  she  married 
Edward  Breslin,  who  survives  her,  now  living  in  the  South,  and  they  had  two 
children.  Patrick,  who  is  superintendent  for  the  United  Gas  and  Improvement 
Company,  in  Philadelphia,  married  Mary  Bowen  and  has  a  family  of  eight 
children.  John,  a  leading  citizen  of  Mount  Carmel,  Pa.,  engaged  in  the  in- 
surance and  real  estate  business,  married  Mary  Quinn,  and  they  had  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  Ella  is  the  wife  of  Stillman  Wells,  a  farmer 
at  McGraw,  N.  Y.    Catherine  Cecilia  is  the  wife  of  William  J.  Brown. 

John  Gibbons,  Mrs.  Brown's  father,  inherited  a  landed  estate  in  Ireland 
from  his  parents,  but  the  property  has  been  lost. 

JOSEPH  LINDERMUTH,  now  living  retired,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Schuylkill  county  since  1865.  He  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  during  which 
he  served  the  Union  faithfully  for  over  three  years.  Mr.  Lindermuth  is  a 
native  of  Berks  county,  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  families  of  that  part  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  name  was  originally  spelled  Lindenmuth,  and  has  long 
been  honored  in  that  county,  its  members  having  been  characterized  by  industry 
and  honesty,  conscientious  fidelity  to  duty  and  untiring  labor  in  religious  and 
public  life. 

Michael  Lindenmuth  came  from  the  German  Palatinate  to  America,  quali- 
fying at  Philadelphia  Sept.  22,  1752.  Soon  thereafter  it  appears  that  he  located 
in  Windsor  township,  Berks  county.  In  1790  he  settled  in  that  part  of  Bern 
township  now  known  as  Tilden.'  In  the  Pennsylvania  Archives  his  name  is 
given  as  Jbhan  Michael,  and  on  his  tombstone  it  is  John  Michael,  while  in  the 
Federal  government  records  of  the  Revolutionary  war  he  is  referred  to  as  Col. 
Michael.  He  was  a  leading  figure  in  Berks  county  in  the  stmggle  for  inde- 
pendence. On  May  6,  1780,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  council  in  reference 
to  the  murder  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  beyond  the  Blue  Mountain,  and  the 
moving  of  certain  families  to  the  Little  Schuylkill.  He  asked  for  arms  from 
the  stores  at  Reading  for  self  defense.  On  the  loth  President  Reed  replied, 
stating  that  he  had  directed  Colonel  Morgan  to  supply  the  necessary  arms. 
Michael  Lindenmuth  was  colonel  of  the  4th  Battalion  of  Berks  county  militia. 
By  the  following  action  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  Dec.  31,  1778,  it 
would  appear  that  Col.  Michael  Lindenmuth  and  his  battalion  were  in  active 
service  outside  of  the  county :  "Ordered  that  the  Secretary  write  to  the  Lieu- 
tenant of  Berks  County  to  call  upon  Colonel  Lindenmuth  or  his  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  stationed  last  summer  at  Fort  Jenkins,  in  Northumberland,  for  five 
rifles  taken  from  one  Webb,  charged  with  disaffection."  In  the  Stoever  record 
of  marriages  in  western  Berks  county  it  is  found  that  June  17,  1760,  Michael 
Lindenmuth  married  Maria  Eva  Noecker.  In  thf  will  of  Martin  Noecker  (see 
Pennsylvania  Historical  Society,  Book  365,  Page  521)  is  this  item:  "To  the 
children  of  Michael  and  Magdalena  Lindenmuth,  the  children  of  my  deceased 
daughter,  Eve,  deceased  wife  of  Michael  Lindenmuth."  whence  it  would  appear 
that  Magdalena  was  his  second  wife.  In  the  will-  of  Margaret,  widow  of 
Eberhart  Geschwind,  of  Bern  township,  is  this  reference:  "I  give  and 
bequeath  unto  my  daughter  Catharine,  ^yife  of  Michael  Lindenmuth,"  who 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1125 

apparently  was  the  third  wife  of  Michael  Lindenmuth.  The  number  of  his 
children  is  not  known,  but  by  his  wife  Catharine  he  had  a  son  John  Jacob, 
mentioned  below.  In  a  diary  left  by  Col.  Michael  Lindenmuth  (but  subse- 
quently destroyed  by  his  children)  it  was  stated  that  the  government  owed 
him  a  large  sum  of  money  which  he  had  advanced  the  commissary  department, 
and  for  the  services  of  himself  and  men.  "While  en  route  to  Washington  for 
settlement  he  died  at  Baltimore.  The  delay  in  the  settlement  had  ruined  him 
financially. 

John  Jacob  Lindenmuth  was  bom  Aug.  24,  1766,  and  died  Sept.  17,  1839. 
His  wife,  Catharine,  was  bom  Nov.  22,  176SI  and  died  April  17,  1852,  and 
both  are  buried  at  Hamburg.  His  tombstone  inscription  says  he  was  the 
father  of  sixteen  children.  Among  these  were:  John;  Thomas,  who  moved 
West ;  George,  who  was  killed  in  the  stone  quarry  at  Bern  Station ;  and  Sam- 
uel, who  died  in  1870,  at  his  home  in  Stouchsburg,  the  father  of  Sarah, 
Catharine,  Mary,  Lydia,  Samuel  (who  had  a  daughter  Agnes),  Nathaniel, 
Elizabeth  and  John. 

Joseph  Lindermuth,  one  of  the  sons  of  John  Jacob,  was  the  father  of 
Joseph  Lindermuth  and  grandfather  of  Horace  D.  Lindermuth,  of  Auburn, 
Schuylkill  county.  He  was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  and  with  the  exception 
of  about  ten  years  spent  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  passed  all  his  life  there.  By 
trade  he  was  a  stonemason.  His  death  occurred  near  Hamburg,  Berks  county, 
and  he  was  buried  at  St.  Michael's  Church.  His  wife  Theresa  (Harper)  died 
while  they  were  living  in  Dauphin  county,  and  was  also  buried  in  the  cemetery 
of  St.  Michael's  Church.  They  had  the  following  children:  Reuben  died 
in  Berks  county.  Pa.;  Sybilla  married  a  Mr.  Rhoads;  Lavina  married  John 
Stafr;  Joseph  is  mentioned  below;  Daniel  is  living  at  Centreport,  Pa.;  Emma, 
married  Frank  Potteiger;  Catherine  died  unmarried;  Alfred  is  living  'at 
Auburn ;  Sarah  married  John  Bickle ,'  Louisa  married  Henry  Frantz ;  Jonathan 
is  deceased. 

Joseph  Lindermuth  was  born  Nov.  12,  1838,  near  HaAiburg,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Upper  Bern  township,  that  county.  In  1857 
he  began  to  work  at  the  miller's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  one  year,  when 
he  resumed  farming  at  the  old  Hamburg  station.  On  July  13,  1861,  Mr.  Lin- 
dermuth enlisted  for  three  years'  service  in  the  Civil  war,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  L,  ist  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Reserve  Cavalry.  He  was 
discharged  Sept.  9,.  1864,  at  Philadelphia,  ra.,  with  an  honorable  record,  hav- 
ing taken  part  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  command  was  engaged  throughout 
his  term. 

In  1865  Mr.  Lindermuth  came  to  Schuylkill  county,  settling  in  West 
Brunswick  township,  where  he  followed  farming  for  two  years.  For  the  next 
two  years  he  farmed  at  Auburn,  after  which  he  lived  at  Friedensburg,  and 
also  at  Mahanoy  City  for  a  time,  returning  to  Auburn.  On  July  2,  1872,  Mr. 
Lindermuth  entered  the  service  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Com- 
pany, in  whose  employ  he  remained  continuously  for  thirty-seven  years,  thirty 
years  of  which  time  he  was  an  engineer.  In  1909  he  was  retired  with  a 
^pension.  Mr.  Lindermuth  has  led  an  industrious,  useful  life,  and  hears  an 
unblemished  reputation. 

He  married  Elizabeth  Wingert,  daughter  of  Daniel  Wingert,  who  died 
and  was  buried  in  Mahanoy  City,  Pa.  Ten  children  were  bora  to  this  union : 
Ellen;  Elizabeth;  Alice;  Charles  Edward,  deceased;  Horace  D. ;  Leon,  de- 
ceased; John  H.,  deceased;  Amy;  Emma,  deceased;  and  Velma,  deceased. 


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1126  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Horace  D.  Lindermuth  was  bom  at  Auburn,  Sept.  ii,  1877,  and  has  re- 
sided there  continuously.  He  has  always  taken  an  interest  in  local  affairs,  is 
a  member  of  several  secret  organizations,  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
borough  scjiool  board  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  has  been  a  member  since, 
serving  as  secretary  during  this  time.  For  sixteen  years  Mr.  Lindermuth  had 
charge  of  the  office  work  of  the  Delaware  Seamless  Tube  Company,  at  Auburn, 
and  in  August,  191 3,  accepted  a  position  as  traveling  auditor  under  the  auditor 
general  of  the  State.  He  has  always  been  an  ardent  Republican  in  politics, 
having  been  an  active  worker  for  the  party  in  this  section  of  the  county  even 
prior  to  attaining  voting  age.  ^  In  1912  he  was  elected  one  of  the  national 
delegates  from  Schuylkill  county  to  the  Republican  convention  at  Chicago, 
having  announced  himself  as  «a  supporter  of  Colonel  Roosevelt,  he  and  his 
colleague,  T.  R.  Edwards,  of  Shenandoah,  decisively  defeating  the  Taft 
candidates  after  a  spirited  contest.  He  followed  the  wishes  of  Colonel  Roose- 
velt throughout  the  memorable  convention,  and  joined  with  the  Roosevelt 
forces  in  organizing  the  Progressive  party  at  Chicago  in  August,  1912,  and 
making  him  their  candidate  for  president.  He  became  an  ardent  supporter 
of  the  new  party  and  its  principles,  and  his  work  in  its  interest  was  publicly 
recognized  in  a  speech  by  Colonel  Roosevelt  on  a  visit  to  Auburn  on  a  tour 
of  the  State,  in  October,  1914. 

In  1902  Mr.  Lindermuth  was  married  to  Minnie  Mengle,  daughter  of 
George  and  Rosa  (Hoffman)  Mengle,  of  Auburn,  and  is  the  father  of  two 
daughters,  Dorothy  and  Rose  Elizabeth. 

ANDREW  B.  FAUST,  late  of  East  Union  township,  though  taken  from 
life  before  he  reached  his  prime,  had  accomplished  much  and  made  his  way 
entirely  by  his  own  exertions.  His  business  was  lumbering,  clearing  land 
under  contract  and  operating  on  his  own  holdings,  and  he  bore  the  highest 
reputation  with  all  who  had  dealings  with  him.  The  same  was  true  of  his 
personal  standing.  Liberal  and  broad-minded,  interested  in  all  that  affected 
the  welfare  of  his  township  and  county,  willing  to  aid  a  good  cause  generously 
with  both  means  and  influence,  he  was  deservedly  popular,  and  is  held  in 
esteemed  memory  by  the  many  with  whom  business  or  social  activities  brought 
him  in  contact.  He  led  a  useful  life,  and  left  a  name  of  precious  worth  to 
his  family  and  friends. 

Mr.  Faust  was  bom  in  Union  (now  East  Union)  township  April  18,  i860, 
son  of  Daniel  Faust  and  grandson  of  Henry  Faust.  The  grandfather  was 
bom  April  8,  1780,  probably  in  East  Brunswick  township,  and  died  June  6, 
1871.  He  is  buried  at  the  Old  White  Church  near  Ringtown,  and  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Mengle,  is  buried  at  Weissport,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.  It 
is  supposed  they  were  farming  people.  Mr.  Faust  was  a  Democrat  in  political 
sentiment.  His  children  were:  James,  who  married  Levina  Moyer;  Frank, 
whose  wife  was  Dorothy;  Michael;  Daniel;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  who  married 
Jacob  Trout;  and  Catherine,  widow  of  Henry  Eisenhart,  living  at  Browns- 
ville, Pennsylvania. 

Daniel  Faust,  father  of  Andrew  B.  Faust,  was  bom  near  McKeansburg, 
in  East  Brunswick  township,  Feb.  27,  1828,  and  was  there  reared  and  edu- 
cated. During  his  young  manhood  he  worked  out  among  farmers,  and  in 
time  bought  a  farm  of  his  own,  at  Brandonville,  in  East  Union  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  upon  which  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  the  remainder 
of  his  life.     His  death  occurred  Oct.  it,  1910,  and  he  is  buried  with  his  wife, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1127 

Carolina  (Bitting),  at  the  Old  White  Church  near  Ringtown.  She  was  bom 
Oct.  6,  1835,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mai^aret  (Beaver)  Bitting,  and  died 
Aug.  I,  1914.  They  had  the  following  children:  Hannah  Malinda  married 
Jacob  Brobst,  and  they  live  at  Hazleton,  Pa.;  Amanda  Elizabeth  is  the  wife 
of  Frank  Scott',  of  Brandonville,  this  county;  Andrew  B.  is  next  in  the 
family ;  Margaret  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  James  Lorah,  of  East  Union  town- 
ship; Daniel  Wesley  married  Rebecca  Bolander,  and  they  live  at  Hazleton,; 
Silas  Mayberry  married  Charity  Creasy,  and  they  reside  at  Forks,  Columbia 
Co.,  Pa.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a  Democrat  and  a  Lutheran,  belonging 
to  St.  John's  Church  in  East  Union  township,  which  he  served  as  deacon. 

Andrew  B.  Faust  attended  public  school  at  Brandonville,  and  spent  his 
early  life  on  the  home  farm,  working  for  his  father  until  he  attained  his 
majority.  Later  he  found  employment  in  the  lumber  woods,  for  a  number  of 
years  with  William  and  Elder  Spangler  in  the  vicinity  of  Audenried,  Pa. 
Then  for  a  few  years  he  lumbered  for  the  Lehigh  &  Wilkes-Barre  Coal  Com- 
pany, at  Green  Mountain,  in  East  Uoion  township,  clearing  their  lands  of 
timber  under  contract,  and  eventually  he  bought  four  hundred  acres  all  in 
timber,  located  in  East  Union  township,  from  John  Arnold,  of  Hazleton.  He 
had  his  own  sawmill,  and  was  occupied  in  the  operations  on  this  tract  until 
his  death,  Oct.  9,  1897.  He  produced  principally  rough  sawed  lumber,  mine 
props,  ties,  etc.,  for  which  there  is  a  good  market  in  this  region. 

Mr.  Faust  was  one  of  the  most  energetic  members  of  St.  John's  Lutheran 
Church,  and  when  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregations  erected  the 
present  house  of  worship  he  donated  all  the  rough  lumber  for  the  structure, 
served  on  the  building  committee,  and  furthered  the  work  in  every  possible 
way.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  filling  the  office  of  deacon,  and  he 
was  always  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  support  of  the  church  and  its  enter- 
prises. He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Brandonville  Union  Sunday  school. 
Fraternally  he  was  an  Odd  Fellow,  holding  membership  in  Ringtown  Lodge, 
No.  287 ;  in  politics  he  did  not  bind  himself  to  the  support  af  any  party,  voting 
as  he  thought  best. 

Mr.  Faust  married  Rebecca  Elizabeth  Lorah,  who  was  bom  March  26, 
1865,  in  East  Uniop  township,  where  she  attended  the  Lorah  school.  She 
remained  at  home  until  her  marriage.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Faust  were  bom  the 
following  children : 

(i)  James  Walter  Faust,  bom  March  5,  1883,  attended  the  township 
schools,  and  also  took  a  course  in  the  Scranton-  Correspondence  School. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  railroad  work,  making  his  home  at  Tamaqua. 
He  is  married  to  Priscilla  Barron,  and  they  have  two  children,  James  and 
Allen.  Formerly  Mr.  Faust  served  as  superintendent  of  St.  John's  Reformed 
Sunday  school  in  East  Union  township.  • 

(2)  Harriet  Elizabeth  Faust,  bom  Aug.  19,  1885,  was  formerly  organist 
of  the  Reformed  church  and  Sunday  school,  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday 
school.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Lewis  Kostenbauder,  and  has  had  six  chil- 
dren, Helen  May,  Elizabeth  (deceased),  Marian,  James,  Ruth  and  Allen. 
Mr.  Kostenbauder  conducts  a  hotel  and  a  wholesale  and  retail  stand  for  the 
Home  Brewing  Company  at  Aristes,  Columbia  Co.,   Pennsylvania. 

(3)  William  Andrew  Faust,  bom  Sept.  27,  1887,  at  Green  Mountain,  was 
educated  in  the  township  schools  and  at  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School 
at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1906.  While  at  school  he 
was  an  enthusiastic  football  player,  and  also  greatly  interested  in  baseball 


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1128  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

t 

and  basket-ball.  He  has  served  six  years  in  the  United  States  army  under 
two  enlistments.  On  Sept.  27,  1907,  he  applied  for  enlistment  at  the  Phil- 
adelphia recruiting  station,  for  service  in  the  cavalry,  foreign  service  pre- 
ferred, passed  the  preliminary  examination,  and  was  forwarded  to  recruiting 
barracks  at  Fort  Slocum,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  28th,  the  next  day  passing  the  finjJ 
examination  and  being  duly  enlisted.  Thence,  after  a  few  weeks  spent  in 
preliminary  recruit  drill,  dismounted,  he  was  detailed  in  the  latter  part  of 
October  as  one  of  a  detachment  to  be  sent  to  Fort  Clark,  Texas,  to  augment 
the  ranks  of  the  ist  Cavalry,  then  under  orders  to  sail  for  the  Philippines, 
early  in  November  joining  the  regiment,  Mr.  Faust  being  assigned  to  Troop  B. 
The  succeeding  month  proved  rather  trying,  as  they  were  given  their  first 
mounted  drill.  The  ist  Cavalry  left  Fort  Clark  Dec.  i,  1907,  for  a  seven- 
mile  march  to  Spofford,  where  they  entrained  for  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  arriv- 
ing Dec.  3d,  and  immediately  detraining  and  marching  to  the  U.  S.  transport 
"Thomas,"  on  which  they  took  quarters.  They  sailed  Dec.  5th,  and  as  they 
passed  through  the  Golden  Gate  the  old-timers  of  the  regiment  related  the 
thrilling  scenes  which  marked  their  departure  in  1898,  during  the  Spanish- 
American  war.  The  first  port  of  call  was  Honolulu  (Dec.  nth),  the  next  the 
island  of  Guam,  where  mail  and  supplies  were  discharged  for  the  naval  detach- 
ment stationed  there.  On  Jan.  2,  1908,  they  entered  Manila  bay,  where  the 
masts  of  several  simken  Spanish  gunboats  protruding  above  the  waters  served 
as  grim  testimony  to  Yankee  naval  marksmanship.  Disembarking  at  Manila, 
they  entrained  the  same  day  for  their  station  at  Camp  Stotsenburg,  on  Luzon 
island,  about  eighty-five  miles  north  of  Manila,  where  they  received  a  cordial 
reception  from  the  3d  Cavalry,  whose  tour  of  foreign  service  was  terminated 
by  the  arrival  of  the  ist.  The  two  years  of  service  in  the  islands  proved  very 
interesting,  there  being  plenty  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  barracks  life — 
weekly  practice  marches,  and  every  few  months  an  extended  march  to  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  islands,  ii>  the  nature  of  a  reconnaissance.  Mr.  Faust's  troop 
was  sent  out  on  several  expeditions  against  the  hostile  Igorrote  or  hill  tribes, 
and  had  several  clashes  of  minor  importance.  During  his  second  year  in 
the  islands  he  was  detailed  for  several  months  on  topographical  duty  in  con- 
nection with  the  progressive  military  map  of  the  islands,  the  detachment  ope- 
rating mainly  along  the  northern  coast  of  the  island  of  Luzon.  It  was  a 
happy  day  for  the  boys  when  the  14th  Cavalry  marched  into  camp  to  relieve 
them.  They  sailed  from  Manila  Jan.  15,  1910,  on  the  transport  "Logan," 
reached  Nagasaki,  Japan,  Jan.  20th  (where  they  coaled  and  every  man  avail- 
able was  given  an  opportunity  to  go  ashore),  and  two  days  out  of  Nagasaki 
encountered  a  t)rphoon  which  took  two  days  to  pass.  In  the  meantime  they  were 
below  bolted  hatches,  and  Mr.  Faust  thinks  they  were  the  longest  days  in  his 
life.  •  Stopping  at  Honolulu  Feb.  sth,  they  reached  San  Francisco  Feb.  12th. 
The  regiment  was  divided  and  given  different  stations,  one  squadron,  including 
Troop  B,  being  stationed  at  the  Presidio,  San  Francisco.  Mr.  Faust  was 
appointed  corporal  April  11,  1910,  and  sergeant  Sept.  17,  1910,  holding  the 
latter  rank  during  all  the  remainder  of  his  service.  In  1908  he  qualified  as  a 
marksman,  in  1909  as  a  sharpshooter,  and  in  191 1  as  an  expert  rifleman.  He 
was  honorably  discharged,  as  sergeant,  at  the  Presidio,  Sept.  28,  1910,  and 
reenlisted  the  next  day  in  the  same  troop,  his  warrant  as  sergeant  being  con- 
tinued on  reenlistment.  On  the  afternoon  of  Feb.  3,  191 1,  they  received 
telegraphic  orders  from  Washington,  D.  C,  to  leave  at  once  for  the  Mexican 
border,  to  preserve  the  neutrality  of  the  tjnited  States,  and  left  on  special 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1129 

trains  fully  equipped  for  field  service.  Stationed  at  Nogales,  Ariz.,  the  next 
few  months  were  spent  in  patroling  the  international  boundary  line  in  the 
vicinity,  until  ordered  in  July  to  Yiuna,  Ariz.,  where  danger  threatened  due 
to  an  impending  battle  near  the  line  between  the  warring  Mexican  factions. 
The  patroling  there  was  over  desert  country,  with  the  thermometer  128 
degrees  in  the  shade.  They  were  next  at  General  Grant  National  Park  for 
several  weeks  to  recuperate  before  returning  to  their  station.  The  summer 
of  1912  Troop  B  spent  doing  patrol  duty  in  Sequoia  National  Park  (it  is  cus- 
tomary to  have  cavalry  commands  in  the  national  parks  during  the  summer 
months  to  help  enforce  park  regulations  and  guard  against  forest  fires). 
After  his  return  from  that  place  Mr.  Faust  was  marri^  Oct.  13,  1912,  to 
.  Edith  M.  Bingham,  of  Oakland,  Cal.,  who  was  bom  March  19,  1893,  at  Red- 
ding, Shasta  Co;,  Cal.,  and  attended  school  at  Redding,  taking  a  course  in 
domestic  science.  In  the  summer  of  1913  Troop  B  was  again  assigned  to 
park  duty,  in  Yosemite  National  Park,  dieir  camp  being  within  two  hundred 
yards  of  the  foot  of  the  famous  Yosemite  falls,  and  the  boys  had  a  hard  time 
at  first,  as  the  roar  of  the  water  disturbed  their  sleep.  During  Mr.  Faust's 
stay  there  his  son  William  Lewis  was  bom,  July  8,  1913.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  as  sergeant  at  Yosemite  Valley,  Cal.,  Sept.  28,  1913,  and  imme- 
diately left  to  join  his  family,  taking  quarters  at  Oakland,  Cal.  He  secured 
a  position  with  the  Western  Electric  Company  on  Oct.  7th,  and  has  remained 
in  the  employ  of  that  concern  to  the  present  time,  in  various  capacities  in 
the  warehouse  and  also  as  shop  stock  keeper,  at  present  being  assistant  ship- 
ping clerk.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Faust  have  another  son,  Edward  Andrew,  bom 
June  17,  191 5. 

(4)  Margaret  Caroline  Faust,  bom  July  6,  1889,  at  Green  Mountain,  in 
East  Union  township,  was  educated  in  the  township  schools  and  at  the  Key- 
stone State  Normal  School,  and  taught  school  for  three  years  in  East  Union 
township  before  her  marriage  to  Fred  Steimling,  who  is  a  telegrapher  at 
Grier  City,  Schuylkill  county.  They  have  one  child,  Beatrice  Caroline.  Mrs. 
Steimling  was  formerly  superintendent  of  St.  John's  Reformed  Sunday 
school,  and  for  a  number  of  years  she  served  as  organist  of  the  church  and 
Sunday  school. 

(5)  Joshua  Franklin  Faust,  bom  Nov.  22,  1890,  at  Green  Mountain,  was 
educated  in  the  home  township  and  at  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School, 
taught  school  in  East  Union  township,  and  is  now  employed  as  a  telegraph 
operator  at  Grovania,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.  He  married  Rhoda  Powell,  and 
they  have  had  two  children,  Robert  Franklin  and  William  Arthur,  the  latter 
deceased. 

(6)  Lillie  May  Faust,  bom  June  8,  1892,  died  when  six  weeks  old. 

(7)  Hannah  Esther  Faust,  born  Feb.  i,  1894,  was  educated  in  the  town- 
ship schools  and  at  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  and  is  now  at  home. 

(8)  Daniel  Allen  Faust,  bom  Nov.  5,  1895,  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  East  Union  township,  and  is  now  engaged  as  telegrapher 
for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  at  Mausdale,  Montour  Co., 
Pennsylvania. 

(9)  Lulu  Faust,  bom  June  23,  1897,  died  at  birth. 

Mrs.  Andrew  B.  Faust  holds  membership  in  St.  Paul's  Reformed  Church 
in  East  Union  township,  was  a  Sunday  school  teacher,  and  was  a  charter 
member  of  the  Brandonville  Sunday  school.  All  her  children  were  confirmed 
in  St.  John's  Reformed  Church.     At  the  administrators'  sale  she  bought  the 


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1130  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

lumber  business  Mr.  Faust  was  carrying  on  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  for 
the  next  nine  years  continued  the  same  in  partnership  with  her  brother,  James 
Lorah,  under  the  name  of  Mrs.  Andrew  Faust  &  Brother.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  they  sold  out.  Mrs.  Faust  is  one  of  the  original  stockholders  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Ringtown,  established  in  1904,  and  she  has  proved 
herself  a  capable  business  woman  in  the  handling  of  various  transactions. 
She  belonged  to  the  Rebekah  Lodge  of  Ringtown  and  Pocahontas  of  Hazle- 
ton. 

The  Lorahs  are  an  old  family  of  this  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  Michael 
Lorah,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Faust,  having  been  bom  here  May  18,  1788, 
in  Union  township.  He  was  of  French  descent.  His  education  was  acquired 
in  the  local  subscription  schools,  and  he  followed  farming  and  shoemaking, 
owning  a  farm  of  115  acres,  which  included  the  property  where  his  grandson 
James  Lorah  now  lives,  in  what  is  now  East  Union  township.  It  was  all 
Union  then.  He  died  on  his  farm  May  6,  1852,  and  is  buried  with  his  wife 
at  St.  John's  German  Reformed  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  It  is 
supposed  that  Michael  Lorah  was  twice  married,  first  to  Hannah  Frye,  and 
the  maiden  name  of  his  second  wife,  bom  Dec.  23,  1793,  died  March  6,  1837, 
was  Houser.  His  children  were:  Emmanuel,  who  married  Mary  Houser; 
Henry,  deceased;  Lafayette,  deceased;  Daniel,  who  married  Polly  Schappell, 
both  now  deceased;  Joshua,  deceased;  John,  who  married  Catherine  John- 
son (she  is  deceased);  Susanna,  who  married  Aaron  Gross;  Hannah,  wife 
of  Samuel  Beaver;  and  Lucy,  who  died  young. 

Joshua  Lorah,  son  of  Michael,  was  bom  July^  11,  1830,  in  Union  township, 
that  part  now  included  in  East  Union,  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  meantime 
receiving  his  education  in  the  local  district  schools.  During  his  younger  days 
he  worked  for  his  father  on  the  home  place,  and  after  his  marriage  he  lived 
as  a  tenant  on  various  farms,  continuing  thus  for  a  number  of  years.  When 
Michael  Lorah  died  his  son  Emmanuel  bought  the  homestead,  which  he 
operated  until  his  death,  when  it  was  sold  by  the  administrators  to  Elias 
Peifer,  who  subsequently  sold  sixty-three  acres  of  the  original  tract  to  Joshua 
Lorah.  He  carried  on  general  farming  there  for  a  considerable  period.  By 
trade  he  was  a  carpenter.  In  his  later  life  he  cut  up  thirteen  acres  of  this 
property  in  building  lots  and  laid  out  the  town  of  Phinny,  including  180 
lots.  As  he  died  before  they  were  all  sold  his  son  James,  as  administrator  of 
the  estate,  continued  to  dispose  of  them,  buying  two  of  them  himself,  upon 
which  he  built  his  present  home.  That  part  of  Joshua  Lorah's  farm  remain- 
ing undivided  was  bought  by  his  son  Michael  upon  the  mother's  death,  and  is 
now  owned  by  Jacob  Landauhl. 

Mr.  Lorah  married  Elizabeth  Johnson,  who  was  bom  Sept.  3,  183 1,  in 
Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  daughter  of  Henry  Johnson,  and  was  of  English 
ancestry.  Mrs.  Lorah  survived  her  husband,  his  death  occurring  Feb.  4, 
1895,  hers  Feb.  9,  1899,  ^"^  ^^^V  ^^^  buried  at  St.  John's  Reformed  Church 
in  East  Union  township.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  that  church,  in 
which  he  held  the  highest  offices,  serving  many  years  as  elder  and  deacon,  and 
also  acting  as  treasurer.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  and  kept  up  an 
interest  in  local  public  affairs ;  he  served  as  one  of  the  directors  of  the  inde- 
pendent school  district  and  as  treasurer  of  same.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joshua 
Lorah  were  bom  the  following  children:  Hannah  married  John  Deeble.  and 
both  are  deceased;  Michael,  deceased,  married  Sarah  Huntsinger,  who  now 
resides  at  Mountain  Grove,  Luzeme  Co.,  Pa.;  Thomas,  a  resident  of  East 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1131 

Union  township,  married  Missouri  Applegate;  Emma  died  in  infancy;  Mary 
died  in  infancy;  Albert,  deceased,  married  Anna  Irwin,  who  lives  at  Allen- 
town,  Pa.;  James,  bom  May  i8,  i860,  lives  in  East  Union  township;  Sarah, 
deceased,  was  the  wife  of  William  Schaeffer,  who  lives  in  Alabama ;  Rebecca 
Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  Andrew  B.  Faust,  and  lives  next  door  to  her 
brother  James;  Oscar,  of  McAdoo,  Schuylkill  county,  married  Clara  Apple- 
gate;  Ida  is  married  to  John  Wilhelm,  of  Williamsport,  Pa.;  Jacob  married 
Jennie  Davis,  of  Qeveland,  Ohio. 

REV.  DAVID  IVOR  EVANS,  of  Shenandoah,  has  just  entered  upon 
his  twenty-sixth  year  as  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  that  borough, 
where  he  has  long  been  counted  among  the  leading  influences  for  social  better- 
ment. His  association  with  various  organizations  looking  to  that  end  show 
how  wide  and  strong  his  sympathies  are,  and  he  may  always  be  relied  upon 
for  practical  assistance  in  any  undertaking  whose  object  is  to  uplift  men  or 
broaden  their  lives.  Much  of  his  labor  has  been  directed  to  the  training  of 
the  young,  which  he  regards  as  a  very  important  part  of  his  service. 

Mr.,  Evans  is  a  native  of  Wales,  bom  Jan.  25,  1849,  at  Llanfymach,  Pem- 
brokeshire, South  Wales,  son  of  David  and  Hannah  (Jenkins)  Evans.  His 
education  for  the  ministry  was  received  at  Pontypool  College,  which  is  now  a 
part  of  the  University  of  Cardiff,  Wales,  and  upon  completing  his  course  there 
he  received  his  license.  Subsequently  for  three  years  he  was  pastor  of  a 
church  at  Cardiff  before  coming  to  this  country,  in  April,  1882.  He  has  lived 
in  Pennsylvania  ever  since,  having  first  been  located  at  Oliphant,  near  Scran- 
ton,  where  he  was  pastor  of  a  Baptist  Church  for  five  years.  Thence  he 
changed  to  Lansford,  where  he  was  pastor  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  that 
time  being  assigned  to  a  charge  in  Jackson  township,  Susquehanna  county. 
In  January,  1891,  he  came  to  Shenandoah,  where  he  has  since  been  pastor 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church.  The  length  of  his  pastorate  indicates  how  suc- 
cessful he  has  been  in  holding  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  congregation. 
But  in  fact  his  own  church  has  been  only  the  center  of  his  activities,  and  not 
the  limit  of  their  extent.  His  gifts  as  a  speaker  have  made  him  popular  in 
the  borough  and  vicinity,  and  he  has  occupied  every  Protestant  pulpit  in 
Shenandoah.  His  energy  has  carried  him  into  other  work  as  well,  and  the 
curfew  law  is  one  of  the  numerous  good  results  of  his  efforts  in  behalf  of 
proper  regulations  for  the  young,  for  he  was  one  of  its  most  vigorous  and 
effective  advocates.  He  has  also  done  good  work  in  the  temperance  cause. 
For  the  last  twenty  years  he  has  been  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  local  library,  and  he  is  also  president  of  the  selecting  committee.  When 
the  Bureau  of  Mine  Inspectors  and  Surface  Support  was  established,  in  1913. 
he  became  president  of  that  body,  whose  services  to  the  workers  in  the  coal 
fields  are  so  important,  and  he  has  remained  at  its  head  to  the  present  writing. 
As  a  student  of  history  and  believer  in  true  patriotism,  he  has  lent  his  voice 
and  counsel  to  bringing  the  best  ideas  on  that  subject  before  his  fellow  citizens, 
and  his  advice  in  civic  affairs  has  been  productive  of  much  real  public  spirit 
among  his  townsmen.  Being  frequently  called  uf)on  for  jxiblic  speaking,  he 
has  never  failed  to  impress  his  audiences  with  his  respect  for  law  and  order, 
as  well  as  his  own  high  estimate  of  the  rights  of  the  people,  and  his  Decoration 
day  addresses  especially  have  won  him  much  local  renown.  On  many  occa- 
sions he  has  been  asked  to  make  speeches  before  assemblages  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  fraternity  he  holds  membership.     The 


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1132  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

energy  which  characterized  his  early  years,  and  which  during  his  college  days 
kept  him  at  the  head  of  his  classes,  has  never  diminished  in  intensity.  What 
he  does,  he  does  with  all  his  might.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has 
often  exerted  himself  in  the  party's  interest.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Shenandoah  ministerial  association,  and  for  twelve  years  filled  the  office 
of  president. 

Mr.  Evans  was  married,  in  Wales,  to  Eliza  Bethia  Tilley,  who  died  at 
Shenandoah  in  January,  1892.  The  only  child  of  this  union,  a  daughter, 
died  at  Oliphant  about  a  year  after  the  family  came  to  the  United  States. 
Mrs.  Evans  was  an  accomplished  woman,  and  translated  many  Welsh  hymns 
into  English.  On  April  12,  1893,  Mr.  Evans  married  (second)  Mary  Davis, 
who  had  been  a  co-^worker  in  the  Sunday  school  at  Cowbridge,  Wales,  where 
he  was  formerly  pastor.  They  have  had  two  children:  Vivian  Ivor  and 
Blodwen  Maiy.  The  son  graduated  from  the  Shenandoah  high  school  in 
1913,  as  valedictorian  of  his  class,  and  is  at  present  a  student  in  the  Millers- 
ville'  State  Normal  College. 

Mr.  Evans's  parents  came  to  America  in  1883,  settling  at  Nanticoke,  Pa., 
where  the  father  died  Feb.  9,  1892.  The  mother  survived  him  a  number  of 
years,  and  when  eighty- three  years  old,  in  1907,  had  the  honor  of  being  the 
oldest  member  of  the  Baptist  denomination  in  this  country,  so  far  as  known, 
having  been  received  into  the  church  by  baptism  when  ten  years  old,  in  Wales. 
Of  the  children  bom  to  David  and  Hannah  (Jenkins)  Evans,  John  and  Mrs. 
Ann  Davis  remained  in  Wales;  Daniel  E.  is  a  practicing  physician  at  New- 
castle, Pa.;  William  and  Arthur  D.  are  residents  of  Nanticoke,  Pa.,  and 
interested  in  mining,  Arthur  D.  as  a  mine  foreman. 

HIRAM  PEIFER,  of  Sheppton,  Schuylkill  county,  is  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  that  region,  principally  engaged  in  the  cutting  and  produc- 
tion of  mine  timber,  in  which  line  he  has  built  up  a  large  trade.  He  was  bom 
near  Brandonville,  in  Union  township,  this  county  (that  part  now  known  as 
East  Union  township),  June  7,  1865,  and  the  family  has  been  located  in  that 
section  since  his  grandfather's  day. 

Solomon  Peifer,  the  grandfather,  was  a  wood  chopper  and  lumberman 
near  Mountain  Grove,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  before  his  removal  to  Schuylkill 
county.  He  owned  a  timber  tract  and  farm,  but  lost  this  property,  and  moved 
to  Union  township,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  tenanted  what  is  now  known 
as  No.  3  farm,  owned  by  the  Girard  Estate.  When  he  retired  he  went  to  live 
with  his  son  Levi,  at  Brandonville,  this  county,  and  he  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  is  buried 
at  the  Old  White  Church  near  Ringtown.  Politically  he  was  a  Etemocrat. 
By  his  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Remaly,  Mr.  Peifer  had  the 
following  children:  Daniel;  George,  who  married  Mary  Long;  Levi,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Shaeffer;  Elias;  Hester,  who  married  Jacob  Hartley;  an(f 
three  who  died  young.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Peifer  married  Maria 
Moyer,  and  to  them  were  bom  two  children :  Jacob  married  Amanda  Rupert ; 
Solomon  married  Sarah  Applegate. 

Elias  Peifer,  father  of  John  Peifer,  was  bom  April  17,  1831,  near  Moun- 
tain Grove,  Luzeme  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  Nov.  27,  1912,  aged  eighty-one  years, 
seven  months,  ten  days.  He  received  his  education  in  his  native  county,  ancf 
worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  and  in  the  woods,  imtil  he  reached  legal 
age.     He  gained  considerable  experiences  as  a  sawyer.     The  first  farm  he 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1133 

bought  (the  place  later  owned  by  Samuel  Deebel)  consisted  of  120  acres, 
sixty  of  which  he  had  under  cultivation,  and  he  operated  it  for  twenty- 
seven  years,  eventually  trading  it  for  a  farm  owned  by  Sheep  &  Co.,  now  the 
property  of  his  son  John  Peifer.  It  was  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres,  sixty 
cleared,  and  he  followed  general  farming  there  very  successfully,  building 
the  dwelling  which  is  still  standing  on  the  property,  occupied  by  his  son  John. 
Elias  Peifer  continued  to  carry  on  the  lumber  business  along  with  farming, 
and  he  was  the  owner  of  a  hotel  property  at  Ringtown  which  he  rented  out, 
later  selling  it  to  Daniel  Ellis,  of  Shenandoah ;  it  is  now  one  of  the  principal 
hotels  at  Ringtown.  Mr.  Peifer  served  his  township  many  years  as  super- 
visor and  tax  collector.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  faith,  and  during 
the  Civil  war  a  Union  sympathizer,  enlisting  at  Tamaqua  in  October,  1864, 
as  a  member  of  Company  A,  173d  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  for  nine  months 
or  during  the  war.  rie  was  mustered  in  at  Harrisburg,  and  was  engaged 
principally  in  guard  duty.  In  religion  he  held  to  the  Reformed  faith,  belong- 
ing to  St.  John's  Church  in  East  Union  township,  at  which  church  he  and 
his  wife  are  buried. 

Mr.  Peifer  married  Emaline  Charlotte  Nungesser,  who  was  bom  Sept.  13, 
1840,  in  Mifflin  township,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna 
(Reinhold)  Nungesser,  who  moved  thence  to  East  Union  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Mr.  Nungesser  followed  farming  and  lumbering  there  the  best 
part  of  his  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  He  was  a  native  of 
Mifflin  township,  Columbia  cotmty,  and  his  wife  was  bom  near  Easton, 
Northampton  Co.,  Pa.  She  lived  to  be  over  eighty.  Their  children  were: 
Benjamin,  deceased,  married  Elizabeth  Applegate,  who  now  lives  at  Straw- 
bridge,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.;  Isaac  married  Susanna  Hoffman,  and  they  live 
at  Berwick,  Columbia  county;  Emaline  Charlotte  married  Elias  Peifer;  George 
died  unmarried,  after  his  retum  from  the  army;  Hannah,  widow  of  John 
Schucker,  lives  at  Taylorsville,  Schuylkill  county.  The  parents  are  buried  at 
the  Old  White  Church  near  Ringtown.  Mr.  Nungesser  had  no  church  con- 
nections.    He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion. 

Mrs.  Elias  Peifer  died  in  March,  1905,  several  years  before  her  husband. 
They  had  the  following  family:  John,  bom  Oct.  22,  1857,  lives  on  the  old 
homestead  in  East  Union  township;  Isaac,  bom  July  28,  1862,  died  aged  forty 
years,  ten  months,  and  his  widow,  Emma  (Fritz),  lives  in  Tamaqua  (they 
had  children,  Robert,  Frank,  Irwin,  .Maurice,  Monroe,  Ralph,  Clarence,  Clara, 
deceased,  and  Cora)  ;  Hiram,  bom  June  7,  1865,  is  mentioned  below;  Joanna 
died  when  three  months  old;  Mary  Elizabeth,  bom  May  28,  1872,  married 
Harry  McQintock,  of  Muncy  Valley,  Sullivan  Co.,  Pa.,  and  has  children, 
Ezra,  Ruth,  Joanna,  Mar^ret,  Elias,  Mary,  Leah  and  Orpha. 

Hiram  Peifer  began  his  education  in  the  public  school  near  home,  attend- 
ing the  Peifer  school  (also  called  the  Lorah  school),  and  later  he  studied  at 
the  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  at  Kutztown,  Pa.  He  worked  for  his 
father  until  he  reached  his  majority,  on  the  farm  and  at  lumbering,  and  he 
has  since  been  lumbering  on  his  own  account,  at  present  owning  322  acres  of 
timber  land,  and  also  operating  a  leased  tract  of  450  acres  on  which  he  has 
the  timber  rights.  Mr.  Peifer  has  his  own  portable  sawmill,  with  a  daily 
capacity  of  five  thousand  feet,  and  all  the  other  facilities  for  tuming  out 
timber  expeditiously,  filling  orders  promptly.  He  deals  mostly  in  mine  timber, 
props,  ties,  etc.,  for  which  he  finds  a  steady  demand,  and  his  strict  adherence 
to  every  obligation  has  given  him  a  reputation  for  reliability  which  he  well 


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1134  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

deserves.  In  the  course  of  his  active  career  he  has  acquired  a  number  of 
important  interests,  the  property  he  has  accumulated  being  principally  in 
Hazleton  and  Sheppton,  his  home  town.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  People's 
Savings  &  Trust  Company  of  Hazleton,  and  in  the  Miners'  National  Bank  of 
West  Hazleton;  owns  a  block  of  houses  in  Hazleton;  and  a  block  of  houses 
and  three  lots  in  Sheppton.  Naturally  he  has  taken  a  keen  interest  in  the 
promotion  of  local  enterprises,  and  he  has  himself  contributed  much  to  the 
material  development  of  his  town  as  well  as  to  the  betterment  of  local 
living  and  social  conditions.  He  is  particularly  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
the  public  schools,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  school  director.  He 
was  formerly  district  assessor,  and  for  a  number  of  years  acted  as  election 
inspector.  Like  his  father  and  brother  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  work 
of  St.  John's  Reformed  Church  in  East  Union  township,  which  he  is  serving 
at  present  as  elder,  and  he  has  also  been  deacon  and  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school.  *  , 

Mr.  Peifer  married  Mary  Elizabeth  Borlace,  who  was  bom  Jan.  4,  1866, 
at  St.  Anestell,  Cornwall,  England,  on  the  estate  of  her  grandfather  Roberts, 
daughter  of  John  and  Sophia  (Roberts)  Borlace.  No  children  have  been 
bom  to  this  marriage. 

Mrs.  Peifer  was  between  four  and  five  years  old  when  she  came  to  America 
with  her  mother  and  eldest  brother,  landing  at  New  York,  where  they  were 
met  by  her  father,  who  had  come  to  this  country  previously.  They  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Mahanoy  City,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  from  there  to  Boston  Run, 
this  county,  where  they  remained  seven  years.  She  received  her  education 
in  the  schools  of  Boston  Run,  Mahanoy  City  and  Yates ville,  all  in  Schuylkill 
county.  The  family  eventually  settled  in  the  Catawissa  valley,  in  East  Union 
township.  Mrs.  Peifer  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage.  She  is  a 
member  of  St.  John's  Reformed  Church,  and  was  associated  with  its  activities 
while  living  in  that  neighborhood,  singing  in  the  choir  and  teaching  in  the 
Sunday  school.  She  now  attends  St.  James  Reformed  Church  at  Sheppton 
and  teaches  in  its  Sunday  school,  having  the  Ladies'  Bible  Qass. 

Charles  Borlace,  Mrs.  Peifer's  grandfather,  lived  in  Cornwall,  England, 
and  died  when  over  eighty  years  old.  He  was  a  porter  by  calling.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth  (Stevens),  who  also  lived  to  be  eighty,  was  well  versed  in  the 
Bible,  and  often  preached  sermons  in  her  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borlace 
are  buried  in  England.  They  had  the  following  children:  Mary  married  a 
Mr.  Trevail,  and  both  died  in  England:  John  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Peifer; 
William,  a  stone  carver,  is  living  in  New  Zealand;  Annie  died  unmarried, 
in  England. 

John  Borlace,  father  of  Mrs.  Peifer,  was  bom  March  9,  1838,  at  St.  Lees, 
Comwall,  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  country,  and  worked  as  a 
teamster  there.  He  traveled  considerably,  working  in  different  parts  of  the 
world,  before  his  family  joined  him  in  America,  where  he  was  in  Newfound- 
land, Canada,  and  Oil  City,  Pa.,  prior  to  their  arrival.  For  seven  years  he 
was  employed  as  a  miner  at  Boston  Run  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Com- 
pany, was  then  at  Mahanoy  City  in  the  same  emplpy,  and  subsequently  came 
to  East  Union  township,  where  he  rented  what  is  now  No.  3  farm  of  the 
Girard  Estate.  He  also  conducted  a  dairy,  mnning  a  milk  route  in  Shenan- 
doah, and  died  on  his  farm  Jan.  3,  1903. 

Mr.  Borlace  and  his  wife  were  Methodists,  and  he  united  with  the  First 
M.  E.  Church  at  Shenandoah.  He  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  at 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1135 

Yatesville,  and  usually  sang  in  the  choir,  having  a  fine  bass  voice.  Socially  he 
belonged  to  the  Order  of  the  Sons  of  St.  ueorge  at  Shenandoah,  and  in 
politics  he  united  with  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Borlace  married  Sophia  Roberts,  who  was  born  in  October,  1836,  at 
Pendlow,  England,  was  reared  and  educated  there,  and  died  June  8,  1891. 
She  and  her  husband  are  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  Tamaqua. 
Five  children  were  bom  to  them,  viz.:  William,  who  died  young;  Mary  E., 
wife  of  Hiram  Peifer;  John,  who  conducts  a  laimdry  at  Philadelphia  (he  mar- 
ried Sarah  George) ;  Charles,  of  Philadelphia,  who  is  a  conductor  on  the 
trolley  line  (he  married  Emma  Deebel)  ;  and  James,  who  died  young. 

William  Roberts,  father  of  Mrs.  Sophia  (Roberts)  Borlace,  spent  all  his 
life  in  England.  He  was  bom  on  an  inherited  estate,  and  >!ived  to  be  nearly 
eighty  years  old,  dying  at  Demelza,  the  home  of  his  daughter.  He  owned  tin 
mines  which  he  operated  and  was  a  good  business  man,  and  he  was  a  scholarly 
and  talented  gentleman  intellectually.  His  wife,  Mary,  whose  maiden  name 
was  also  Roberts,  died  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years,  and  they  are  buried  in 
Cornwall.  In  religion  they  were  Methodists,  and  active  in  church  work. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Sophia;  William,  who  died  in  California  (he 
married  Rebecca  Roberts)  ;  Sampson,  who  died  in  New  Zealand;  Mary,  who 
married  Frank  Hicks,  a  farm  owner  in  Comwall,  England;  Annie,  widow  of 
Thomas  Varcoe,  living  in  England ;  and  Mark,  who  died  in  New  Zealand. 

BENJAMIN  F.  PARROTT,  of  Shenandoah,  has  exercised  an  appreciable 
influence  among  his  fellow  citizens  there  for  more  than  a  score  of  years  in 
his  connection  with  the  Herald,  the  principal  newspaper  of  the  borough.  It 
was  the  first  paper  established  there,  and  has  maintained  its  leadership  through 
a  commendable  attitude  in  civic  affairs  which  has  held  the  support  of  the  com- 
munity. Since  he  became  a  member  of  the  Herald  Printing  Company  twenty- 
one  years  ago  he  has  been  business  manager  of  the  paper.  That  its  record 
is  one  of  constant  progress  may  be  set  down  to  his  credit,  as  may  also  the 
conspicuous  headway  he  has  made  in  his  own  career. 

Mr.  Parrott  was  born  at  Thomaston,  Cass  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  though  of  English  parentage  is  of  French  descent,  the  family  moving 
from  France  to  England  several  generations  ago.  John  H.  Parrott,  his 
father,  was  bom  at  Manchester,  England,  and  when  a  young  man  settled  at ; 
Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  employed  at  the  mines  there  and  at 
Thomaston,  first  as  a  miner,  later  as  outside  foreman  at  the  Thomaston,  Colo- 
rado and  Parker  No.  2  (at  Lost  Creek)  collieries,  in  turn — all  in  Schuylkill 
county.  He  retired  in  1883  and  moved  to  Shenandoah,  where  he  died  June  4, 
1889,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  He. was  a  man  of  domestic  tastes  and 
devoted  to  his  wife  and  home.  Socially  he  was  a  Mason,  a  charter  member 
of  Minersville  Lodge,  with  which  he  maintained  an  active  connection  through- 
out his  life.  Mr.  Parrott  was  married  at  Minersville  to  Mary  A.  Morgan, 
a  native  of  Delaware,  who  died  Nov.  19,  1899,  also  aged  fifty-six  years.  Her 
father,  Thomas  Morgan,  was  a  stonemason  by  calling.  Coming  to  Phila- 
delphia, he  worked  on  the  foundation  walls  under  what  is  now  a  department 
store  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Ninth  and  Market  streets.  Later  he  came 
to  Minersville,  and  subsequently  lived  at  the  nearby  town  of  Heckscherville, 
where  he  continued  to  follow  his  trade.  Eight  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Parrott,  the  first  two  dying  in  infancy.  Of  the  six  who  reached  matur- 
ity, Harry  J.,  a  cabinetmaker,  of  Philadelphia,  died  in  January,  1907 ;  he  was 


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1136  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

twice  married,  his  first  wife  Lidie  (Hoffman)  dying  when  her  only  child, 
Lidie,  was  six  weeks  old,  and  his  second  wife,  Ida  (Copeland),  of  Steuben- 
ville,  Ohio,  lives  in  Philadelphia  with  her  stepdaughter;  there  were  no  children 
by  the  second  marriage.  John  S.,  a  miner,  never  married,  and  died  Aug.  27, 
1888;  he  was  a  member  of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  Elizabeth  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Prof.  Elmer  Wilde,  of  Shenandoah,  a  teacher  of  music,  and  is  herself  not  only 
a  proficient  musician  but  also  a  dressmaker  and  designer  of  unusual  talent; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilde  have  one  child,  Bertram,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the 
Goodyear  Tire  Company  in  Scranton,  Pa.  Benjamin  F.  is  mentioned  below. 
Gertrude  and  Lulu  live  together  in  Philadelphia.  The  mother  was  a  devout 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  which  her  family  also  attended. 

Benjamin  F.  Parrott  was  bom  Sept.  25,  1870,  and  received  his  early  educa- 
tion at  Lost  Creek,  after  he  was  eight  years  old  working  at  the  breaker  as 
a  slate  picker  during  the  summer  season,  attending  school  in  the  winter  for 
the  next  two  years.  When  the  family  removed  to  Shenandoah  in  1883  ^^ 
found  work  as  a  laborer  and  slate  picker  at  the  Plank  Ridge  colliery,  belong- 
ing to  the  Reading  Coal  Company,  working  there  and  at  the  Kehley  Run 
colliery  until  the  fall  of  1884.  Then  he  became  a  printer's  apprentice  in  the 
office  of  the  Shenandoah  Herald,  imder  T.  J.  Foster  and  H.  C.  Boyer,* where 
he  served  four  years  while  learning  his  trade.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Wil- 
liamsport,  Pa.,  and  worked  on  the  Williamsport  Grit  one  year,  returning  to 
Shenandoah  and  taking  a  position  as  compositor  on  the  Herald,  where  he 
soon  became  foreman.  In  June,  1895,  the  office  was  again  destroyed  by  fire 
(it  had  burned  down  first  in  1883),  and  the  paper  was  printed  in  Pottsville 
for  two  months.  On  Aug.  ist  of  that  year  (1895)  the  present  firm,  known  as 
the  Herald  Printing  Company,  bought  the  paper,  its  members  being  T.  J. 
Davies,  C.  T.  Straughn  and  Benjamin  F.  Parrott.  The  Herald,  the  first  paper 
started  in  Shenandoah,  was  established  in  September,  1870,  by  Thomas  J. 
Foster  and  Henry  C.  Boyer,  and  had  a  successful  career  as  a  weekly  publi- 
cation until  1875,  when  a  daily  edition  was  undertaken.  The  first  number  of 
the  daily  appeared  Aug.  21,  1875,  as  the  Evening  Herald,  and  the  daily  was 
continued  until  Nov.  16,  1878.  The  weekly  edition  was  immediately  resumed, 
and  continued  until  1883,  when  the  entire  plant,  including  the  Mining  Herald, 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  A  daily,  in  addition  to  the  weekly  Herald,  was  again 
started  in  1888  by  Mr.  Boyer  and  J.  S.  Kirkwood,  the  latter  retiring  from 
the  business  in  1890.  For  some  time  afterwards  it  was  owned  and  pub- 
lished by  H.  C.  Boyer,  as  a  daily  and  weekly  Republican  pubUcation,  and 
the  ownership  since  1895  has  been  vested  in  the  Herald  Printing  Company. 
Daily  editions  are  still  issued. 

Mr.  Parrott  ha^  had  the  remarkable  record  of  having  never  .discharged 
an  employe  or  had  a  difficulty  with  one.  Being  a  practical  printer,  and  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  all  the  details  of  newspaper  publishing,  mechanical  as 
well  as  editorial,  a  linotype  operator  as  well  as  an  expert  hand  compositor,  he 
has  always  been  able  to  help  out  the  **boys"  in  the  shop  when  necessary,  and 
his  business  policy  has  been  unimpeachable.  He  has  other  traits  which  have 
contributed  to  his  popularity.  Having  worked  his  way  up,  he  has  a  keen 
appreciation  of  the  struggles  others  must  make  to  win  in  life,  and  he  has  the 
reputation  of  taking  a  delight  in  giving  aid  to  any  worthy  person  or  move- 
ment. There  is  every  indication  that  such  is  the  case.  He  has  the  greatest 
l)ossible  faith  in  the  power  of  the  press  and  believes  he  can  best  serve  his 
generation  through  this  medium,  and  the  high  ideals  towards  which  he  has 


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^SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1137 

striven  show  that  he  has  no  selfish  purpose  in  his  ambition.  Some  years  ago^ 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  assessor  from  the  Third  ward  for  a  three  years*' 
term,  at  the  end  of  which  he  was  reelected,  but  he  resigned  at  the  close  of  five 
years*  service  with  the  determination  to  quit  politics  forever.  He  had  been 
nominated  without  his  consent  and  was  elected  without  opposition,  but  he 
feels  that  he  will  be  more  valuable, to  the  community  without  the  limitations 
imposed  by  partisan  connections.  Mr.  Parrott  has  a  sincere  affection  for  the 
borough  of  his  adoption. and  the  many  friends  he  has  made  there.  Social  by 
nature,  he  holds  membership  in  Lodge  No.  945,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  of  Shenandoah; 
in  the  Shenandoah  lodge  of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose;  the  Devitt  Qub  of 
Shenandoah;  the  Shenandoah  Druid  Society;  Camp  No.  112,  P.  O.  S.  of  A., 
•and  the  Rescue  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  of  which  he  was  president  and 
trustee  for  a  number  of  years.  He  has  always  been  one  of  the  most  enthusias- 
tic members  of  the  latter  organization,  and  invariably  responds  to  a  fire 
alarm. 

In  June,  1901,  Mr.  Parrott  was  married  to  Corrine  Tempest,  who 
was  bom  at  Reevesdale,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Bridget 
(McCarthy)  Tempest,  whose  family  of  ten  children  are  all  yet  living,  viz.: 
Kate,  Mrs.  Charles  Haskins,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Mattie,  wife  of  George 
Seager,  of  New  York  City;  Hannah,  wife  of  Jesse  B.  Davis;  Lizzie,  wife 
of  Oiarles  L.  Fowler ;  Corrine,  Mrs.  Parrott ;  Thomas,  of  Coplay,  Pa. ;  Elmer, 
of  New  York  City;  Joseph,  William  and  John,  all  of  Shenandoah.  Thomas 
Tempest  was  a  hative  of  England,  whence  he  came  to  America  when  a  young 
man.  By  occupation  he  was  a  miner,  working  in  the  Pennsylvania  coal  fields. 
He  was  married  in  this  country  to  Bridget  McCarthy,  member  of  a  Catholic 
family. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parrott  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
she  holds  membership. 

JOHN  H.  RICHENDERFER,  of  North  Union  township,  is  one  of  the 
most  esteemed  residents  of  that  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  where  as  car- 
penter, farmer  and  miller  he  has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life.  The  successful 
outcome  of  his  business  enterprises  recommended  him  to  his  fellow  citizens 
for  public  responsibilities,  which  he  has  discharged  with  notable  efficiency, 
so  that  his  active  career  has  been  well  rounded  by  his  participation  in  all  the 
aflFairs  of  the  day  in  his  locality.  His  high  standards  and  substantial  char- 
acter have  made  his  influence  in  the  neighborhood  very  acceptable. 

The  Riche%lerfers  are  an  old  Pennsylvania  family.  Joseph  Richenderfer, 
grandfather  of  John  H.  Richenderfer,  lived  in  Columbia  county,  this  State, 
moving  thither  from  Berks  coimty,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His 
wife's  maiden  name  was  Freese,  and  their  children  were:  Joel,  Jacob,  John, 
Amos,  Jeremiah,  Susan,  Abigail  and  Mary.  The  parents  are  buried  in  Hem- 
lock township,  Columbia  county.  In  religion  they  adhered  to  the  faith  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church. 

Joel  Richenderfer,  son  of  Joseph,  was  bom  Aug.  18,  1818,  in  Berks  county, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  and  he  was  eighteen  years  old  before  he 
leamed  to  speak  English.  In  his  early  life  he  worked  among  farmers,  and 
afterwards  serving  an  apprenticeship  at  the  mason's  and  plasterer's  trades,  at 
which  he  was  engaged  for  about  thirty  years.  Buying  a  farm  of  about  fifty 
acres  in  Mount  Pleasant  township,  Columbia  county,  he  operated  it  in  con- 
nection with  work  at  his  trades,  retiring  from  both  agricultural  and  mechan- 

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1138  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA^ 

ical  pursuits  a  few  years  before  his  death  and  moving  to  MillviUe,  that  county, 
where  he  bought  a  house  and  lot  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying 
aged  seventy-three  years,  three  months.  He  always  took  an  interest  in  local 
politics  as  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  often  serving  on  the  election 
board.  His  religious  connection  was  with  the  Reformed  Oiurch.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Richenderfer  are  buried  at  Kitchen's  Church  in  Columbia  county.  He 
married  Susanna  Kline,  who  was  bom  in  June,  1826,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Kline  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Crawford ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kline 
were  natives  of  Columbia  county.  Children  as  follows  were  born  to  this 
marriage :  John  H. ;  Joseph,  who  is  married  and  living  in  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington; Harmon,  who  is  married  and  living  in  Nebraska;  Paul,  of  MillviUe, 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa.;  George  B.  McQellan,  who  died  unmarried;  Mary  Eliz-' 
abeth,  widow  of  John  Eck,  living  in  Colorado;  Catherine,  who  married  W. 
Pierce  White  and  resides  at  Almedia,  in  Columbia  county.  Pa. ;  Rebecca,  wife 
of  Frank  Herring,  of  Bloomsburg,  Pa.;  Sarah  Jane,  who  died  unmarried; 
and  Hannah  Etta,  wife  of  Albert  Haycock,  who  is  boss  painter  for  John 
Eves,  wagon  manufacturer,  of  MillviUe,  Pennsylvania. 

John  H.  Richenderfer  was  bom  Jan.  16,  1850,  in  Mount  Pleasant  township, 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  passed  his  early  life,  receiving  such  educa- 
tional advantages  as  the  locality  afforded.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the 
mason's  and  plasterer's  trades  with  Samuel  Jacoby,  and  later  learned  the  trade 
of  carpenter  with  Abraham  Dildine,  working  principally  at  the  latter,  which 
he  followed  for  over  forty  years.  Meantime  he  purchased  a  tract  of  forty 
acres  in  East  Union  township,  Schuylkill  county,  which  he  cultivated  while 
working  at  his  trades,  and  when  he  sold  that  place  bought  his  present  home 
farm  from  Richard  Faust,  having  190  acres  in  North  Union  township.  One 
hundred  acres  of  this  property  are  under  cultivation,  in  general  agriculture, 
the  farm  work  being  carried  on  by  the  two  sons  who  live  at  home.  The  large 
gristmill  which  stands  upon  the  place  Mr.  Richenderfer  himself  operates. 
He  also  owns  a  farm  in  Centre  township,  Coliunbia  county,  comprising  125 
acres,  all  of  which  is  cleared,  his  son  Henry  living  upcm  that  place  and  look- 
ing after  its  cultivation ;  Mr.  Richenderfer  purchased  it  from  William  Schaef- 
fer.  His  business  affairs  are  all  in  thriving  condition.  The  products  of  his 
home  farm  are  marketed  to  Shenandoah  and  Mahanoy  City. 

Mr.  Richenderfer  has  held  to  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
he  has  taken  a  good  citizen's  part  in  the  promotion  of  good  government. 
While  a  resident  of  East  Union  township  he  served  faithfully  as.  a  member 
of  the  schpol  board,  of  which  he  was  also  secretary.  He  has  also  acted  as 
election  inspector,  and  was  chosen  treasurer  of  his  township,  a  high  compliment 
to  both  his  ability  and  his  integrity.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow  in  fratemal  con- 
nection, belonging  to  Ringtown  Lodge,  No.  287.  With  his  family  he  attends 
the  Reformed  Church  at  Ringtown,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member. 

Mr.  Richenderfer  married  Hulda  Miller,  who  was  bom  in  1857  near 
Brandonville,  in  East  Union  township,  this  county,  where  she  received  her 
education.  She  lived  at  home  until  her  marriage.  The  following  children 
have  been  bom  to  this  union:  Henry  Joel,  bom  June  17,  1874,  who  operates 
his  father's  farm  in  Centre  township,  Columbia  county,  married  Belle  Levan ; 
Hattie  May,  bom  Sept.  26,  1879,  is  riferried  to  Harry  Hulshofer,  of  Brandon- 
ville,  Schuylkill  county,  and  has  children,  John,  Qaude,  Charles  and  Wallace ; 
Charles  Harm,  bom  Aug.  28,  1883,  who  lives  at  home,  assisting  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  farm,  married  Mabel  Singley,  and  they  have  one  child,  Sadie ;  Wil- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1139 

liam  Homer,  bom  March  14,  1886,  who  also  lives  at  home  on  the  farm,  mar- 
ried Estella  McCarty;  John  Franklin,  bom  Aug.  3,  1888,  now  of  Limeridge, 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  married  Edna  Wolford,  and  they  have  four  children, 
Robert,  Earl,  Qarence  and  Helen;  Lloyd  Edward,  bom  Aug.  4,  1890,  of 
Limeridge,  married  Carrie  Brenner,  and  they  have  two  children,  Florence  andT 
Hervey;  Sallie  Lucetta,  bom  Sept.  25,  1892,  is  the  wife  of  Lloyd  Van  Blara- 
zan,  of  Nuremberg,  Schuylkill  county,  and  has  one  child,  Emma;  Margaret 
Sula,  bom  Nov.  12,  1894,  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  Singley,  of  Zion  Grove,  this 
county,  and  has  one  child,  John;  Florence  Catharine,  born  Dec.  21,  1896,  is  at 
home. 

Mrs.  Richenderfer's  grandfather  Miller  was  a  farmer  in  East  Union  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  practically  all  his  life.  He  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Zimmerman,  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Nuremberg.  Their  son, 
Henry  Miller,  Mrs.  Richenderfer's  father,  was  bom  in  New  York  State, 
whither  the  family  had  removed  with  the  intention  of  settling.  But  as  they 
did  not  like  the  location  they  retumed  soon  to  East  Union  township,  where 
Henry  Miller  was  reared  and  educated.  He  followed  the  work  of  timber  saw- 
yer as  well  as  farming,  but  agriculture  was  always  his  principal  vocation,  and 
he  owned  the  sixty-acre  property  in  East  Union  township  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  Milton  Seltzer.  After  retiring  from  farming  he  lived  with  one  of 
his  grandchildren  until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  eighty-two  years 
old.  A  man  of  energetic  and  progressive  disposition,  he  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  township,  which  he  served  in  various  important 
offices,  being  township  treasurer  and  tax  collector.  He  was  an  ardent  Demo- 
crat and  interested  in  party  activities,  acting  as  judge  and  inspector  of  elec- 
tion. Church  work  also  claimed  much  of  his  attention,  for  he  was  a  zealous 
adherent  of  the  Reformed  faith  and  served  his  church  as  elder  and  deacon. 
Mr.  Miller  married  Sarah  Bittler,  who  Was  bom  in  East  Union  township, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Dager)  Bittler,  and  she  lived  to  be  over  eighty- 
two  years  old.  They  are  buried  at  the  Old  White  Church  near  Ringtown. 
Three  children  were  bom  to  this  marriage:  Lucetta,  who  married  John 
Hauck  (both  deceased)  ;  Joanna,  wife  of  Lawrence  Rumble,  of  Allentown, 
Pa. ;  and  Hulda,  wife  of  John  H.  Richenderfer. 

JOSEPH  GROSSKETTLER,  of  Shenandoah,  is  one  of  a  notable  group 
of  foreign-bom  residents  of  Schuylkill  county  whose  ppsperity  proves  that 
America  is  still  a  land  of  opportunity  to  men  of  resource  and  energy.  As  su- 
perintendent of  the  Home  Brewing  Company,  and  a  stockholder  in  that  con- 
cem,  he  is  associated  with  one  of  the  leading  industries  of  this  section  of  the 
county.  He  may  properly  be  called  a  self-made  man,  for  he  commenced  life 
without  means  or  influence,  worked  hard  until  he  accumulated  enough  to 
enable  him  to  start  in  business  on  his  own  account,  and  owes  his  present  good 
fortune  entirely  to  his  6wn  efforts. 

Mr.  Grosskettler  was  bom  Oct.  21,  1868,  at  Endorf,  near  Amsberg,  West- 
phalia, Germany,  son  of  Eberhardt  Grosskettler  and  grandson  of  Joseph 
Grosskettler.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Holtum,  near  Werl,  Westphalia, 
where  there  is  still  a  fort  which  was  built  at  the  time  of  the  Roman  conquest. 
He  was  a  country  gentleman,  owning  an  estate  of  two  hundred  acres  which 
had  been  in  the  family  for  many  generations,  and  there  he  spent  all  of  his 
long  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  His  wife  passed  away  when 
seventy-four  years  old,  and  is  buried  in  Holtum,  near  Werl,  Germany. 


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1140  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Eb^rhardt  Grosskettler,  father  of  Joseph  Grosskettler,  was  bom  at  Hol- 
tum,  near  Werl,  Westphalia,  received  his  education  in  the'  local  government 
schools,  and  served  a  thorough  apprenticeship  at  the  trades  of  machinist  and 
locksmith,  obtaining  certificates  which  entitled  him  to  work  as  a  journeyman, 
in  which  capacity  he  was  engaged  for  several  years.  He  saw  considerable 
service  in  the  Germany  army,  in  the  wars  waged  during  1864,  1866  and  1870, 
in  1864  acting  in  the  secret  service,  carrying  dispatches  through  the  picket  lines. 
On  one  occasion  during  that  war  he  traveled  for  forty-eight  hours  to  deliver 
a  message  to  one  of  the  colonels,  and  being  obliged  to  rest  on  the  ground  had 
his  hair  frozen  to  the  earth  as  he  slept,  which  caused  the  loss  of  nearly  all  his 
hair.  During  1866  he  served  as  a  corporal  in  the  cavalry.  In  1870  he  was 
orderly  to  a  doctor  on  the  medical  staff.  ' 

Mr.  Grosskettler  was  married  at  Endorf,  Westphalia,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  produce  business  at  that  place  until  he  brought  his  family  to 
America  in  i88r.  Locating  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Mr.  Gross- 
kettler found  employment  as  a  blacksmith  at  the  Plank  Ridge  colliery,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years.  Then  he  traveled  down  to  Alabama,  and  west- 
ward to  Franklin  county.  Mo.,  in  search  of  a  suitable  place  for  a  permanent 
home,  eventually  returning  to  Shenandoah,  where  he  bought  a  blacksmith  shop, 
at  the  comer  jof  Coal  street  and  Pear  alley,  where  he  was  established  in  busi- 
ness for  several  years.  He  lived  retired  for  some  time  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  April  23,  1901.  His  wife,  Anna  Maria  (Pott),  was  bom  at  Endorf, 
daughter  of  Anton  and  Theresa  (Beste)  Pott,  the  former  a  farmer  and  black- 
smith. Mrs.  Anna  Maria  Grosskettler  died  Oct.  7,  1912.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Grosskettler  were  born  children  as  follows:  Joseph;  Eberhard,  fireman  at 
the  Home  brewery,  who  married  Catherine  Frantz,  and  has*  one  child,  Theresa ; 
John,  assistant  brewmaster  at  the  Home  brewery,  who  married  Catherine  E. 
Schmidt  and  has  three  children,  Agnes  M.,  Gertmde  M.  and  Mary  J. ;  Anton, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years ;  Theresa,  who  is  the  wife  of  Eugene 
Fretz  and  has  one  child.  Marguerite  (Mr.  Fretz  is  State  agent  of  the  North- 
western Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  North  and  South  Dakota,  with 
headquarters  at  Grand  Forks,  N.  Dak.)  ;  and  Mary  Josephine,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Christian  Frantz,  one  of  the  foremen  at  the  Home  brewery,  and  has  chil- 
dren, Anna  M.,  Mary  Catherine,  Henry  G.  and  John  Eugene.  All  the  family 
belong  to  the  German  Catholic  Church  of  the  Holy  Family,  and  Mr.  Grossket- 
tler was  a  member  of  St.  Michael's  Society.    In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 

Joseph  Grosskettler  received  his  education  at  Endorf,  where  he  attended 
school  until  the  family  came-to  America,  when  he  was  thirteen  years  old.  En 
route  they  spent  four  days  in  Belgium  and  six  days  in  London,  landing  at  New 
York  Dec.  12,  1881,  and  arriving  at  Shenandoah,  Pa.,  Dec.  14th.  He  soon 
found  work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Shenandoah  City  colliery,  where  he  con- 
tinued for  four  months,  later  obtaining  employment  at  Ellangowan,  firing 
boilers,  where  he  remained  for  nine  months.  He  then  leamed  the  trade  of 
blacksmith  at  the  mines,  afterwards  serving  as  machinist,  mnning  an  engine, 
and  taking  care  of  the  machinery  for  five  years.  Then  he  went  into  business, 
conducting  a  saloon  on  Main  street,  Shenandoah,  for  a  period  of  five  years. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  stockholders  in  the  Home  Brewing  Company, 
which  in  company  with  Christian  Schmidt  and  a  few  others  he  organized  in 
the  year  1900.  The  foundation  for  their  brewery  was  started  Jan.  2d  of  that 
year,  and  when  it  was  completed  Mr.  Grosskettler  took  charge  of  the  opera- 
tion of  the  ice  plant,  also  serving  as  assistant  brewer  for  about  sixteen  months. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1141 

He  is  now  superintendent  of  the  whole  establishment,  which  is  (Mie  of  the 
most  important  business  places  in  the  borough,  and  its  increasing  prosper- 
ity may  be  attributed  largely  to  his  executive  ability.  In  March,  1910,  Mr. 
Grosskettler,  in  company  with  several  other  reputable  citizens,  founded  the 
Shenandoah  Building  &  Loan  Association,  of  which  he  became  a  director,  and 
later  vice  president,  and  is  now  president. 

Mr.  Grosskettler  married  Ida  Beck,  who  was  bom  Sept.  18,  1873,  in 
Shenandoah,  where  she  received  her  education  in  the  parochial  and  public 
schools.  Five  children  have  been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grosskettler:  Marie, 
bom  Nov.  29,  1898;  Joseph,  bom  Sept.  11,  1900;  Elizabeth,  bora  May  12, 
1903;  Christian,  bom  March  27,  1905;  and  Ida,  bom  Dec.  29,  1907.  They 
have  had  the  best  advantages  afforded  by  the  parochial  and  public  schools  of 
the  town.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grosskettler  and  their  family  are  members  of  the 
German  Catholic  Church  of  the  Holy  Family,  and  Mr.  Grosskettler  belongs 
to  the  Washington  Beneficial  Association  and  to  St.  Michael's  Society.  His 
political  allegiance  is  given  t6  the  Republican  party. 

Peter  Beck,  father  of  Mrs.  Grosskettler,  was  bom  Jan.  26,  1844,  in 
Cumbola,  Blythe  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  Sept.  4,  1903.  He 
was  a  butcher  by  trade,  and  followed  that  calling  for  a  while,  later  work- 
ing at  the  mines  and  conducting  a  grocery  store  in  Shenandoah.  He  lived 
retired  for  about  eight  years  before  his  death.  At  New  Philadelphia,  this 
county,  he  married  Magdalene  Bassler,  who  was  bom  July  12,  1847,  on  the 
farm  of  her  parents  at  Tumbling  Run.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Mary  Bassler,  natives  of  East  Bmnswick  township,  this  county.  Mrs. 
Beck  died  March  26,  1890,  and  is  buried  with  her  husband  in  the  cemetery 
of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  at  Shenandoah.  They  belonged  to  the 
Holy  Family  Catholic  Church,  and  Mr.  Beck  was  a  member  of  St.  Michael's 
Society  and  of  the  Washington  Beneficial  Association;  politically  he  was  a 
Democrat.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Ida,  Mrs.  Grosskettle/;  Caroline,  wife  of  Edward  Whalen,  a  mine  foreman 
at  Shenandoah  (they  have  no  children)  ;  Frederick,  a  traveling  salesman  for 
the  Home  brewery,  who  married  Annie  Melusky  and  lives  m  Shenandoah 
(they  have  no  children)  ;  Elizabeth,  who  graduated  from  the  Shenandoah 
high  school  and  subsequently  assisted  her  father  in  the  grocery  store,  dying- 
at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years ;  Christian,  a  cigarmaker  by  trade,  who  died 
when  twenty- four  years  old;  and  Amos,  who  makes  his  home  in  Seattle, 
Wash.,  and  who  is  engaged  as  conductor  on  a  dining-car. 

CHARLES  S.  KISTLER,  of  West  Penn  township,  holds  an  enviable 
place  in  the  regard  of  his  fellow  citizens.  In  twenty-six  years  of  contin- 
uous service  as  justice  of  the  peace  he  has  given  them  the  benefit  of  his  best 
abilities  and  good  judgment,  and  he  has  been  equally  faithful  jn  other  posi- 
tions of  trust,  in  his  business  and  church  relations  and  all  the  ntmierous 
responsibilities  for  which  he  has  been  chosen  by  his  associates.  The  confidence 
he  enjoys  is  their  expression  of  appreciation,  and  he  has  earned  it  by  his  sincere 
efforts  to  do  his  whole  duty  wherever  it  may  be.  Mr.  Kistler's  home  place  is 
one  of  the  finest  properties  in  West  Penn  township,  its  natural  value  en- 
hanced by  systematic  care.  A  very  successful  farmer,  he  has  now  practically 
given  up  his  active  connection  with  that  occupation. 

The  first  of  the  family  to  live  on  his  farm  was  his  grandfather,  Jonathan 
Kistler,  who  was  reared  there,  though  a  native  of  Berks  County  and  a  descend- 


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1142  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ant  of  one  of  its  early  settlers.  On  the  records  of  the  Jerusalem  Church  in 
Albany  township,  Berks  county,  known  in  the  eighteenth  century  as  the 
AUemangel  Church,  there  are  recorded  hundreds  of  baptisms  of  Kistler  chil- 
dren, while  in  the  cemetery  under  the  shadow  of  the  church  are  many  graves 
marked  with  the  same  name.  Near  the  center  of  the  oldest  part  of  the  ceme- 
tery lies  a  slate  stone  (which  is  now  being  replaced  by  the  descendants  with  a 
marble  slab)  bearing  the  inscription  "I.  G.  K.  1767."  This  is  supposed  to  be 
the  stone  that  marked  the  burial  place  of  the  progenitor  of  the  American  Kist- 
lers,  who  was  legally  known  as  Johannes,  but  was  called  Joerg  or  George  by 
Pastor  Schumacher  in  his  record  and  Hanjoerg  or  John  George,  by  his  neigh- 
bors. 

Johannes  Kistler  was  a  native  of  the  Palatinate,  in  Germany.  On  Oct.  5, 
1737,  he  came  in  the  ship  "Townshead''  from  Amsterdam  to  Philadelphia, 
and  soon  after  to  Falkner  Swamp,  or  Goshenhoppen,  in  what  is  now  Mont- 
gomery county,  Pa.  It  is  supposed  he  was  accompanied  by  his  wife,  Anna 
Dorothea,  and  his  oldest  children.  In  1747  he  took  out  a  warrant  for  land 
and  moved  to  Albany  township,  Berks  county,  where  he  made  his  permanent 
home,  although  the  territory  was  then  wild  and  barren.  The  vicinity  was 
named  "AUemangel"  or  "All  Wants."  Johannes  Kistler  was  taxed  in  1756  in 
Albany,  and  was  naturalized  in  1761,  on  Sept.  loth  of  which  year  he  and  his 
neighbor,  Michael  Brobst,  appeared  before  the  Supreme  court  in  Philadelphia, 
and  there  received  the  papers  that  made  them  citizens  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  a  Lutheran  and  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  elder  of  the  AUemangel 
Church,  where  his  children  were  baptized  and  confirmed.  His  children  were: 
(i)  Jacob  left  seven  children,  Philip,  Jacob,  Michael,  Solcwnon,  Daniel,  Cath- 
arine and  Magdalene.  Samuel  Kistler  Brobst,  a  teacher  of  James  A.  Gar- 
field, was  a  grandson  of  Philip;  and  so  was  Michael  Kistler,  the  tanner,  whose 
son  Stephen  was  at  one  time  the  most  extensive  tanner  in  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania. (2)  John  remained  on  the  homestead  after  his  father's  death.  The 
name  John  runs  through  at  least  five  generations,  and  the  trade  of  blacksmith 
follows  it.  John*s  children  were:  John  William,  bom  May  29,  1757;  and 
Abraham,  born  Dec.  20,  1761,  who  is  the  ancestor  of  the  Perry  county  Kistlers 
for  whom  Kistler  post  office  was  named.  A  descendant,  Rev.  Dr.  John  Kistler, 
•has  for  many  years  been  professor  at  the  oldest  Lutheran  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  America,  located  at  Hart  wick,  N.  J.  (3)  George  remained  in  Berks 
county.  In  1779  he  was  the  owner  of  248  acres  of  land  and  a  gristmill.  In 
1778  he  was  elected  elder  of  the  AUemangel  Church,  and  as  he  was  referred 
to  as  George  Kistler,  Sr.,  he  doubtless  had  a  son  George.  The  archives 
of  Pennsylvania  show  that  a  George  Kistler  served  in  the  Continental  army 
during  the  Revolution.  (4)  Philip,  bom  Oct.  19,  1745,  is  next  in  the  line  we 
are  tracing.  (5)  Michael  moved  to  Ohio,  and  is  the  ancestor  of  the  large 
Kistler  settlements  in  Indiana.  His  family  consisted  of  John,  Michael,  Joseph, 
Nathan,  Monroe,  Salome  and  Judith.  (6)  Samuel,  the  youngest  son  of  his 
father,  married  Elizabeth  Ladich  and  Catharine  Brobst,  and  had  three  chil- 
dren by  the  first  marriage  and  twelve  by  the  second.  (7)  Barbara  married 
(first)  a  Brobst  and  (second)  Michael  Mosser,  of  Lowhill.  (8)  Dorothea 
married  Michael  Reinhart.  (9)  Elizabeth  married  a  Mr.  Keller,  near  Ham- 
burg, Pennsylvania. 

Philip  Kistler,  son  of  John  George,  above,  was  bom  Oct.  19,  1745.  and' 
died  Aug.  28,  1809.    He  had  nine  children:    Jacob,  John,  Ferdinand,  Philip, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1143 

Jonathan,  Barbara,  Maria,  Catharine  and  Elizabeth.  Of  these,  Jacob  was  a 
lieutenant  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Jonathan  Kistler,  son  of  Philip,  was  born  Nov.  10,  1799,  in  Berks  county^ 
and  was  raised  on  the  place  where  his  grandson  Charles  S.  Kistler  now  lives. 
He  was  reared  by  Jacob  Wehr,  worked  among  farmers  while  young,  and 
after  he  was  married  started  out  for  himself.  In  1829  he  built  the  gristmill 
which  still  stands  and  is  still  known  as  the  Kistler  Mill.  He  also  became  the 
owner  of  about  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  a  great  deal  of  which  he  cleared, 
and  cultivated,  following  milling  and  farming  on  this  place  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  about  seventy-nine  years  of  age.  His  wife, 
Sarah  ( Shellhammer) ,  bom  Aug.  4,  1800,  a  daughter  of  Simon  and  Catherine 
(Long)  Shellhammer,  died  aged  eighty-one  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  children  as  follows:  Polly  married  Michael  Houser;  Rebecca  married 
Jacob  Wertman;  Hannah  married  Joseph  Shaeffer;  Daniel  married  Rebecca 
Sechler;  David,  who  resides  in  West  Penn  township,  married  Mary  Hagen- 
buch,  now  deceased ;  John  married  Carolina  and  Cordelia  Hagenbuch,  sisters ; 
William,  who  was  a  school  teacher,  never  married;  Nathan  never  married; 
Jonathan  K.  married  Lydia  Shellhammer ;  Elizabeth  married  Timothy  Zehner. 
The  father  retired  some  years  before  his  death.  He  took  an  active  part  in 
local  politics  as  a  member  of  the  I>emocratic  party,  and  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  forty-four  years,  and  a  leader  in  Zion*s  Lutheran  Church,  in  West 
Penn  township,  serving  as  elder,  deacon  ^nd  trustee.  He  and  his  wife  are 
buried  at  that  church. 

Jonathan  K.  Kistler  was  bom  June  18,  1834,  in  West  Penn  township, 
Was  educated  in  the  district  schools  there,  and  assisted  his  father  on.  the  farm 
and  in  the  mill.  After  his  marriage  he  bought  the  mill  and  farm  of  his 
father  and  stayed  there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Before  his  marriage  he 
served  in  the  Union  army,  enlisting  in  August,  1862,  in  Company  D,  173d 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  enrolled  at  Harrisburg  for  nine 
months,  assigned  to  guard  duty  and  reserve  work,  and  discharged  at  Harris- 
burg in  1863,  retuming  home.  Though  he  supported  the  Union  he  was  a 
Democrat  in  political  opinion,  and  in  religion  a  Lutheran,  belonging  to  Zion's 
Church  in  West  Penn  township  and  assisting  faithfully  in  all  its  work.  He 
was  elder  and  deacon  of  the  church,  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school. 
He  is  buried  at  Zion's  Church. 

On  Jan.  24,  1864.  Mr.  Kistler  was  married,  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Bower,  at  Lehigh- 
ton.  Pa.,  to  Lydia  Shellhammer,  bom  Aug.  16,  1842,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  (Houser)  Shellhammer.  Charles  S.  is  the  eldest  of  the  children 
born  to  this  union,  the  others  being:  Kate  A.,  bom  Sept.  13,  1866,  married 
Alfred  Steigerwalt,  who  is  a  merchant  at  Snyders,  this  county,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Oscar  Elmer,  Stella  Irene  and  Clarence  Albert;  Jonathan  S., 
bom  July  24,  1868,  married  Ida  A.  Behler,  and  they  reside  in  Mahoning  Val- 
ley, in  West  Penn  township  (their  children  are  Claud  and  Vema)  ;  Sarah, 
bom  Dec.  4,  1869,  married  Frank  Zettlemoyer,  a  farmer  of  West  Penn  town- 
ship, and  has  three  children,  David,  Kate  A.  and  Mary  Lydia ;  David  S.,  bom 
June  23,  1871.  now  a  building  contractor  in  Weatherly,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  mar- 
ried Emma  Sittler,  and  their  three  children  are  Jennie,  Helen  and  Mildred; 
Mary,  bom  Sept.  21,  1873,  is  living  with  her  mother  on  the  homestead  farm 
(she  has  one  child,  Qara)  ;  Lizzie  J.,  bom  March  i,  1875,  married  Aaron 
Ruch,  a  farmer  on  the  homestead  place  in  West  Penn  township,  and  has  five 
children,  Elsie  Eva,  Charles  Henry,  Elmer  Jonas,  Beatrice  May  and  Helen 


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1144  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Dorothy;  Rev.  Jacob  S.,  bom  Feb.  15,  1877,  now  pastor  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  East  Stroudsburg,  Pa.,  married  Lula  Sittler  and  has  one  child, 
Louise  Elizabeth;  William  S.,  bom  Feb.  26,  1881,  a  mail  clerk  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  married  Carrie  Balliet  and  has  two  children,  Gwendolyn  and  Marion; 
Ellen,  bom  April  18,  1883,  married  Leon  Walter,  who  is  employed  as  a  tele- 
graph operator  in  Philadelphia,  and  they  have  one  child,  Lester  Kistler; 
Agnes,  bom  Dec.  31,  1884,  married  Ralph  Rubrecht,  who  is  employed  in  the 
freight  office  at  Allentown;  Pa.,  and  has  one  child,  Paul  William ;  Lydia,  bom 
May  4,  1879,  died  when  nine  months  old ;  another  child  died  young. 

Charles  S.  Kistler,  son  of  Jonathan  K.  Kistler,  was  bom  April  12,  1865, 
in  West  Penn  township,  where  he  was  reared  and  worked  with  his  father  in 
the  mill  imtil  1896,  after  which  he  married  and  settled  at  his  present  place, 
then  the  property  of  his  father-in-law,  John  M.  Kistler,  from  whom  he  bought 
it.  It  consists  of  143  acres,  about  one  hundred  acres  cleared.  Mr.  Kistler 
has  since  become  the  owner  of  several  smaller  tracts  also,  as  well  as  a  lime 
quarry  and  a  timber  plot,  at  Kepner.  He  has  seventeen  acres  devoted  to 
orchards  and  still  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  fruit,  though  he  has  rented  his 
farm  to  Ivan  Correll  and  is  now  living  practically  retired.  He  erected  new 
buildings  on  the  Kistler  farms  and  made  numerous  other  improvements.  One 
of  the  oldest  buildings  in  the  county  is  located  on  his  property,  a  stone  dwell- 
ing house  built  by  Tobias  Ware  in  1749.  This  building  has  been  kept  in  a  fine 
state  of  preservation  to  the  present  time^  and  is  quite  a  landmark  in  the 
county. 

In  politics  Mr.  Kistler  has  always  supported  the  Democratic  party.  He 
has  been  chosen  to  several  pffices,  having  served  five  years  as  deputy  coroner, 
was  district  assessor  for  a  time,  and  in  1890  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
an  office  he  has  been  filling  with  credit  to  the  present  time.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  influential  men  in  West  Penn  township.  Like  his  father  and  grandfather 
he  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  Zion's  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  has 
served  the  congregation  as  deacon  and  secretary;  he  was  superintendent  of 
Sassaman's  Sunday  school  for  eighteen  years,  and  was  one  of  its  organizers. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  Emmanuel  United  Evangelical  Church. 

Mr.  Kistler  married  Sarah  Alice  Kistler,  who  was  bom  March  6,  i860, 
on  the  place  they  are  now  occupying.  They  have  no  children.  She  was 
educated  in  West  Penn  township  and  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage. 

Samuel  Kistler  and  his  wife,  great-grandparents  of  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Kist- 
ler, are  buried  at  the  Jerusalem  Church,  in  Berks  county.  Pa.  He  was 
another  son  of  John  George  Kistler,  above,  bom  Sept.  20,  1754,  and  died 
April  24,  1822.  He  was  an  extensive  landowner.  In  1803  he  built  a  very 
substantial  stone  mansion  in  Kistler's  valley,  which  remained  his  home  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  which  has  until  recently  been  the  property  of  his 
descendants.  He  built  the  Kistler  mill  near  Tripoli.  For  many  years  he  wai 
an  elder  of  the  Jerusalem  Church,  and  it  was  while  he  held  that  office  that" 
the  present  house  of  worship  was  erected,  1812-14.  All  these  buildings, 
erected  about  a  century  ago,  stand  as  firmly  to-day  as  though  they  had  been 
built  in  recent  years.  Samuel  Kistler  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife, 
Elizabeth  Ladich,  bore  him  three  children,  and  his  second,  Catharine  Brobst, 
twelve.  These  were:  Barbara  married  Henry  Sunday,  and  is  buried  at 
Dunkel's  Church;  Jacob  S.  (father  of  Samuel  J.,  who  was  a  delegate  to  the 
national  convention  which  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  presidency) 
is  buried  at  the  Jerusalem  Church ;  Samuel  is  buried  at  New  Tripoli  Church ; 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1145 

John  S.  is  buried  at  Jerusalem  Church;  Michael  died  in  Ohio;  Christian  is 
buried  at  New  Tripoli ;  Daniel  and  David  both  died  in  West  Penn,  Schuyl- 
kill county;  Jesse  died  in  Ohio;  Levi  is  buried  at  Jacob's  Church,  Jackson- 
ville, Pa.;  Charies  is  buried  at  Newton  Falls,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio;  Maria 
Elizabeth  married  Jacob  Snyder,  and  died  in  Ohio;  Catharine  married  George 
Weida,  and  died  in  Lowhill;  Salome  married  Jacob  Mosser,  the  tanner,  and 
died  in  AUentown;  and  Magdalene  married  Solomon  Mosser,  and  is  prob- 
ably buried  at  Lynnville:  The  descendants  of  Samuel  Kistler  are  scattered 
all  over  the  United  States.  Many  of  them  have  become  successful  business 
and  professional  men.  An  unusually  large  number  are  physicians  and  min- 
isters of  the  Gospel. 

Daniel  Kistler,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Kistler,  was  bom  in 
Lynn  township,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  21,  1800,  and  died  in  Schuylkill  county 
June  28,  1866.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  Lehigh  county,  and  married 
there.  He  and  his  brother  Christian  were  in  partnership  at  New  Tripoli, 
Lehigh  county,  until  the  fall  of  1829,  when  he  moved  to  Lizard  Creek  valley, 
in  West  Penn  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  bought  the  g^stmill  situated 
some  distance  from  the  present  home  of  Squire  Kistler.  He  operated  tne 
mill  until  his  eldest  son  married,  when  he  gave  him  the  ^lill  and  came  to  the 
place  where  Squire  Kistler  now  lives,  buying  the  old  hotel  property  there 
from  David  Sechler,  and  also  the  farm  adjoining  it.  He  operated  that  place, 
until  his  son  John  M.  was  married,  when  he  sold  it  to  him  and  built  him- 
self the  new  hotel  across  the  way,  living  there  and  conducting  that  place 
until  his  youngest  son  was  married.  Then  he  sold  him  the  hotel  and  built  a 
brick  house  close  by,  to  which  he  moved  and  lived  retired.  His  death  oc- 
curred there*  By  his  marriage  to  Magdalena  Moser,  bom  July  12,  1804,  died 
April  I,  1861,  he  had  children  as  follows:  Charles  married  Elizabeth  Peters; 
Daniel  married  Catherine  Whetstone;  John  M.  married  Mary  Moser;  David 
married  Mary  Mantz ;  Noah  married  Sarah  •  Moser ;  Hettie  married  David 
Zehner;  Fianna  married  Rev.  Daniel  Yingst;  Kate  married  Rev.  Benjamin 
Bohner.  Mr.  Kistler  became  a  Republican  in  political  faith.  In  religion  he 
was  first  a /Lutheran,  but  later  became  a  member  of  the  United  Evangelical 
Church.    He  and  his  wife  are  buried  at  that  church  in  West  Penn  township. 

John  M.  Kistler,  father  of  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Kistler,  was  bom  at  Kistlei^s 
mill,  in  Lizard  Creek  valley.  West  Penn  township,  and  assisted  his  father 
in  the  mill  and  on  the  farm  until  he  was  married,  when  he  bought  the  place 
where  Squire  Kistler  lives  from  his  father.  He  farmed  there  very  success- 
fully, and  in  time  owned  four  farms,  aggregating  about  five  hundred  acres. 
In  connection  with  his  agricultural  operations  he  carried  produce  to  the 
towns  of  Tamaqua,  Summit  Hill  and  Lansford. 

Mr.  Kistler  married  Mary  Moser,  who  was  bom  Aug.  20,  1829,  and  died 
July  6,  1907,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susanna  (Peter)  Moser,  and  children 
as  follows  were  bom  to  them:  Mary  Emma  Alice,  Louisa  and  Owen  died 
yoimg;  Wilson  Alfred,  of  West  Penn  township,  married  Savannah  Sittler, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Jennie  L. ;  Sarah  Alice  is  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Kistler; 
Ada  Moser  is  unmarried  and  resides  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Kistler; 
John  Wesley,  of  West  Penn  township,  married  Savina  Gerber,  and  their 
children  are  Geoi^e  C.  and  Hattie ;  Dr.  Grant  Moser,  now  settled  at  Lansford, 
Pa.,  married  Rosie  Heintzleman,  and  they  have  three  children,  Mary  Grace, 
Helen  Carolina  and  John  Qayton ;  Jennie  died  when  three  years  old ;  Edward 


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1146  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Daniel,  who  was  killed  in  a  hunting  accident  when  but  twenty-one  years  old, 
married  Clara  Behler,  and  they  had  two  children,  Mary  Sabina  and  Alice. 

Though  not  directly  active  in  public  affairs  Mr.  Kistler  did  his  duty  as 
a  good  citizen.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  in  religious  connection  a 
member  of  Emmanuel  United  Evangelical  Church  in  West  Penn  township, 
in  whose  interests  he  labored  zealously.  He  held  all  the  offices  in  the  church, 
gave  the  land  on  which  the  present  house  of  worship  stands,  was  a  member  of 
the  building  committee  and  contributed  generously  towards  the  work.  The 
church  is  situated  close  to  the  residence  of  Squire  Kistler.  John  M.  Kistler 
and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  church-)rard. 

JAMES  J.  FRANEY,  late  of  Shenandoah,  was  one  of  the  forceful  men 
of  his  generation,  and  by  his  achievements  in  the  development  of  business 
and  public  projects  in  the  borough  was  entitled  to  a  place  among  its  fore- 
most citizens.  The  family  has  been  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  place 
for  half  a  century.  Inheriting  mental  qualities  of  a  high  order,  he  developed 
marked  ability  tn  the  prosecution  of  his  own  affairs,  and  proved  a  worthy 
successor  to  his  father,  Martin  Franey,  who  in  his  day  was  considered  one 
of  the  most  valuable  residents  of  the  growing  town. 

Martin  Franey  was  a  native  of  Queen's  County,  Ireland,  bom  in  1814, 
and  continued  to  live  there  until  some  years  after  his  marriage.  His  wife, 
Ellen  (Lawlor),  was  alsp  bom  in  Queen's  County,  where  they  were  married 
in  1835.  They  came  to  America  in  1847,  locating  first  at  Heckscherville,  in 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and  removing  thence  to  Shenandoah  in  1863.  The 
father  followed  mining  for  a  number  of  years,  in  the  winter  of  1867-68  form- 
ing a  partnership  with  his  son  James,  under  the  firm  name  of  M.  Franey  & 
Son,  and  opening  a  livery  business  at  Shenandoah.  In  1871  they  added  the 
fui:niture  business  and  undertaking  to  their  original  enterprise.  It  is  notable 
that  the  business  then  founded  has  continued  to  be  one  of  the  most  important 
in  the  borough.  Some  years  ago  James  J.  Franey  took  his  son  James  into 
partnership,  under  the  name  of  James  J.  Franey  &  Son,  and  they  not  only 
came  to  occupy  a  place  as  leaders  in  their  own  line  in  this  part  of  the  State, 
but  ranked  with  the  principal  firms  in  any  line  in  the  borough.  Martin 
Franey  was  a  man  of  fine  mind  and  good  principles,  and  from  the  time  of  his 
settlement  in  Shenandoah  held  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  townsmen. 
At  the  first  borough  election,  held  in  the  spring  of  1866,  he  was  chosen  a  mem- 
ber of  the  council,  and  he  gained  the  respect  of  his  associates  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life.  He  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Mahanoy  City  Catholic  Church 
until  the  organization  at  Shenandoah  of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  of 
which  they  were  charter  members.  They  had  seven  children  who  reached 
maturity:  Mary  married  Michael  O'Hara,  an  undertaker,  and  both  are  now 
deceased;  Margaret  married  John  Higgins,  of  Tamaqua,  a  shoe  merchant: 
James  J.  is  next  in  the  family;  Kate  married  Peter  Green,  a  carpenter,  of 
Shenandoah;  Ellen  married  James  Brennan,  a  miner,  of  Shenandoah;  Julia 
married  John  J.  Bradigan,  superintendent  of  mines  for  the  Reading  Coal 
Company,  and  resided  in  Shenandoah ;  Bridget  was  married  in  1876  to  Michael 
D.  Malone,  a  brewer,  of  Shenandoah,  and  had  seven  children,  Daniel  F.  (who 
succeeded  his  father  in  the  brewing  business),  Nellie  L.,  Martin  J.  (a  brewer). 
Tames  A.  (also  a  trewer),  Mary  A.,  John  L.  and  Charles  F.  Micliael  D. 
Malone  was  a  lifelong  resident  of  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  bom  in  Blythe  town- 
ship June  15,   1852.     He  followed  mining  until  twenty  years  of  age,  then 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1147 

engaged  in  house  building  for  several  years,  and  in  1872  located  in  Shenan- 
doah, where  in  1878  he  opened  a  hat,  cap  and  fur  store  at  No.  34  Main 
street. 

James  J.  Franey  was  bom  March  1,  1847,  i"  Queen's  County,  Ireland, 
and  was  less  than  a  year  old  when  the  family  came  to  the  United  States.  His 
early  years  were  spent  at  Heckscherville,  Schuylkill  county,  whence  the  fam- 
ily moved  to  Shenandoah  in  the  year  1863.  His  first  work  was  at  the  mines, 
picking  slate  and  driving  mules.  In  1867  he  entered  the  Williamsport  (Pa.) 
commercial  school,  from  which  he  received  a  diploma  that  year.  In  time  he 
entered  the  livery  business  with  his  father,  and  thereafter  until  his  death  was 
active  in  all  that  pertained  to  the  advancement  of  the  borough,  whether  in 
commercial  or  public  matters,  having  a  reputation  for  initiative  and  executive 
ability  which  meant  success  for  anything  in  which  he  became  interested.  He 
passed  away  Aug.  22,  191 3.  Mr.  Franey  exhibited  many  of  the  strong  char- 
acteristics of  an  energetic  race,  for  which  various  members  of  the  family  have 
been  noted.  His  grand-uncle,  Richard  Lawlor  Shields,  was  a  noted  man  in 
Ireland  in  his  time,  famous  for  his  eloquence  and  intellectual  gifts.  Mr. 
Franey  was  a  great  reader,  especially  fond  of  history,  and  possessed  a  re- 
markable memory  for  names  and  dates. 

On  Feb.  ro,  1880,  Mr.  Franey  married  Bridget  Ferguson,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Anna  (Christopher)  Ferguson,  and  like  himself  member  of  a 
family  of  leading  worth  in  Shenandoah.  The  following  children  were  bom  to 
this  marriage:  Martin  J.,  bom  Dec.  27,  1880,  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
and  moving  picture  business  in  Shenandoah;  he  married  Georganna  Mac- 
Williams,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  they  have  two  children,  Augusta  and 
Georganna.  Martha  V.,  bom  Oct.  6,  1882,  was  married  April  19,  1913,  to 
Ulysses  G.  Vogan,  an  attorney,  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  with  office  in  the  First 
National  Bank  building;  they  have  one  son,  James  Franey  Vogan.  Ella  M., 
bom  Sept.  30,  1884,  married  April  5,.  191 5,  Dr.  John  C.  Gallagher,  and  resides 
in  Shenandoah.  Fergus  Franey,  bom  Dec.  14,  1885,  died  March  20,  1906. 
Irene  M.,  bom  Aug.  4,  1887,  graduated  from  the  Bloomsburg  (Pa.)  State 
Normal  School  and  spent  two  years  in  study  at  the  Pittsburgh  College  for 
Women;  she  is  now  residing  at  home.  James  J.,  bom  Jan.  11,  1890,  is 
engaged  in  the  undertaking  business  at  Shenandoah  as  his  father^s  successor; 
he  is  unmarried  and  resides  with  his  mother.  Marie  died  when  thrfee  months 
old.  Agnes  C,  bom  Feb.  28,  1894,  resides  at  home;  she  was  educated  at  the 
Shenandoah  schools  and  the  Convent  of  Mercy  at  Merion,  Pa.,  where  she 
spent  four  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Franey  were  married  by  Rev.  Henry  O'Reilly,  and  all  their 
children  were  christened  by  him.  The  family  are  all  members  of  the  Church 
of  the  Annunciation. 

REV.  LEMUEL  B.  NORTON,  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation 
at  Shenandoah,  has  been  stationed  in  Schuylkill  county  for  almost  twenty 
years.  His  record  is  one  of  busy  devotion  to  building  up  the  parishes  in  his 
charge,  labors  made  doubly  effective  by  his  acquirements  as  a  linguist.  Father 
Norton's  literary  tastes  and  historical  leaming  have  also  brought  him  reputa- 
tion. He  is  a  native  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  born  Jan.  31,  1867,  at 
what  is  now  known  as  George's  Hill,  Fairmont  Park.  His  matemal  grrand- 
father  had  a  farm  there  at  the  time  of  his  birth.  His  patemal  grandfather, 
Nathan  F.  Norton,  was  bom  in  Philadelphia,  of  English  ancestry,  and  died 


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1148  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

at  the  age  of  ninety  years  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  made  his  home  dur- 
ing the  last  twenty  years  of  his  Hfe.  He  is  buried  there.  By  trade  he  was  a 
carpenter.  His  religious  connection  was  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  married  Margaret  White,  daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Margaret  (Earle) 
White,  the  former  a  professor  of  elocution  who  taught  many  successful  actors 
of  his  day. 

Lemuel  B.  Norton,  son  of  Nathan  F.  and  Margaret  (White)  Norton, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1839,  and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  there,  graduating  from  the  Central  high  school.  He  was  but  twelve 
years  old  when  his  father  removed  to  Memphis,  and  thereafter  lived  with 
his  uncle,  Mr.  Behring,  who  brought  him  up.  He  became  a  civil  engineer,  and 
he  was  doing  railroad  work  in  that  capacity  in  Wayne  county,  Pa.,  when  the 
Civil  war  broke  out,  which  accounts  for  the  circumstance  that  he  enlisted 
from  Wayne  county  as  a  Union  volunteer  in  April,  1861,  becoming  a  first  ser- 
geant in  the  loth  Pennsylvania  Reserves.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  long 
and  honorable  service  in  the  United  States  army.  In  June,  1861,  he  became  a 
first  lieutenant  in  the  loth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers;  was  detailed  for  signal 
duty  the  following  August,  and  from  September  until  December  of  that 
year  was  instructor  of  officers  in  signal  duty  at  the  Signal  Camp  of  Instruc- 
tion, Georgetown,  D.  C.  During  the  Peninsular  campaign  he  was  acting 
assistant  quartermaster,  acting  ordnance  officer  and  acting  signal  officer,  U. 
S.  Signal  Corps,  and  was  engaged  at  the  battles  of  Hanover  Court  House  and 
Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  being  awarded  by  Congress  a  set  of  signal  battleflags  for 
his  services  at  these  battles.  He  was  also  acting  signal  officer  at  the  battle  of ' 
Fredericksburg.  In  March,.  1863,  he  became  a  captain  in  the  United  States 
Signal  Corps;  in  May,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  loth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers ;  was  chief  signal  officer  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
from  July,  1863,  to  April,  1864,  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the 
operations  at  Mine  Run,  and  the  actions  at  Rappahannock  Station  and  Bristoe 
Station,  Va. ;  was  chief  signal  officer  of  the  Department  of  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina  from  May  to  September,  1864;  was  engaged  with  the  Army  of 
the  James  at  the  action  of  Proctor's  Creek,  and  the  siege  of  Petersburg  and 
Richmond,  Va. ;  chief  signal  officer.  Department  of  the  Susquehanna,  with 
headquarters  at  Greencastle,  Pa.,  to  November,  1864;  chief  signal  officer. 
Department  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  in  charge  of  Signal  opera- 
tions in  front  of  Richmond,  Va.,  to  April,  1865. 

Captain  Norton  was  discharged  from  the  volunteer  service  at  Harrisburg, 
and  immediately  entered  the  regular  army  as  property  and  disbursing  officer 
of  the  signal  bureau  at  Washington,  D.  C,  until  May,  1867.  Thereafter 
until  1870  he  was  acting  signal  officer  and  property  and  disbursing  officer  in 
the  office  of  the  chief  signal  officer  of  the  United  States  re^lar  army.  He  was 
bre vetted  major  in  the  United  States  Volunteers  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  chief  signal  officer,  and  for 
faithful  and  meritorious  services  during  the  Civil  war;  brevetted  lieutenant 
colonel,  United  States  Volunteers,  for  faithful  and  meritorious  services  in  the 
campaigns  against  Richmond,  Va. ;  promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  30th  United 
States  Infantry,  1866;  first  lieutenant,  30th  United  States  Infantry,  September, 
1868;  brevet  first  lieutenant,  United  States  Army,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg;  brevet  captain.  United  States  Army,  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  during  the  war;  brevet  major,  United  States 
Army,  for  meritorious  services  in  the  signal  corps  during  the  war,  especially 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1149 

whHe  chief  signal  officer  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  Department  of  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina,  and  Department  of  the  Susquehanna. 

Because  of  illness  Mr.  Norton  was  granted  leave  of  absence,  during  which 
he  acted  as  inspector  of  the  United  States  weather  stations  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  from  Maryland  to  Maine.  He  returned  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  died 
Dec.  23,  1871,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-two.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Holy 
Family  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Philadelphia  (now  the  Church  of  the  Gesu), 
and  is  buried  in  the  Old  Cathedral  cemetery  in  that  city.  By  his  marriage 
to  Mary  R.  Doherty  he  had  two  children :  Lemuel  B.  and  Mary  R.,  the  latter 
deceased. 

'  Mrs.  Mary  R.  (Doherty)  Norton  was  bom  in  February,  1841,  in  Philadel- 
phia, where  she  was  reared  and  educated,  and  died  in  1896.  Her  father,  Wil- 
liam Doherty,  was  a  tiative  of  Strabane,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  bom  in  1807, 
and  was  about  sixteen  years  old  when  he  came  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife,  Catherine  (Fliegel),  daughter  of  William 
and  Catherine  Fliegel,  was  of  Pmssian  ancestry.  She  died  in  1898,  when  over 
eighty  years  old,  and  is  buried  with  Mr.  Doherty  at  Philadelphia. 

Lemuel  B.  Norton  was  brought  up  in  Philadelphia.  He  accompanied  his 
father  on  the  latter's  inspection  tour  of  United  States  weather  stations.  His 
early  education  was  obtained  in  the  parochial  schools,  and  later  he  took  a  course 
at  LaSalle  College,  a  celebrated  Catholic  institution  of  Philadelphia,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1883  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.  He  received  his 
master's  degree  a  few  years  later.  He  took  his  theological  course  at  the  St. 
Charles  Borromeo  Seminary,  Overbrook,  Philadelphia,  graduating  in  1890, 
in  which  year  he  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  by  Archbishop  Ryan,  in 
Philadelphia.  He  studied  one  year  at  the  Catholic  University  of  America, 
Washington,  D.  C,  joining  the  second-year  class,  and  received  the  degree  of 
S.  T.  B.  .there  in  1891.  For  five  years  Father  Norton  was  connected  with 
St.  Agatha's  Church,  was  a  curate  under  Rev.  Daniel  O'Connor  (uncle  of 
Daniel  Ferguson),  in  West  Philadelphia,  where  he  had  been  appointed  assist- 
ant pastor  in  1891,  and  in  July,  1896,  he  was  sent  to  St.  Mary's  parish.  Coal- 
dale,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  pastor  for  eleven  years.  During  that 
time  there  was  a  notable  growth  in  the  membership,  which  showed  an  increase 
of  two  hundred,  being  seventeen  hundred  when  he  turned  the  charge  over  to 
his  successor.  The  fine  parish  house  he  erected  the  year  of  his  arrival,  at  a 
cost  of  three  thousand  dollars,  and  he  administered  the  temporal  aflFairs  of 
the  church  so  wisely  that  the  church  property  was  cleared  of  indebtedness  while 
he  was  pastor.  For  a  year  after  leaving  St.  Mary's  he  was  at  St.  Joseph's 
Church,  Summit  Hill,  Qirbon  county,  in  December,  1908,  coming  to  Shenan- 
doah to  assume  his  duties  at  the  Church  of  the' Annunciation.  His  work  here 
has  been  particularly  successful,  many  new  names  having  been  added  to  the 
membership  through  his  influence,  and  the  aflFairs  of  the  parish  have  received 
a  wholesome  impetus  which  has  stimulated  all  the  church  enterprises.  The 
new  church  and  priest's  residence  have  been  erected  since  he  came,  and  his 
capable  management  has  been  specially  valuable  in  the  development  of  his 
present  charge,  which  has  responded  to  his  eflForts  in  a  gratifying  degree. 

Father  Norton  has  had  the  esteem  and  good  wishes  of  the  entire  commu- 
nity wherever  his  work  has  called  him,  his  efforts  being  appreciated  outside  of 
his  parish  as  well  as  among  his  own  people.  The  hearty  participation  of  his 
parishioners,  new  and  old,  when  he  celebrated  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary 
of  his  ordination  in  May.  191 5,  showed  how  well  beloved  and  popular  he  is. 


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1150  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

He  is  a  member  of  Shenandoah  Council,  Knights  of  Columbus.  Father  Nor- 
ton is  particularly  well  versed  in  history  and  the  languages,  being  able  to 
write  ten,  a  qualification  which  has  been  of  great  assistance  to  him  in  this 
region,  where  the  population  consist  of  diversified  elements.  He  edited  the 
history  of  Bishop  Conwell,  published  in  the  ''American  Catholic  Historical 
Review,"  and  has  written  and  published  several  volumes  of  sermons.  The 
following  historical  notes  from  his  pen  are  particularly  interesting  to  resi- 
dents of  this  section. 

"The  early  events  in  the  history  of  Catholicity  in  this  region  are  involved 
in  much  obscurity.  Indeed,  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  whole  State.  For 
although  the  honor  of  first  successfully  establishing  religious  liberty  in  the  thir- 
teen original  Colonies  belongs  to  William  Penn,  his  subordinates,  the  rulers 
in  England,  and  the  settlers  of  various  creeds  who  flocked  into  Pennsylvania, 
were  not  greatly  inclined  to  respect  his  legal  enactments.  On  more  than  one 
occasion  officials  and  counselors  of  Pennsylvania  made  complaints  that  not 
only  lay  Catholics,  but  priests,  were  allowed  to  reside  and  practice  their  re- 
ligious duties  in  this  Colony.  Hence,  priests  especially  were  obliged  to  hide 
their  religious  character,  and  it  is  not  known  for  certain  whether  even  the  per- 
sons named  in  these  official  remonstrances  were  really  priests  or  not.  It  is 
more  than  likely  traveling  missionaries  from  the  French  settlements,  from 
among  the  Indian  tribes,  and  from  the  Jesuit  provinces  of  Maryland  invaded 
Pennsylvania,  from  time  to  time,  and  no  doubt  took  advantage  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  minister  the  rites  of  religion  to  such  Catholics  as  they  heard  of,  and 
could  reach.  But  the  first  permanent  settlement  of  a  priest  in  Pennsylvania 
is  that  of  Father  Greaton,  S.  J.,  the  reverend  founder  of  old  St.  Joseph's 
Church,  Philadelphia.  Somewhere  between  1730  and  1740  Father  Greaton 
made  a  missionary  journey  through  eastern  Pennsylvania.  The  Jesuit  fathers 
contemplated  the  erection  of  a  new  province  in  Pennsylvania,  and  it  seems 
very  probable  that  Father  Greaton's  journey  was  made  with  the  purpose  of 
finding  out  how  many  Catholics  there  were  who  would  be  benefited  by  the 
proposed  arrangement.  At  any  rate  such  a  province  was  established  in  1740, 
under  the  title  and  invocation  of  St.  Francis  Borgia,  and  in  1741  Fathers 
Theodore  Schneider  and  William  Wapeler,  S.  J.,  were  sent  hither  to  attend 
to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  Catholics  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  These 
gentlemen  founded  congregations  at  Goshenhoppen,  Lancaster  and  Conewago, 
and  in  1747,  in  an  official  report  to  Lord  Loudon,  Father  Schneider,  who  fixed 
his  residence  at  Goshenhoppen  (now  Bally),  stated  that  he  had  under  his 
care  ninety-one  men  and  forty-five  women  (children  not  being  enumerated) 
German  Catholics  in  the  counties  of  Berks,  Bucks,  Chester  and  Northampton. 
Berks  and  Northampton  counties  included  at  that  time  all  the  territory  now 
known  as  Schuylkill  county  except  the  Union  townships.  Mr.  Martin  Griffin, 
the  indefatigable  delver  into  American  Catholic  History,  states  that  there  were 
at  the  time  forty-one  Irish  in  the  counties  named.  But  who  shall  say  whether 
Father  Schneider  or  any  of  his  predecessors  or  co-laborers  found  any  Irish 
Catholics  in  this  locality,  or,  if  so,  whether  their  descendants  had  preserved  the 
faith  during  the  seventy-five  years  that  had  elapsed  before  there  were  other 
priests  than  the  good  fathers  at  Goshenhoppen  to  instruct  and  strengthen  them 
by  the  grace  of  the  sacraments,  or  bishops  to  confirm  them  in  the  faith?  If 
so,  their  stories  would  be  sermons  well  worthy  of  the  attention  of  some  of 
the  indolent  Catholics  of  to-day,  who  are  in  continuous  need  of  a  good  shep- 
herd to  look  them  up  and  pull  them  out  of  the  briars,  and  who  find  a  few 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1151 

squares  too  lengthy  for  a  walk  to  church.  At  the  time  of  the  Revolution  there 
were  many  persons  having  Irish  names  scattered  through  this  part  of  the 
State,  and  many  such  enlisted  in  the  army  of  Freedom,  Not  a  few  of  these 
recruits  were  undoubtedly  Catholics,  but  it  is  not  well  to  rely  too  much  upon 
the  evidence  of  their  names,  since  most  of  the  early  settlers  in  Pennsylvania 
from  Ireland  were  what  are  inaccurately  called  Scotch-Irish — were  the  most 
bitter  haters  of  Catholicity  in  these  Colonies.  Doubtless,  between  that  time  and 
the  founding  of  the  first  regular  congregation  in  this  region,  there  were  many 
priests  who  made  occasional  visits  to  the  Irish  Catholics  residing  therein.  One 
case  at  least  is  well  authenticated.  Rev.  Patrick  Lonergan,  an  Irish  Fran- 
ciscan, made  his  headquarters  in  Northumberland  county  from  May  5th  to 
Nov.  22,  1796.  Though  not  improbable,  it  is  still  not  of  record,  that  he  visitecf 
this  neighborhood.  The  more  authentic  history  of  this  region  begins  with  the 
advent  of  Rev.  John  Fitzpatrick,  who  was  the  first  resident  pastor  in  the 
neighborhood.  He  was  stationed  at  Milton,  Northumberland  county,  as  early 
as  1812,  and  is  mentioned  in  a  letter  of  Bishop  Neuman  as  having  been  the 
first  resident  pastor  in  that  place.  He  seems  to  have  retired  from  Milton  in 
a  few  years,  and  to  have  returned  to  Philadelphia  diocese  from  Petersburg, 
Va.,  in  1823,  for  Bishop  Conwell,  of  Philadelphia,  writing  to  Archbishop 
Marechal,  of  Baltimore,  on  July  26,  1823,  says:  Titzpatrick  from  Peters- 
burg came  here  yesterday.'  For  a  year  or  so  thereafter  be  was  an  assistant 
pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Philadelphia.  About  1826  he  returned  to  Mil- 
ton, and  for  many  years  attended  to  the  spiritual  need  of  the  Catholics  residing 
in  a  triangle  extending  from  Milton  to  Pottsville  and  Easton.  In  December, 
1829,  his  residence  in  Milton  was  burned  to  the  ground,  and  by  the  following 
February  he  had  removed  to  Pottsville.  Again  he  returned  to  Milton  in  1834, 
and  remained  there  until  1837.    Where  he  went  after  that  is  not  known. 

"Father  John  Curtin  attended  part  of  this  region  in  1832  and  1833. 
Father  Arthur  Wainwright,  as  pastor  of  Pottsville  and  Tamaqua,  probably 
attended  part  of  this  territory  after  1833.  So  also  did  Rev.  J.  Maloney,  his 
successor  in  Tamaqua  and  Beaver  Meadow  up  to  1848,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded in  Tamaqua  by  Rev.  P.  J.  Hennegan.  The  various  priests  named 
ministered,  no  doubt,  to  such  Catholics  as  were  resident  in  this  neighborhood 
up  to  that  period,  but  as  there  were  no  residents  on  the  site  of  Shenandoah 
before  1837,  and  as  far  as  known  few,  if  any.  Catholics  previous  to  i860, 
these  notes  refer  rather  to  the  Catholic  history  of  this  neighborhood  in  gen- 
eral than  to  Shenandoah.  In  a  latter  number. of  the  Record  we  propose  to 
follow  up  the  history  of  this  town  and  parish." 

Church  of  the  Annunciation,  Shenandoah. — The  activity  of  the  min- 
ing industry  in  the  early  history  of  Shenandoah  attracted  people  of  all  nation- 
alities and  beliefs  then  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  among  them  a  goodly  number  . 
of  Irish  birth  or  parentage  from  St.  Clair  to  Minersville,  many  of  whose 
descendants  are  prominent  in  the  town  at  the  present  time.  As  there  was  no 
church  of  their  faith  here  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  them  to  walk  or 
drive  to  the  towns  below  the  mountain  to  attend  to  their  religious  duties,  and 
tliis  continued  for  several  years.  However,  i^  soon  became  burdensome,  and 
as  the  number  grew  Rev.  Father  MacEvoy,  of  Mahanoy,  was  placed  in  charge 
and  organized  the  parish  as  a  mission  or  adjunct  to  the  Mahanoy  City  parish. 
In  1868  it  was  organized  as  a  separate  parish,  and  the  small  building  now 
(191 5)  standing  on  the  northeast  comer  of  Cherry  and  Chestnut  streets  was 
erected  on  Mayberry  street.     In  1870  it  was  separated  from  Mahanoy  City, 


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1152  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

and  Rev.  Henry  F.  O'Reilly  was  appointed  pastor.  In  1871  the  membership 
of  the  parish  had  increased  so  much  that  the  little  church  was  too  small  for 
its  accommodation,  and  Father  O'Reilly  had  it  removed  to  its  present  loca- 
tion and  began  the  erection  of  the  church  which  was  torn  down  in  June,  1914, 
to  be  replaced  by  the  larger  and  more  commodious  structure  now  erected  on 
the  site.  At  the  same  time  he  built  the  pastoral  residence  in  which  he  lived 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  The  cornerstone  of  the  church  was  laid  in  1872 
by  Father  O'Reilly  himself,  as  Bishop  Wood  was  unable  to  be  present  owing 
to  illness.  For  thirty-eight  years  Father  O'Reilly  labored  in  Shenandoah, 
until  he  passed  to  his  reward  on  Nov.  23,  1908.  He  was  succeeded  as  rector 
in  December  following  by  the  present  rector,  Rev.  Lemuel  B.  Norton. 

Father  Norton  found  a  large  task  awaiting  him.  The  church  and  residence 
built  ia  1872  had  both  been  seriously  damaged  by  mining  operations  in  that 
part  of  the  town,  so  much  so  that  it  was  deemed  wise  to  raze  both  and  erect 
buildings  in  their  places  which  would  be  more  commodious  for  worship  and 
comfortable  to  live  in.  He  began  with  the  parochial  residence  in  1909, 
erecting  a  dwelling  large  enough  to  provide  comfortable  quarters  for  the 
increased  clerical  force  now  necessary  to  serve  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  large 
parish,  and  an  ornament  to  that  section  of  the  town. 

The  erection  of  the  new  church,  begun  in  June,  1914,  proved  to  be  a 
stupendous  undertaking.  The  cornerstone  was  laid  on  Thanksgiving  Day, 
Nov.  26th,  by  Right  Rev.  John  J.  McCort,  Bishop  of  Azotus  and  auxiliary 
bishop  of  Philadelphia,  who  also  dedicated  the  completed  edifice,  on  Sunday, 
Oct.  ID,  191 5.  The  work  was  pushed  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  the^ 
basement  was  ready  for  services  by  Christmas.  While  the  new  building  was 
in  course  of  erection  church  services  were  held  in  the  old  building  which  the 
congregation  had  used  forty-six  years  ago,  and  also  for  a  time  in  the  old 
St.  Michael's  United  Greek  Church,  on  West  Centre  street. 

Father  Norton  has  been  ably  assisted  in  the  parish  work  and  building 
operations  by  Revs.  R.  F.  L.  Hanagan,  Richard  J.  Branton,  Joseph  M.  O'Hara, 
M.  A.  Crane,  Joseph  A.  Hayes,  all  now  of  Philadelphia,  and  his  present 
capable  assistants,  Revs.  George  P.  Boyle  and  James  V.  McEnery.  Father 
Boyle  was  master  of  ceremonies  at  the  dedication  ceremonies,  which  were 
attended  by  a  large  number  of  visiting  priests,  including  some  of  those  who 
had  formerly  officiated  here.  One  of  the  largest  crowds  ever  assembled  in 
the  town  on  the  occasion  of  religious  services  witnessed  the  exercises.  At 
ten  o'clock  Bishop  McCort  and  his  assistants  formed  a  procession  of  priests 
and  acolytes  and  proceeded  with  the  ceremony  of  blessing  the  outside  walls 
of  the  church.  After  passing  around  the  edifice  the  procession  entered  the 
church,  when  the  inside  was  blessed.  At  the  completion  of  this  ceremony 
the  doors  were  thrown  open  and  the  worshipers  admitted.  Many  exclama- 
tions of  surprise  were  heard  as  the  people  passed  through  the  vestibule  and 
beheld  for  the  first  time  the  beautiful  interior.  There  were  many  in  the  con- 
gregation who  had  learned  to  love  the  old  church,  which  was  associated 
with  their  most  sacred  memories,  but  they  rejoiced  with  the  younger  genera- 
tion at  the  beauty  and  elegaiyre  of  the  new  building,  and  that  they  were 
among  the  first  to  worship  in  it. 

The  building  has  been  specially  designed,  because  of  the  uncertainty  of 
the  surface  due  to  mine  operations,  having  a  .reinforced  concrete  founda- 
tion, with  frame  construction  for  the  superstructure.  The  front  on  Cherry 
street  has  a  tower  on  each  side.     The  main  auditorium,  72  feet  wide  and 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1153 

114  feet  long  in  its  greatest  dimensions,  has  a  seating  capacity  of  nine  hun- 
dred. The  ceilings  of  the  main  aisle  are  40  feet  above  the  floor,  of  the  side 
aisles  27  feet.  Besides  the  three  entrance  dpots  in  front,  there  are  large 
exits  on  either  side  of  the  main  auditorium.  Special  attention  has  been  paid 
to  the  lighting,  there  being  four  large  stained  glass  windows  in  each  of 
the  side  aisles,  three  large  windows  at  each  end  of  the  transept,  and  the  ellip- 
tical ceiling  over  the  transept  and  center  aisle  has  twelve  windows.  Two 
large  windows  are  provided  in  the  sanctuary  and  three  in  the  gallery.  There 
are  two  systems  of  electric  lighting  for  night,  a  direct  for  ordinary  use  and  an 
indirect,  with  gas  lighting  outlets  for  emergency.  The  plumbing  is  of  the 
most  approved  modem  variety;  the  building  is  steam  heated,  and  a  complete 
vacuum  cleaning  system  has  been  installed.  The  building  cost  sixty  thousand 
dollars,  exclusive  of  furnishings  and  art  glass,  and  is  a  distinct  addition  to 
the  material  attractions  of  the  borough  as  well  as  a  credit  to  the  congregation 
whose  liberality  and  enterprise  made  its  construction  possible. 

PETER  F.  HAVERTY,  deceased,  spent  most  of  his  mature  years  in 
Schuylkill  county,  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  residing  at  Shenandoah, 
where  he  had  a  high  reputation  as  a  reliable  mechanic.  In  his  personal  rela- 
tions, also,  he  was  much  respected  by  all  his  associates  for  his  genuine  worth. 
Mr.  Haverty  was  a  native  of  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  bom  in  January,  1848. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  in  that  country. 

Coming  to  America  when  very  young,  the  boy  lived  for  several  years  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  leamed  the  trade  of  plastering  ani  cement  finish- 
ing with  his  uncle,  James  Haverty  (a  brother  of  his  father).  Later  he  came 
to  Mahanoy  City,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for  a 
number  of  years,  thence  removing  to  Shenandoah.  There  he  successfully 
carried  on  his  trade  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Aug.  8,  1888.  He  is 
buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Annunciation  Church.  Mr.  Haverty  was  a 
self-made  man,  succeeding  by  close  application  to  his  work,  of  which  there 
are  still  many  pieces  in  the  town  to  testify  to  the  fine  workmanship  for  which 
he  became  noted.  One  is  the  "Hotel  Ferguson,"  which  he  plastered  many 
years  ago.  He  also  plastered  the  old  Church  of  the  Annunciation  and  the 
pastor's  house  connected  with  it.  He  acquired  a  wide  reputation  as  a  clever 
workman,  of  versatile  and  inventive  faculties  as  well  as  mechanical  skill, 
doing  fine  plaster  of  paris  and  cement  work.  He  showed  the  possession  of 
artistic  sense  in  many  pieces  he  finished.  In  this  connection  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  he  made  a  successful  plaster  cast  of  his  own  head.  He  was 
the  inventor  of  a  patent  cement  mixture,  and  made  tombstones  that  would 
neither  crack  nor  break.  Mr.  Haverty  was  a  member  of  the  Church  of 
the  Annunciation  and  of  St.  Patrick's  Society,  and  in  politics  supported  the 
Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Haverty  married  Mary  Ann  O'Leary,  the  ceremony  being  performed 
by  Rev.  Father  Schmidt,  in  Bloomsburg,  Pa.  Children  as  follows  were  bora 
to  this  marriage:  David  P.  died  when  sixteen  months  old;  John  F.,  deceased, 
who  was  a  plasterer,  married  Catherine  Dwyer,  and  they  had  two  children, 
Peter  and  Mary  (this  family  resides  in  Shenandoah)  ;  Peter  J.,  who  died  in 
1898,  when  twenty-three  years  old,  was  at  the  time  of  his  death  an  art  student 
at  the  Drexel  Institute,  Philadelphia  (he  had  great  artistic  talent,  and  had 
painted  successfully  on  glass,  porcelain  and  cloth  fabrics)  ;  James  M.,  who 
was  a  plumber  in  Shenandoah,  died  in  1910,  when  twenty-eight  years  old; 
vd.  n— as 


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1154  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Thomas  A.,  the  only  survivor  of  the  family,  bom  Dec  30,  1883,  is  a  graduate  ^ 

of  the  State  normal  school  at  Stroudsburg,  Pa.,  class  of  1908,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  looking  after  his  mother's  interests  (he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Columbus,  B.  P.  O.  Elks  and  Phoenix  Fire  Company,  all  of  Shenandoah, 
and  of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation) ;  Mary  Anne  and  Catherine  died  of 
diphtheria,  the  former  when  six,  the  latter  when  four  years  old;  Margaret 
Veronica  died  when  eight  months  old;  Margaret  (2)  died  aged  one  year,  ten 
months.    All  of  this  family  were  baptized  by  Rev.  Father  H.  F.  O'Reilly. 

Mrs.  Haverty  married  for  her  second  husband  Michael  Purcell,  Rev. 
Father  Kane  performing  the  ceremony  in  Shenandoah.  No  children  were 
bom  to  this  marriage.  Mr.  Purcell  was  bom  in  New  Philadelphia,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  settled  at  Shenandoah,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business,  being  superintendent  of  the  Pmdential  Insurance  Company.  I^ter 
he  moved  to  Philipsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  served  the  same  company  as  super- 
intendent. Retuming  to  Shenandoah,  he  became  a  merchant,  selling  goods 
for  a  while  on  the  installment  plan.  He  died  in  1900,  aged  about  fifty  years, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Annunciation  cemetery.  Politically  he  was  a  I>emocrat. 
By  his  first  marriage,  to  Annie  Hughes,  of  Minersville,  Mr.  Purcell  had  three 
children,  Catherine  (married  to  Garrett  Burns),  Mary  and  Thomas,  all  of 
whom  are  living  in  Shenandoah. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Purcell  was  bom  in  London,  England,  Jan.  11,  1853,  and 
was  educated  in  that  city,  at  St.  Joseph's  convent,  Chelsea,  cc«ning  to  Amer- 
ica when  fifteen  years  old.  The  voyage  was  made  in  a  sailing  vessel,  and 
she  landed  in  New  York  after  six  weeks  at  sea. 

John  O'Leary,  Mrs.  Purcell's  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  in  County  Lim- 
erick, Ireland,  where  he  and  his  wife  died.  Their  children  were :  Kate,  Mrs. 
Cooney,  who  died  in  Ireland;  Thomas;  John,  a  miner,  who  was  killed  at 
Brownsville,  Schuylkill  county;  and  David. 

David  CVLeary,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  County  Limerick,  and  died 
in  May,  191 3,  at  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety-five  years.  He  left  Ireland 
when  a  young  man,  for  a  number  of  years  thereafter  making  his  home  in 
England.  He  worked  as  a  steeplejack  in  London,  was  married  in  that  city, 
and  after  coming  to  America  lived  in  Schuylkill  cotmty.  Pa.  It  was  in  1865 
that  he  settled  in  Mahanoy  City,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of  plasterer,  and 
a  few  years  later  he  moved  to  Shenandoah.  Mr.  O'Leary  was  a  stanch 
Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  St.  Patrick's 
Society  and  the  T.  A.  B.  Society  of  the  church. 

Mr.  OTeary  married  Anna  Murray,  daughter  of  Thomas  Murray,  of 
County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and  she  lived  to  be  nearly  ninety  years  old.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  O'Leary  both  died  at  Shenandoah.  They  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: John,  who  is  engaged  in  the  plastering  business  in  Pittsburgh,  married 
Mary  Ann  McLouglin,  and  their  children  are  Anna,  Mame,  Agnes,  Cath- 
erine, Ellen,  David  and  John ;  Catherine  is  the  widow  of  Patrick  King,  who 
was  a  hotelkeeper  in  Philadelphia,  and  her  children  are  Martin,  David,  John, 
Frank  and  James ;  Mary  Ann  is  Mrs.  Purcell. 

HARRY  KEEPER,  business  man  and  justice  of  the  peace  at  Pine  Grove, 
has  spent  all  his  life  in  Pine  Grove  township,  where  he  was  bom  in  1873,  son 
of  Reuben  and  Susan  (Barr)  Keefer.  In  both  paternal  and  matemal  lines 
he  is  descended  from  pioneer  stock  which  aided  in  the  settlement  and  develop- 
ment of  this  region,  and  worthily  bears  a  name  which  has  been  representative 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1155 


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of  good  citizenship  wherever  known.  EHas  Keefer,  his  great-grandfather, 
was  the  founder  of  the  family  here,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  farmer. 
He  married  a  Miss  Houtz. 

Joseph  Keefer,  son  of  EHas,  was  also  a  farmer.  He  continued  to  live 
at  his  birthplace  until  his  death.  By  his  marriage  to  Sallie  Nagle  he  had  a 
family  of  seven  children,  of  whom  the  following  are  still  living:  William,  who 
lives  on  the  old  homestead  place ;  Sallie,  wife  of  Noah  Shubert,  of  South  Bend, 
Ind. ;  Maria,  widow  of  P.  C.  Darbey,  now  residing  at  Pottsville ;  Anna,  widow 
of  Isaac  Frye,  also  of  South  Bend,  Ind. ;  and  David,  of  South  Bend,  Indiana. 

Reuben  Keefer,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  in  Pine  Grove  township,  at^the 
place  where  he  followed  farming  practically  all  his  life*,  and  died  there  in 
May,  1899.     His  wife  Susan  (Barr)  was  bom  there  also,  and  died  May  3, 

1906.  She  was  one  of  four  children  bom  to  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Hegley)  Barr, 
Samuel,  Harriet  (deceased),  Amelia  (deceased)  and  Susan.  Jacob  Barr  was 
bom  in  Pine  Grove  township,  where  he  lived  and  died,  and  his  wife,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  also  died  here.  By  trade  he  was  a  tailor,  but  he  followed 
farming  for  a  number  of  years,  spending  the  latter  part  of  his  life  in  retire- 
ment. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keefer  became  the.  parents  of  four  children :  Annie, 
the  eldest,  is  deceased;  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  Lyman  Stutzen,  of  Pine  Grove; 
Frank  is  deceased;  Harry  completes  the  family. 

Harry  Keefer  acquired  his  education  in  the  township  schools,  and  after 
leaving  school  assisted  his  father  in  the  timber  business,  remaining  with  him 
until  he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account,  at  the  age  of  twenty-s^ven 
years.  He  also  handles  all  kinds  of  farm  implements  and  vehicles,  wagons, 
plows,  sleighs,  etc.,  as  well  as  fertilizers,  being  most  conveniently  located  just 
outside,  the  borough  limits  of  Pine  Grove.  Besides  these  interests,  he  has 
been  prominent  in  promoting  the  Pine  Grove  Township  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  president.  Public  duties  have  also  demanded  their  share 
of  his  time  and  attention,  for  he  was  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with 
election  to  the  office  of  township  auditor,  which  he  filled  from  1907  to  1910. 
In  the  fall  of  1914  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  Pine  Grove  town- 
ship, and  he  has  taken  up  the  responsibilities  of  the  position  with  his  cus- 
tomary vigor,  bidding  fair  to  realize  the  best  expectations  of  his  supporters. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  holds  membership  in  various  social 
organizations,  having  belonged  to  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  for  twenty- 
two  years ;  to  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  camp  at  Pine  Grove ;  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  and 
other  bodies. 

On  Jan.  7,  1893,  Mr.  Keefer  married  Mary  B.  Sigfried,  who  was  bom 
in  Pine  Grove  township,  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Sophia  (Hospul)  Sig- 
fried, natives  of  Germany  who  came  to  this  country  before  their  marriage, 
which  took  place  in  Pine  Grove.  Mr.  Sigfried  was  a  stonemason,  working 
for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company.     He  died  in  Pine  Grove  Feb.  13, 

1907,  surviving  his. wife,  who  passed  away  there  in  October,  1898.  Their 
family  consisted  of  eight  children,  viz.:  Harry,  of  Lebanon,  a  brickmason; 
David,  a  resident  of  Youngstown,  Ohio:  George,  a  resident  of  Elkhart,  Ind., 
a  baker  of  that  city:  John,  deceased;  Mrs.  Adam  Harvey,  of  Pine  Grove 
(Mr.  Harvey  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company)  ; 
Annie,  deceased,  at  one  time  a  resident  of  Elkhart,  Ind.;  Mrs.  Keefer;  and 
Augusta,  a  resident  of  Los  Angeles,  Califomia. 

Nine  children  have  befen  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keefer:  Victor,  the  eldest, 
now  a  resident  of  Huron,  S.  Dak.,  is  a  baker  by  trade;  Fannie,  who  lives 


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1156  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

at  home,  is  the  wife  of  William  Heinbach,  and  they  have  one  child,  Walter 
(Mr.  Heinbach  is  a  miner);  Elma  is  at  home;  Clara  is  deceased;  Edna, 
Laura,  Helen,  Claude  and  Mary  are  at  home. 

EDWARD  A.  DOHERTY,  of  Shenandoah,  bears  a  most  favorable  repu- 
tation in  this  region,  based  upon  a  lifetime  of  honorable  endeavor.  He  is  a 
thoroughly  experienced  miner,  and  as  foreman  at  the  Turkey  *Run  colliery  for 
the  last  seventeen  years  has  given  ample  evidence  of  the  qualities  which 
gained  him  promotion  to  that  position.  His  comprehensive  knowledge  of  con- 
ditions there,  and  indeed  all  over  this  locality,  gives  his  services  a  distinct 
value. 

Mr.  Doherty  was  bom  Sept.  14,  1865,  at  Silver  Creek,  Schuylkill  county, 
where  his  father,  Anthony  Doherty,  settled  soon  after  his  arrival  in  this 
country.  He  was  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  bom  at  Colerame,  in 
County  Deny,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  learned  the  trade  of  black- 
smith. Coming  to  the  United  States  in  early  life,  he  first  settled  at  Potts- 
ville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  but  soon  joined  friends  at  Silver  Creek,  where  he 
found  employment  as  blacksmith  at  the  colliery.  There  he  remained  for  a 
number  of  years,  doing  work  at  his  trade  for  the  colliery  and  on  his  own 
account,  until  1877,  when  he  removed  to  Shenandoah.  During  the  rest  of  his 
life  he  was  colliery  blacksmith  at  Plank  Ridge,  holding  that  position  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  about  1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Mairs,  like  himself  a  native  of  County  Derry,  Ireland,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Mairs,  a  farmer  and  blacksmith  near  Coleraine,  where  he  died. 
Mrs.  Doherty  came  to  Pottsville  with  her  brother,  John  Mairs,  when  a  young 
woman,  and  was  married  at  that  place  to  Mr.  Doherty,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  by  Rev.  Joseph  McCool,  the  Presbyterian  minister.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Doherty  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Shenandoah,  and  all 
their  family  have  adhered  to  the  same  faith.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican. 
Six  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doherty:  Edward,  the  eldest,  died 
young;  Martha  married  Thomas  Watson,  who  is  a  mine  foreman  at  Indian 
Ridge,  and  they  have  two  sons,  George  and  Edward,  the  former  a  machinist, 
the  latter  a  pattemmaker;  Allieson  married  John  Epply,  who  is  engaged  as 
a  telegraph  operator  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  and  they  reside 
in  Philadelphia;  Mary  (deceased)  married  James  McNeal,  of  Chester,  Pa., 
and  they  had  two  children,  Margaret  and  Elizabeth ;  Margaret  married  New- 
ton J.  Spence,  a  furniture  merchant,  connected  with  Dungan,  Fry  &  Spence,  of 
Atlantic  City,  N.  J.,  and  they  have  three  children,  Edward,  Charles  and  John ; 
Anthony,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  died  young. 

Edward  A.  Ddierty  received  his  early  education  at  Silver  Creek.  He 
began  mine  work  when  a  boy  of  twelve  or  thirteen  years,  picking  slate  at  first, 
later  driving  mules  and  working  up  through  the  various,  grades  of  occupation 
until  he  became  a  regular  miner.  As  he  showed  capacity^  for  responsible 
duties  he  was  made  loader  boss,  fire  boss  and  foreman  in  tum,  finally  becom- 
ing inside  foreman,  and  seventeen  years  ago  he  was  assigned  to  his  present 
position  at  Turkey  Run.  He  began  work  at  Plank  Ridge,  and  has  been 
employed  also  at  the  Shenandoah  City,  Knickerbocker,  Ellen  Gowan,  Indian 
Ridge,  Kohinoor,  West  Shenandoah  and  Turkey  Run  workings,  in  fact, 
with  emergency  services,  his  experience  may  be  said  to  cover  all  the  collieries 
in  the  vicinity.  He  has  a  name  for  caution  which  has  been  recognized  by 
his  superiors  in  his  selection  for  dangerous  work,  and  which  has  no  doubt 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1157 

saved  him  and  the  men  working  with  him  from  serious  injuries  on  many 
occasions.  His  judgment  is  considered  most  reliable.  Mr.  Doherty  has  many 
friends  who  esteem  him  highly  for  his  sterling  personal  qualities.  Though 
strict  and  firm  in  his  business  associations,  he  is  absolutely  just  and  has  a 
high  sense  of  his  reponsibilities,  and  his  consistent  adherence  to  good  prin- 
ciples and  strong  convictions  of  right  are  so  p^enerally  known  that  he  has  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  his  associates  without  reservation,  whether  the 
officers  of  the  company  or  the  men  under  his  supervision.  Though  he  has 
worked  his  way  up  unaided  he  is  a  man  of  modest  and  unassuming  char- 
acter,' his  development  being  the  result  of  the  exercise  of  solid  qualifications 
and  the  application  of  the  knowledge  acquired  in  long  experience,  combined 
with  a  keen  sense  of  justice  which  makes  him  fair  to  all  with  whom  he  has 
dealings.     He  is  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Shenandoah. 

On  Nov.  23,  1888,  Mr.  Doherty  was  married  at  Shenandoah  to  Jessie 
Shaw,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  Eli  Pickersgill,  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  minister.  Mrs.  Doherty  was  born  at  Shenandoah,  daughter  of 
William  and  Hannah  (Richards)  Shaw,  the  former  a  native  of  England,  the 
latter  of  Wales,  whence  she  came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  when  a 
child.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaw  were  married  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  was  a 
mine  foreman  at  Turkey  Run  for  a  number  of  years^  Four  children  have 
been  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doherty :  E.  Grant,  now  engaged  as  electrician  at 
the  Turkey  Run  colliery,  married  Anna  Morgan,  of  Mahanoy  City,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Thomas  T.  Moi^n  (they  have  no  children)  ;  Fred  A.,  who  was  a 
clerk  at  the  Indian  Ridge  colliery,  died  unmarried,  when  twenty  years  old; 
Ruth  and  Ralph  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Doherty  is  well  known  in  the  local  fraternal  organizations,  being  a 
member  and  past  councilor  of  Major  Jennings  Council,  No.  367,  Order  of 
Independent  Americans;  a  past  president  of  the  Sons  of  America;  a  member 
of  Washington  Camp  No.  112,  P.  O.  S.  of  A. ;  and  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
which  he  joined  in  1892.  He  is  the  present  treasurer  of  his  borough,  having 
been  elected  in  January,  1916. 

TRENTON  WESLEY  RUMBEL,  miller  and  farmer  in  Union  township, 
was  bom  there  Oct.  27,  1855,  ^^d  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  family  of  Schuyl- 
kill county. 

Henry  Rumbel,  his  grandfather,  was  bom  Oct.  31,  1801,  in  East  Bmns- 
wick  township,  this  county,  where  he  owned  land  near  Rauschs  which  he 
traded  for  property  in  Union  township,  acquiring  valuable  holdings.  He  had 
one  tract  principally  in  timber  (now  owned  by  Washington  Rumbel),  cul- 
tivating the  few  acres  which  were  cleared,  and  owned  another  which  he  occu- 
pied and  operated,  selling  the  latter  eventually  to  his  son  Henry.  He  gave 
each  of  his  sons  a  farm.  Mr.  Rumbel  was  independent  in  politics.  He  was 
known  for  his  high  Christian  character,  and  was  a  zealous  member  of  the 
Lutheran  congregation  of  the  Old  White  Church,  in  which  he  filled  all  the 
official  positions.  His  wife  belonged  to  the  Reformed  denomination.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Salome  Andrews,  and  she  was  bom  Sept.  18,  1807.  ^^'■• 
Rumbel  died  Nov.  17,  1869,  Mrs.  Rumbel  on  May  20,  1887,  and  they  are 
buried  at  the  Old  White  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :  Henry  married  Elizabeth  Singley ;  Daniel  is  mentioned  below ;  Jacob 
served  in  the  Civil  war,  was  wounded,  and  died  from  his  injuries;  Joshua 


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1158  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

married  Lucy  Singley;  Rebecca  married  William  Laudig;  Mary  married  Levi 
Reber. 

Daniel  Rumbel,  son  of  Henry,  was  bom  Dec.  24,  1830,  in  East  Brunswick 
township,  this  county,  and  died  at  Ringtown  June  26,  1891.  He  was  educated 
partly  in  his  native  township,  but  was  still  a  boy  when  the  family  moved  to 
Union  township,  where  he  finished  his  schooling.  During  most  of  his  early 
life  he  helped  his  father  on  the  farm,  continuing  thus  for  some  time  aftei 
his  marriage,  and  he  also  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker.  In  time  he  bought 
a  farm  of  about  115  acres  from  his  father,  nearly  all  timbered,  cut  the  wood 
and  cleared  the  land,  selling  his  lumber  to  the  Catawissa  Railroad  Company, 
who  used  it  in  the  construction  of  bridges  along  their  road.  Later  he  sold 
fifteen-  acres  to  Jacob  Laudig,  retaining  the  remainder  for  himself  and  carry- 
ing on  general  farming  for  some  years.  He  sold  another  portion  of  this  tract 
to  the  Ringtown  Fair  Association  for  fair  grounds.  Below  Ringtown  he 
owned  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  mostly  in  timber,  on  which  he  had  a  waterpower 
sawmill,  and  the  timber  cut  there  was  used  for  mining  and  building  purposes. 
His  general  farming  and  lumbering  operations  were  very  profitable,  and  he 
did  well,  but  he  was  too  good-natured  for  his  own  interest  about  going  on 
others*  bonds,  and  as  a  consequence  he  failed  financially,  his  property  being 
disposed  of  at  sheriff's  sale.  After  that  he  went  into  the  shoe  business  at 
Ringtown,  conducting  a  store  and  working  at  the  trade. 

Mr.  Rumbel  married  Sarah  M.  Seltzer,  who  was  bom  Sept.  7,  1832,  in 
East  Brunswick  township,  and  they  had  three  children:  Emmeline,  wife  of 
Dr.  H.  D.  Rentschler,  of  Ringtown ;  William  H.,  born  Jan.  29,  1854,  who  mar- 
ried Louisa  Seitz ;  and  Trenton  W.  The  mother  died  Sept.  2,  19 14.  and  both 
parents  are  buried  at  the  Old  White  Church.  Mr.  Rumbel  was  a  Lutheran 
member  of  that  church,  and  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 

Jacob  Seltzer,  father  of  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  (Seltzer)  Rumbel,  was  a  native 
of  East  Brunswick  township,  and  farmed  there  and  in  Union  township,  his 
great-grandson,  Richard  T.  Rumbel,  now  owning  part  of  his  old  farm  in  the 
latter  township,  which  consisted  of  237  acres.  He  followed  general  agricul- 
ture on  that  place,  and  died  there.  By  his  first  wife  Sydney  (Hart),  daugh- 
ter of  William  Hart  (both  natives  of  Bmnswick  township),  he  had  a  large 
family,  viz. :  William  married  Mary  Eisenhart ;  Benjamin  married  Barbara 
Breisch;  John  married  Caroline  Yost;  Nathan  married  Elizabeth  Whitner; 
Francis  married  Emma  Manbeck ;  Sarah  M.  married  Daniel  Rumbel ;  Cather- 
ine married  Henry  Schappell;  Sydney  married  Absalom  Hubler;  Jacob  died 
young.  The  mother  is  buried  at  the  Old  White  Church.  All  the  children 
born  to  Mr.  Seltzer's  second  marriage,  with  Rebecca  Petery,  died  in  infancy. 
He  was  originally  a  Lutheran  in  religious  connection,  but  later  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Evangelical  denomination,  and  is  bufied  with  his  second 
wife  in  the  U.  E.  cemetery  near  Ringtown.     Politically  he  was  a  Republican. 

Trenton  W.  Rumbel,  son  of  Daniel,  grew  to  manhood  in  Union  town- 
ship, obtaining  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  home  locality.  He 
was  trained  to  farming  from  boyhood,  assisting  his  father  up  to  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  after  which  he  did  farm  work  for  his  brother  one  year 
and  then  rented  the  Benjamin  Behm  place  (the  farm  now  owned  by  William 
Houser),  which  he  had  for  three  years.  He  then  joined  his  father-in-law, 
John  Maurer,  a  miller  and  farmer  in  Union  township,  for  whom  he  worked 
two  years,  for  the  following  five  years  renting  the  George  Fulmer  farm,  in 
Union  township.    At  the  end  of  that  time  he  moved  to  his  present  property, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1159 

buying  the  farm  and  gristmill  from  his  father-in-law,  subject  to  judgment 
and  mwtgage.  There  are  forty-five  acres  of  good  land,  all  cleared  and  under 
cultivation,  upon  which  Mr.  Rumbel  has  made  many  improvements  during 
his  ownership,  and  he  has  carried  on  the  milling  business  as  well  as  farming, 
doing  well  in  both  branches.  With  his  wife  he  owns  another  farm  in  the 
township,  comprising  forty-eight  acres,  of  which  forty-two  acres  are  tenanted 
and  cultivated  by  William  J.  Seltzer,  Mr.  Rumbel  himself  farming  the 
other  six  acres.  The  house  on  that  place  is  rented  to  Oliver  Lindermuth. 
Mr.  Rumbel  also  has  property  in  Ringftown.  He  is  very  progressive  in  busi- 
ness matters  and  in  advancing  the  welfare  of  the  community  as  well  as  his 
personal  affairs,  and  he  is  a  director  of  the  Farmers'  Independent  Telephone 
&  Telegraph  Company.  In  public  matters  he  has  worked  principally  for  the 
good  of  the  local  schools,  having  served  three  terms  as  member  of  the  town- 
ship board  of  school  directors,  of  which  body  he  is  also  treasurer.  Though 
a  Republican  in  his  views  he  votes  independently.  He  belongs  to  Ringtown 
Lodge,  No.  287,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  to  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church  at  Ringtown, 
of  which  he  is  a  deacon. 

Mr.  Rumbel  was  united  in  marriage  with  Barbara  E.  Maurer,  who  was 
born  Dec.  17,  1855,  in  Union  township,  where  she  was  educated  and  remained 
at  home  until  her  marriage.  During  her  younger  days  she  taught  Sunday 
school  at  the  Old  White  Church,  at  the  Ringtown  schoolhouse  and  in  the 
Ringtown  Lutheran  Sunday  school,  when  it  was  first  organized.  She  is  now 
a  member  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church  in  that  borough.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rumbel  have  had  two  children,  Richard  Theodore  and  Daisy  Salome.  The 
daughter,  bom  April  5,  1879,  died  Dec.  20,  1901. 

Richard  Theodore  Rumbel,  son  of  Trenton  W.  Rumbel,  was  bom  March 
13,  1877,  obtained  his  education  in  Union  township,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
farming  there  on  a  tract  of  eighty-two  acres,  part  of  the  farm  of  his  great- 
grandfather Seltzer.  He  carries  on  general  agricultural  work,  and  attends 
market  at  Shenandoah.  His  work  is  conducted  along  modem  lines,  and  his 
fine  Jersey  cattle,  substantial  buildings  and  well  kept  premises  indicate  how 
thoroughly  progressive  he  is  by  nature.  He  has  served  his  township  as 
supervisor,  and  is  a  deacon  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Ringtown,  doing  his 
share  in  the  promotion  of  all  local  interests.  Socially  he  holds  membership 
in  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  Woodmen  of  the  World  at  Ringtown. 
In  political  principle  he  is  a  Republican,  but  he  is  not  partisan  in  his  support 
of  candidates.  Mr.  Rumbel  married  Sarah  Alice  Michael,  who  was  bom 
Jan.  19,  1875,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Ellen  (Zimmerman)  Michael,  and 
they  have  had  seven  children,  bom  as  follows:  Mary  Elizabeth,  May  29, 
1898;  Leah  Catherine,  June  29,  1900;  Paul  Robert,  Aug.  6,  1902;  Ruth  Agnes, 
April  18,  1906;  Hilda  Rebecca,  July  19,  1908;  Blanche  Lillian,  June  24,  1910; 
Henry  Allen,  July  7,  1912. 

John  Maurer,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Trenton  W.  Rumbel,  was  a  farmer  and 
miller,  having  a  mill  at  Girard  Manor,  in  East  Union  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  a  small  tract  of  land.  Later  he  moved  to  Orwigsbui^,  where 
he  had  a  mill  and  a  very  fine  farm,  and  he  died  there.  He  and  his  wife,  Sarah 
(Bittler),  are  buried  at  Orwigsburg.  They  were  the  parents  of  fifteen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  we  have  the  following  record:  John  is  mentioned  below; 
Charles  married  Catherine  Kramer;  Elizabeth  married  George  Mayberry; 
Caroline  married  Philip  Miller;  Hannah  went  West;  Nellie  married  Philip 
Moyer;  Abigail  married  John  Bemheisel;  Catherine  married  George  Free- 


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1160  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

hafer;  Mary  married  Solomon  Fidler;  Rebecca  married  Josiah  Hart.     The 
father  was  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 

John  Maurer,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Bittler)  Maurer,  was  bom  April  6, 
1819,  in  Union  township,  received  his  education  in  Orwigsbur|j,  and  lived 
there  until  thirty  years  of  age,  assisting  his  father  with  the  mill  and  farm 
work.  He  was  married  at  Ringtown,  and  coming  to  Union  township  settled 
where  Breisch's  sawmill  is  now  located,  the  old  property  of  Mrs.  Maurer's 
grandfather  Breisch.  In  1853  he  moved  to  the  tract  now  occupied  by  his 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Rumbel,  buying  the  mill  and  farm  of  over  forty  acres  from 

Jacob  Laudig,  and  after  operating  the  old  mill  for  a  while  he  built  a  new  one. 
n  1867  he  erected  the  dwelling  which  now  stands  upon  that  place,  and  there 
he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  May  14,  1898.  His  wife,  Susanna 
(Breisch),  bom  July  26,  1827,  in  Union  township,  died  Oct.  26,  1910.  They 
are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Old  White  Church.  Two  daughters  were 
bom  to  them :  Amanda,  widow  of  D.  M.  Stauffer,  living  with  Mrs.  Rqmbel ; 
and  Barbara  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Rumbel.  Mr.  Maurer  was  a  Democrat,  and 
served  his  township  as  school  director.  He  was  an  active  piember  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church  at  Ringtown,  in  which  he  held  the  offices  of  elder, 
deacon  and  tmstee. 

John  Breisch,  father  of  Mrs.  Susanna  (Breisch)  Maurer,  was  bom  and 
reared  in  Columbia  county.  Pa.,  came  to  this  section  in  an  early  day,  and 
became  the  owner  of  several  large  farms.  By  trade  he  was  a  stonemason. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Shuman,  also  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  and  six 
children  were  bom  to  them:  Rudolph,  who  married  Missouri  Zimmerman; 
Jacob,  who  married  Fayette  Zimmerman ;  Susanna,  Mrs.  Maurer ;  Adam,  who 
married  Mary  Rarig;  Henry,  who  married  Rebecca  Reich;  and  Josiah,  who 
married  Susanna  Zimmerman.  The  father  was  a  Whig  and  in  religion  a 
devout  Lutheran,  filling  all  the  official  positions  in  his  church.  Both  parents 
are  buried  at  the  Old  White  Church. 

EDWARD  J.  WHALEN,  of  Shenandoah,  is  considered  one  of  the  capable 
workers  in  the  local  anthracite  fields,  where  he  has  proved  his  worth  in  long 
and  faithful  service,  being  at  present  fire  boss  (or  assistant  foreman)  at  the 
Indian  Ridge  colliery.  He  has  held  this  position  for  about  eight  years.  Mr. 
Whalen  is  otherwise  well  known  in  this  vicinity  as  the  president  of  the  Phoenix 
Fire  Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  third  generation  of  his  family  in 
Schuylkill  county,  his  grandfather,  Michael  Whalen,  having  lived  in  Shenan- 
doah, where  he  died  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  He  had  come  to  America  with 
his  family  from  Ireland,  and  followed  mining  here.  He  was  a  Democrat  and 
a  Catholic,  and  he  and  his  wife  Mary  are  buried  in  the  Annunciation  cemetery 
at  Shenandoah.  They  had  the  following  children:  Patrick,  a  retired  miner, 
now  living  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  married  Bridget  Lawler;  John  was  the  father 
of  Edward  J.  Whalen ;  Mary,  widow  of  Michael  Igo,  lives  in  Shenandoah,  Pa. ; 
Catherine  resides  in  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

John  Whalen  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed  mine  work 
all  his  active  years,  beginning  as  a  slate  picker.  He  established  his  home  near 
Heckscherville  and  was  employed  in  the  mines  near  by  until  his  removal  to 
Shenandoah,  shortly  after  the  birth  of  his  son  Edward.  About  fifteen  years 
ago  he  went  West,  and  shortly  afterwards  met  with  an  accidental  death.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation  at  Shenandoah  and  of  the 
T.  A.  B.  society  of  that  church.    In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.    His  wife, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1161 

Mary  (Nash),  was  bom  in  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Mary  (Moore)  Nash,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  coal  miner  in  Ireland. 
She  came  to  America  when  eighteen  or  twenty  years  old,  and  is  now  (191 5) 
living  in  Shenandoah,  aged  seventy  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whalen  had  the 
following  family :  Michael  was  burned  to  death  when  three  years  old ;  Eliza- 
beth, deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Noah  Benjamin,  a  miner,  of  Plymouth,  Luzerne 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  had  children,  Stella,  Benjamin,  Mary,  Loretta  and  Edward; 
Edward  J.  is  next  in  the  family ;  Mary  Ann  died  when  eight  years  old ;  John, 
who  is  a  miner  of  Shenandoah,  married  Mary  Devlin,  and  has  three  children, 
Anna,  Mary  and  Rosetta;  Ellen  married  Edward  M.  Thomas  (she  is  his  second 
wife),  a  miner  of  Pottsville,  Pa.,  and  has  four  children;  Catherine  married 
Thomas  Stot,  a  house  builder  of  Shenandoah,  and  they  have  had  one  child, 
Mary,  deceased;  Richard,  a  miner,  lives  with  his  mother  at  Shenandoah; 
Margaret  is  also  at  home. 

Edward  J.  Whalen  was  bom  April  12,  1874,  at  Heckscherville,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  reared  in  Shenandoah,  where  he  was  given  public  school 
advantages  in  his  early  boyhood.  But  even  then  he  was  helping  to  earn  his 
livelihood,  for  he  was  but  six  years  old  when  first  employed  at  the  breaker 
of  the  Shenandoah  City  colliery,  as  a  slate  picker.  After  a  short  service  there 
he  went  to  Grant's  colliery,  where  he  continued  to  pick  slate  for  six  years,  after 
which  for  four  years  he  drove  mules  on  the  dirt  bank  at  the  West  Shenandoah 
colliery,  for  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company.  Then  for 
about  one  year  he  was  a  driver  at  the  Kohinoor  colliery,  under  Thomas  Camp- 
bell, foreman,  and  when  Mr.  Campbell  was  transferred  to  the  Indian  Ridge 
colliery  he  took  young  Whalen  with  him.  Mr.  Whalen's  experience  in  mine 
work  was  quite  comprehensive,  his  duties  including  those  of  loader,  loader 
boss,  timber  repairman,  miner,  etc.;  and  he  was  promoted  from  time  to  time 
until  he  reached  his  present  position,  which  is  one  of  the  most  responsible 
about  the  colliery.  Thomas  Watson  is  inside  foreman  at  the  Indian  Ridge 
workings. 

Mr.  Whalen  has  been  an  efficient  worker  in  the  Democratic  party,  and  was 
delegate  to  the  county  convention  held  at  Mahanoy  City,  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  and  of  Shenandoah  Council,  No.  618,  Knights 
of  Columbus.  For  some  years  he  has  been  president  of  the  Phoenix  Fire  Com- 
pany, of  which  organization  we  give  below  a  brief  history. 

Mr.  Whalen  married  Caroline  Agnes  Beck,  who  was  bom  March  14,  1875, 
in  Shenandoah,  where  she  received  her  education  in  the  parochial  school  of 
the  Holy  Family  and  the  public  schools.  She  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Roman  Catholic  Church  o£  the  Holy  Family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whalen  have  no 
children. 

Peter  Beck,  father  of  Mrs.  Whalen,  was  born  Jan.  26,  1844,  in  Cumbola, 
Blythe  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  Sept.  4,  1903.  He  was  a  butcher 
by  trade,  and  followed  that  calling  for  a  while,  later  working  at  the  mines  and 
conducting  a  grocery  store  in  Shenandoah.  He  lived  retired  for  about  eight 
years  before  his  death.  At  New  Philadelphia,  this  county,  he  married  Magda- 
lene Bassler,  who  was  bom  July  12,  1847,  on  the  farm  of  her  parents  at 
Tumbling  Run.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  Bassler,  natives 
of  East  Bmnswick  township,  this  county.  Mrs.  Beck  died  March  26,  1890, 
and  is  buried  with  her  husband  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Church  of  the  Annuncia- 
tion, at  Shenandoah.  They  belonged  to  the  Holy  Family  Catholic  Church,  and 
Mr.  Beck  was  a  member  of  St.  Michael's  Society  and  of  the  Washington 


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1162  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Beneficial  Association;  politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Ida,  Mrs.  Joseph  Grosskettler; 
Caroline  Agnes,  Mrs.  Edward  J.  Whalen;  Frederick,  a  traveling  salesman  for 
the  Home  Brewery,  who  married  Annie  Melusky  and  lives  in  Shenandoah 
(they  have  no  children)  ;  Elizabeth,  who  graduated  from  the  Shenandoah  high 
school  and  subsequently  assisted  her  father  in  the  grocery  store,  dying  at  the 
age  of  twenty-eight  years ;  Christian,  a  cigarmaker  by  trade,  who  died  when 
twenty- four  years  old ;  and  Amos,  who  makes  his  home  in  Seattle,  Wash.,  and 
who  is  engaged  as  conductor  on  a  dining  car. 


Phoenix  Hose  Company,  of  Shenandoah,  was  organized  Aug.  25,  1885, 
and  charter  granted  Oct.  6,  1885,  under  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania.  Charter 
members:  John  M.  Mack,  John  B.  Lovett,  Thomas  J.  McKeone,  Thomas  J. 
O'Brien,  John  F.  McKernan,  John  J.  Hines,  Martin  Kelly,  John  J.  Fahey, 
Martin  A.  Monaghan,  E.  J.  McGinnis,  Bernard  J.  Duffy.  Of  these,  Martin  A. 
Monaghan  and  E.  J.  McGinnis  are  still  members  of  the  company.  The  first 
foreman  was  James  Mitchell. 

After  the  fire  of  Nov.  12,  1883,  in  which  half  of  the  town  of  Shenandoah 
was  destroyed,  it  was  suggested  by  Rev.  Father  O'Reilly  that  there  was  not 
sufficient  fire  protection  for  a  town  the  size  of  Shenandoah,  there  being  only 
two  fire  companies  there  at  that  time,  the  Columbia  Hose  Company  and  the 
Rescue  Hook  and  Ladder  Company.  Father  O'Reilly  attended  all  fires  in 
the  borough.  The  people  thought  the  town  was  large  enough  to  warrant  an- 
other company;'  fires  at  that  time  were  very  numerous,  and  our  young  men 
were  under  the  impression  that  it  was  their  duty  to  take  part  in  this  laudable 
work.  Moreover,  the  membership  of  the  other  companies  in  Shenandoah 
were  not  on  very  friendly  terms  with  a  large  portion  of  the  population  about 
that  time,  and  this  lack  of  friendship  was  probably  responsible  to  some  extent 
for  the  new  organization.  Up  to  that  time,  there  were  never  more  than  two 
or  three  of  the  class  of  people  who  comprised  the  original  membership  of  the 
Phoenix  Company  that  belonged  to  either  of  the  other  companies.  The  first 
meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  was  held  in  the  parlors  of  Mr.  T.  J. 
McKeone's  hotel  on  Centre  street,  below  White,  about  where  Martin  Fahey's 
place  of  business  is  now  located.  This  meeting  was  held  in  the  early  summer 
of  1885,  and  the  officers  elected  at  this  meeting  were  as  follows:  President, 
John  M.  Mack;  secretary,  John  B.  Lovett;  treasurer,  Thomas  J.  McKeone. 
Those  were  merely  temporary  officers,  whose  duty  it  was  to  serve  until  an 
organization  was  properly  effected.  Every  member  was  working  incessantly 
for  members,  and  the  enthusiasm  displayed  by  each  was  a  guarantee  that  the 
company  was  to  be  the  success  all  hoped  and  prayed  for  so  fervently.  At  the 
third  meeting  which  was  also  held  in  the  parlors  of  the  McKeone  hotel,  the 
question  of  a  name  for  the  company  was  brought  up,  and  as  that  was  but  two 
years  after  the  great  fire,  and  Shenandoah  had  built  up  so  wonderfully  in  two 
years,  the  expression  "Phoenix-like  it  arose  from  its  ashes"  prompted  Mr. 
McKeone  to  suggest  "The  Phoenix  Fire  Company"  as  the  proper  title  for  the 
new  fire-fighters.  About  August  ist,  the  company  decided  to  make  formal 
applications  for  a  charter,  and  J.  W.  Ryon,  Esq.,  was  engaged  as  solicitor.  On 
Sept.  28,  1885,  John  J.  Hines,  J.  J.  Fahey  and  John  M.  Mack  were  sent  to 
Pottsville  to  make  the  necessary  affidavit  to  the  signatures  on  the  application. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1163 

In  about  six  weeks  after  the  first  meeting  the  membership  had  reached 
nearly  one  hundred  members,  and  it  was  very  evident  that  new  quarters  must 
be  secured.  A  committee  selected  a  hall  in  the  rear  of  the  Egan  property,  in 
the  alley  near  M.  Mellett's  wall  paper  store,  and  the  first  meeting  held  there 
was  for  the  election  of  officers.  B.  J.  Duffy  was  elected  president;  T.  J. 
McKeone,  vice  president,  and  John  B.  Lovett,  secretary.  Before  long  the 
company  bought  a  fifteen-foot  lot  on  North  Jardin  street,  adjoining  the  present 
fire  house,  from  Beddall  Brothers,  hardware  merchants.  There  they  erected 
a  two-story  frame  building  which  is  still  standing,  using  the  upper  floor  as  a 
meeting  place  and  the  lower  floor  for  the  fire  apparatus.  They  bought  a  hand 
hose  cart,  which  was  their  entire  equipment  for  some  years.  This  building 
was  the  home  of  the  company  from  1887  to  1895,  in  Vhich  year  the  up-to-date 
structure  now  occupied  was  erected,  the  company  moving  in  Oct.  21st.  The 
lot,  which  was  bought  from  the  William  Harkins  estate,  is  30  by  150  feet  in 
dimensions,  and  the  building  is  a  handsome  two-story  stone  front.  The  in- 
terior was  remodeled  in  1910,  metal  ceilings  being  placed  throughout  the 
house,  by  the  Penn  Metal  Company  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  wainscoting  on 
all  of  the  first  floor  was  taken  out  and  replaced  by  tile  work,  by  Stokeley  & 
McNalis,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.  The  painting  and  paperhanging,were  done  by  P.  J. 
Conville,  Shenandoah.  The  engine  house  is  furnished  handsomely,  there  being 
a  commodious  parlor,  as  well  as  bath  and  reading  rooms.  The  buildings  are 
heated  by  steam,  furnished  from  the  plant  of  the  Home  Brewing  Company. 
Some  years  ago  a  one-story  addition,  27  by  30  feet,  was  made,  providing  stable 
room  for  five  horses,  and  adding  21  feet  to  the  engine  room;  the  alterations 
cost  between  fifteen  and  eighteen  hundred  dollars.  The  property  is  valued  at 
$20,000,  and  the  total  assets  of  the  company  at  $40,805.41,  including,  besides 
the  land  and  buildings,  six  horses,  supply  wagon,  combination  wagon,  two 
drays,  two  trucks,  three  double  cabs,  sweeper  and  street  sprinkler;  money  at 
interest,  $9,800;  liabilities,  $1,000.  When  the  company  moved  into  the  new 
building  the  old  apparatus  was  used,  with  the  addition  of  a  hose  cart.  In 
May,  1904,  horses  were  purchased,  and  on  July  8th  of  that  year  the  borough 
bought  a  combination  wagon  at  a  cost  of  $2,125,  built  by  theyVn^^rican  LaFrance 
Company,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.  In  1914  the  borough  bought  a  supply  wagon  from 
the  J.  C.  Boyd  Company,  Inc.,  of  Philadelphia,  at  an  expenditure  of  $1,200, 
and  that  year  the  company  leased  a  lot  on  East  Apple  alley  from  the  Philadel- 
phia &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company  and  built  a  $500  bam  in  which  to  store 
the  sweeper,  drays,  etc.  The  outside  business  of  the  company  amounts  to 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  thousand  dollars  annually;  for  the  last  five  years  it  has 
been  awarded  the  contract  for  the  cleaning  of  the  paved  streets  in  the  borough. 

The  first  public  appearance  of  the  company  in  uniform  was  at  an  afternoon 
parade  in  which  they  accompanied  the  Columbia  Hose  Company  to  the  latter's 
picnic  at  Columbia  Park.  Upon  a  visitation  of  the  Phoenix  Hose  Company 
of  Pottsville  to  its  namesake  in  Shenandoah,  April  30,  1888,  the  latter  was 
presented  a  handsome  silver  trumpet.  During  the  Spanish-American  war  a 
beautiful  silk  American  flag  was  presented  to  the  company  by  the  school 
teachers  of  the  borough. 

Until  May  9,  1906,  after  the  company  had  served  at  fires  it  was  customary 
for  the  citizens  who  had  been  benefited  to  make  donations  of  beer,  etc.,  to  the 
organization.  The  company  decided  that  cash  would  be  more  acceptable,  and 
in  this  respect  established  a  precedent  for  other  fire  companies  in  the  State,  no 
intoxicating  beverages  of  any  kind  being  now  allowed  in  or  around  the  com- 


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1164  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

pany's  buildings,  and  a  member  who  visited  the  premises  in  an  intoxicated 
condition  would  be  fined  and  probably  expelled. 

A  few  years  ago,  when  the  G.  A.  R.  post  was  about  to  disband  for  lack  of 
a  meeting  place,  the  company  showed  its  public  spirit  by  offering  the  use  of 
its  parlor  for  the  purpose  so  long  as  the  post  exists. 

The  company  is  composed  of  live  men,  the  membership  including  many  of 
the  leading  business  men  of  the  borough.  On  July  i,  191 5,  it  had  gone  up  to 
two  hundred.  The  present  officers  are:  Ed.  J.  Whalen,  president;  Enoch 
Decker,  vice  president;  P.  J.  Conville,  financial  secretary;  P.  J.  Brennan,  re- 
cording secretary;  John  J.  Cantlin,  treasurer;  M.  J.  Dugan,  John  J.  Conville, 
Robert  Shore,  trustees;  John  J.  Flaherty,  John  J.  Martin,  stewards;  Fenton 
Cooney,  foreman;  M.  J.  Dugan,  assistant  foreman.  Owen  Brennan  was  ap- 
pointed general  manager  of  outside  work,  having  charge  of  the  teams,  etc. 

List  of  members:  Albert  Atward,  Philip  Brennan,  Patrick  Broderick, 
Bernard  Bradley,  Thomas  Boler,  Daniel  E.  Brennan,  Patrick  Brogan,  Owen 
Brennan,  Miles  Burke,  M.  J.  Begley,  John  Begley,  Hugh  Barrett,  Martin 
Brennan,  M.  M.  Burke,  Andrew  Brennan,  John  Butler,  E.  J.  Burke,  John 
Burns,  John  Britton,  William  Byrne,  Patrick  J.  Brennan,  Adolph  Bobbin, 
William  Cox,  James  Coughlin,  Thomas  Caniff,  Richard  Coogan,  Edw.  Con- 
ness,  Michael  Cadden,  Martin  Cadden,  Fenton  Cooney,  James  Coogan,  J.  A. 
Coughlin,  Patrick  Corcoran,  James  Cantwell,  Jere  Curran,  Thomas  Cook,  T.  W. 
Conville,  P.  J.  Conville,  John  W.  Curtin,  John  Canley,  Daniel  Coakley, 
George  Coughlin,  Thomas  Cantlin,  Peter  Campbell,  Thomas  Cantwell,  John 
Coughlin,  Val.  Conroy,  Michael  Campbell,  Martin  Conville,  John  J.  Cantlin, 
John  J.  Conville,  Joseph  Koch,  Murton  Durkin,  Ed.  Devers,  Patrick  Devers, 
Enoch  Decker,  Joseph  Decker,  John  Downey,  Sr.,  John  Downey,  Jr.,  Richard 
Dougherty,  Michael  J.  Dugan,  Thomas  Downey,  Michael  Durkin,  Luke  Daley, 
Martin  I>evitt,  Charles  F.  Ditchey,  James  Dean,  Patrick  Dunn,  John  Dean, 
Michael  Devers,  John  Elliott,  James  Egan,  Martin  Foley,  Sr.,  Martin  Foley, 
Jr.,  John  FoUen,  Ed.  Flynn,  Joe  Franks,  Patrick  Fox,  John  Flaherty,  Sr., 
William  Flaherty,  Sr.,  Thomas  P.  Flaherty,  Anthony  Flaherty,  William 
Flaherty,  Jr.,  John  Flaherty,  Jr.,  Martin  Foyle,  Peter  Fabian,  James  J.  Franey, 
John  Gillus,  William  Graham,  Patrick  Graham,  Matthew  Giblon,  P.  J.  Gaug- 
han,  Martin  Golden,  Thomas  Gill,  Frank  HoUister,  John  Hanley,  Patrick 
Higgins,  Michael  Heffren,  Martin  Heffren,  William  Hill,  Patrick  Hand, 
Thomas  Haverty,  James  Houghton,  Martin  Hobbs,  William  Kipe,  Michael 
Kerrigan,  Thomas  Kennedy,  Patrick  Keams,  B.  J.  Keough,  M.  D.  Keough, 
Michael  Keams,  Timothy  Lynch,  John  J.  Leary,  Patrick  Loughlin,  James  Law- 
ler,  William  Lintus,  Michael  Leach,  Martin  Loftus,  Martin  Monaghan,  B.  J. 
Monaghan,  Peter  Monaghan,  John  Makley,  Joseph  Mitchell,  Joseph  Mahey, 
Peter  Mahey,  Martin  Mulhahey,  John  Martin,  Joseph  Manley,  Joseph  Man- 
dour,  Harry  Mellet,  Patrick  Maher,  Patrick  Murphy,  Patrick  Martin,  James 
Manley,  E.  J.  McGinnis,  John  McGowan,  Edw.  McMalis,  Thomas  McGreaver, 
William  McGuire,  Sr.,  Michael  McGuire,  Michael  McLane,  Timothy  McLane, 
Patrick  McCarty,  Anthony  McNuIty,  Harry  McDonald,  Frank  McDonald, 
Patrick  McDonald,  Michael  O'Boyle,  Patrick  O'Boyle,  Thomas  O'Heam, 
Richard  Orbsey,  Thomas  O'Connell,  Ed.  Rooney,  Nace  Reilly,  William  Rey- 
nolds, Thomas  Reilley,  Harry  Reilly,  John  Reilly,  M.  J.  Reilly,  Miles  Reilly, 
Philip  Ryan,  Simon  Romanat,  Peter  Rattigan,  Anthony  Sweeney,  Ed.  Stanton, 
Anthony  Schmicker,  Morris  Sayres,  Thomas  Sheehy,  John  Scanlan,  M.  J. 
Scanlan,  Patrick  Stack,  John  Stanton,  Patrick  Stanton,  Joseph  Schistell,  Chris- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1165 

topher  Schistell,  Carby  Stack,  Robert  Shore,  Peter  Toole,  Jere  Toomey,  Mar- 
tin Tobin,  Reese  Thomas,  Thomas  O'Lackie,  John  Wade,  Charles  Wychules, 
J.  J.  Wilkinson,  Ed.  J.  Whalen,  John  Whalen,  Richard  Whalen,  Oliver  Whalen, 
John  Whalen,  Thomas  Whalen,  Joseph  Walsh. 

NORMAN  MILLARD  STAUFFER  is  well  known  in  Ringtown  and  all 
over  Union  township,  where  he  resides,  for  his  excellent  work  as  a  photo|^- 
rapher,  and  he  is  one  of  the  most  popular  Sunday  school  workers  in  Schuylkill 
county.  He  is  a  native  of  Union  township,  bom  on  the  place  now  occupied 
by  his  uncle,  Ambrose  Stauffer,  and  belongs  to  a  very  old  Pennsylvania  family, 
descended  from  Hans  Stauffer,  who  was  a  Mennonite  and  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land, bom  in  1655  at  Altzheim  or  Weisenau.  In  1710  he  came  to  America 
with  his  sons,  Jacob,  Daniel  and  Henry,  and  he  is  buried  in  the  Mennonite 
cemetery  at  Valley  Forge,  Pennsylvania. 

Jacob  Stauffer,  son  of  Hans,  was  born  in  Switzerland  in  1696,  came  with 
his  father  to  America,  and  is  buried  in  the  Mennonite  cemetery  at  Bally,  Berks 
Co.,  Pennsylvania. 

Christian  Stauffer,  son  of  Jacob,  was  bora  Dec.  18,  1728,  died  July  14, 
1798,  and  is  buried  at  Bally.  He  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  serving  through- 
out the  war,  was  under  the  command  of  "Mad  Anthony"  Wayne,  and  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Three  Rivers,  Canada,  Ticonderoga,  Brandywine,  Mon- 
mouth, Stony  River,  Green  Spring  and  Yorktown. 

John  Stauffer,  second  child  and  only  son  of  Christian,  was  bom  Dec.  24, 
1758,  in  New  Hanover  township,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  and  lived  in  his  native 
county  until  1809,  when  he  settled  in  Ryon  township,  Berks  (now  Schuylkill) 
county.  .  On  May  10,  1839,  he  moved  with  his  son  ^  David  to  the  Catawissa 
Valley.  He  died  March  5,  1845,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son  Jacob  at  Broad 
Mountain,  Schuylkill  county,  and  is  buried  in  Locust  Valley,  near  Mahanoy 
City,  Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  Stauffer  was  always  a  farmer.  He  was  a  Men- 
nonite, like  his  father  and  earlier  ancestors,  but  under  the  influence  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Shaeffer,  a  Lutheran  missionary  who  came  into-  their  district,  all  his 
children  became  Lutherans.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  wife,  Eliz- 
abeth (Yerger),  born  Dec.  18,  1782,  is  buried  with  him  in  Locust  Valley. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  Jacob,  Rebecca  (Mrs.  Peifer),  John,  Eliz- 
abeth (Mrs.  Drase),  Catherine  (Mrs.  Puhl),  George,  Isaac,  Henry,  Magda- 
lene (Mrs.  Bittler),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Shell),  David  (married  Maria  Anne 
Andreas),  Joseph  and  Amos. 

Isaac  Stauffer,  son  of  John,  was  bom  Feb.  i,  1796,  in  Locust  Valley,  and 
died  Nov.  15,  1869. 

Henry  Stauffer,  son  of  John,  was  bom  in  Locust  Valley,  near  Mahanoy 
City,  Nov.  8,  1797,  arKl  died  Nov.  28,  1869,  in  Union  township.  In  his 
younger  days  he  worked  as  a  miner  at  Middleport,  where  he  married.  Later  he 
settled  in  Union  township,  where  he  bought  from  David  Stauffer  a  tract  of 
eighty-eight  acres  of  which  but  one  acre  had  then  been  cleared,  and  he  labored 
in  its  development  until  he  had  fifty-five  acres  cleared.  He  also  owned  a  fifty- 
two-acre  farm  ih  Roaring  Creek  township,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.  His  first  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Rumbel,  died  without  issue,  and  is  buried  in  Locust 
Valley.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Susanna  Merkel,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Merkel,  both  natives  of  the  Mahantongfo  Valley,  Schuylkill  county.  She  lived 
to  the  aee  of  seventv-seven  years,  and  is  buried  with  her  hysband  at  the  Old 
White  Church  near  Ringtown.    They  were  the  parents  of  children  as  follows : 


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1166  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Benjamin,  who  married  Sarah  Schappel  and  (second)  Phoebe  Schappel; 
Henry,  who  married  Kate  Fry;  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Peter  Schappel;  Samuel; 
Katie,  who  died  young;  Martin,  who  married  Rachel  Derr;  and  Isaac,  who 
died  when  twenty-five  years  old.  The  father  was  a  Democrat  and  a  Lutheran, 
holding  membership  in  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at  Ringtown. 

Samuel  Stauifer,  son  of  Henry,  was  bom  April  20,  1845,  '"  Union  town- 
ship, at  the  same  place  as  his  grandson  Norman  M.  Stauffer.  He  was  brought 
up  there,  received  his  education  in  the  local  schools,  and  farmed  throughout 
his  active  years.  After  his  marriage  he  went  to  Roaring  Creek  township, 
Columbia  county,  where  he  rented  his  father's  farm  of  fifty-two  acres,  upon 
which  he  resided  four  years.  Returning  to  Union  township  he  purchased  the 
tract  of  eighty-eight  acres  from  his  father's  estate,  and  continued  the  work 
of  clearing  until  all  but  four  acres  were  under  cultivation ;  this  is  still  in  timber. 
On  Nov.  8,  1900,  Mr.  StauflFer  retired  and  moved  to  his  newly  built  home  in 
Ringtown,  situated  across  from  the  Lutheran  Church,  where  he  still  lives.  In 
191 3  he  sold  twenty-three  acres  and  ninety-five  perches  of  the  original  tract  of 
his  farm  to  the  Girard  Water  Company,  and  later  bought  twenty-two  acres 
from  the  Girard  Estate,  the  latter  purchase  being  the  old  Joseph  StauflFer 
farm,  adjoining  his  property.  Mr.  StauflFer  followed  general  farming  very 
successfully  until  he- retired.  He  marketed  his  products  at  Shenandoah,  Frack- 
ville,  Mahanoy  City,  and  other  points  in  that  region.  When  he  gave  up  active 
labor  and  built  the  home  in  Ringtown  where  he  now  resides,  Mr.  StauflFer 
rented  his  home  farm  to  his  son  Charles  M.  StauflFer.  He  owns  consider- 
able other  property,  having  managed  his  aflFairs  very  thriftily  throughout  his 
independent  career.  As  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party  he  has  taken  an 
interested  part  in  local  aflFairs,  and  he  has  filled  a  number  of  township  oflSces, 
having  been  school  director,  auditor  and  election  inspector.  He  was  a  charter 
member  of  Ringtown  Lodge,  No.  287,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  belongs  to  St.  John's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at  Ringtown,  which  he  has  served  efficiently  as 
elder,  deacon  and  trustee. 

Mr.  StauflFer  married  Lucy  Beaver,  who  was  bom  Feb.  6,  1848,  in  Roaring 
Creek  township,  Columbia  county,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Fannie  (Whit- 
ner)  Beaver.  Children  as  follows  have  been  bom  to  them :  William  Elmer ; 
Calvin  A.,  a  farmer  in  Union  township,  who  married  Emma  Michael;  Clara 
Ada,  wife  of  Milton  Seltzer,  a  farmer  in  East  Union  township;  Samuel  Am- 
brose, a  farm  worker  in  Union  township,  who  married  Catherine  Evans; 
Lloyd  Henry,  who  farms  his  father's  twenty-two-acre  tract  in  Union  township 
(he  married  Pearl  Hartzel)  ;  Charles  Monroe,  the  farmer  on  the  home  place, 
who  married  Sarah  Laudig;  and  Annie  Elizabeth,  married  to  William  Fetter- 
man,  a  mine  carpenter,  of  Ringtown. 

William  Elmer  Stauffer,  son  of  Samuel,  was  bom  March  17,  1867,  in 
Roaring  Creek  township,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  three  years  old  when 
his  father  returned  to  Union  township,  wjiere  he  spent  his  boyhood  and  received 
his  education.  He  assisted  his  father  with  the  work  on  the  home  place  until 
he  reached  his  majority,  and  then  having  married  started  out  on  his  own 
account.  He  bought  a  half  acre  of  ground  from  his  father,  the  site  of  the 
"Valley  View  Hotel."  where  he  still  resides,  built  a  residence,  bam,  and  other 
outbuiklings,  and  established  a  comfortable  home.  For  two  years  he  was 
engaged  in  cutting  timber  for  Bankes  &  Dresher.  In  March,  1892,  he  was 
granted  a  hotel  license  and  opened  the  "Valley  View  Hotel,"  which  he  has 
since  conducted  most  successfully,  the   place  having  acquired   considerable 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1167 

popularity  under  his  capable  management.  It  is  situated  on  the  main  road 
between  Shenandoah  and  Ringtown,  well  equipped  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  traveling  public,  and  noted  for  its  good  meals. 

Mr.  StaufFer  has  added  to  his  first  purchase  two  and  a  half  acres,  and 
he  has  a  busy  establishment,  being  also  engaged  in  dealing  in  feed,  middlings, 
fertilizer,  etc.,  as  well  as  oil  and  gasoline  for  automobiles.  He  has  a  large 
scale  (five  and  a  quarter  tons)  on  the  premises,  for  weighing  wagons,  hay, 
straw,  wheat,  etc.,  which  is  a  great  accommodation  to  the  farmers.  About 
twenty  years  ago  he  built  a  blacksmith  shop  on  his  property  and  managed  it 
himself  for  five  years,  hiring  an  experienced  man  to  do  the  work.  Later  he 
built  a  new  blacksmith  shop  on  the  premises,  which  he  rents,  and  there  is 
also  a  double  house  on  the  lot,  which  he  rents.  For  about  twenty-seven  years 
Mr.  StaufFer  was  a  member  of  Ringtown  Lodge,  No.  287,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
he- was  a  charter  member  of  Guardian  Castle,  No.  500,  .Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle.  He  belongs  to  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he 
has  been  deacon  for  a  number  of  years,  and  he  was  at  one  time  active  in  the 
Sunday  school,  acting  as  secretary  and  teacher.  On  political  questions  he 
unites  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  StauflFer  married  Mary  Sophia  Lindenmuth,  who  was  bom  Feb.  17, 
1867,  in  Union  township,  in  the  same  house  her  son  Norman  was  bom.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  StauflFer  have  had  four  children:  Jennie  May,  bom  Feb.  13,  1887, 
died  aged  six  months,  fifteen  days;  Norman  Millard  is  next  in  the  family; 
Florence  Arvilla,  bom  April  25,  1895,  was  educated  in  the  Union  township 
schools  and  Ringtown  high  school,  which  she  attended  two  years,  and  is  now 
living  at  home;  Fannie  Irene,  bom  Oct.  5,  1901,  also  attended  the  Union  town- 
ship schools,  and  is  now  a  pupil  in  the  Ringtown  high  school.  The  elder 
daughter  is  a  member  of  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  and  is  a 
teacher  in  the  primary  department  of  the  Sunday  school ;  the  younger  daughter 
is  a  member  of  the  junior  department  of  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Sun- 
day school. 

Norman  Millard  StauflFer  attended  the  StauflFer  school  in  Union  township, 
near  his  home,  and  had  one  year's  study  in  the  Ringtown  High  School.  Enter- 
ing the  employ  of  George  Mess,  at  Ringtown,  piano  manufacturer,  he  was  with 
him  for  six  months,  as  "belly  man,"  making  and  assembling  sounding  boards 
and  backs,  and  when  the  firm  of  Harwood  &  Von  Rohl  took  over  the  business 
he  continued  with  them  in  the  same  capacity,  having  charge  of  his  department 
for  two  and  a  half  years.  The  establishment  changed  hands  again,  passing  into 
the  ownership  of  the  Hamburg  Piano  Company,  who  removed  the  works  to 
Hamburg,  Pa.  Mr.  StauflFer  accompanied  them  to  that  place,  continuing  his 
old  work  and  also  taking  charge  of  the  cabinet  work.  From  early  life  he  had 
cherished  the  ambition  of  becoming  a  proficient  photographer,  and  while  work- 
ing in  the  piano  factory  had  made  extensive  experiments  in  that  line,  doing 
considerable  photo  work  in  his  spare  time.  When  he  left  the  employ  of 
the  Hamburg  Piano  Company  he  bought  himself  a  fine  complete  photo- 
graphic outfit,  and  has  devoted  his  time  to  photography  since,  doing  outdoor 
work  as  well  as  portrait  work.  Many  fine  specimens  show  the  progress  he 
has  made.  For  three  years  he  was  in  the  post  card  business  at  Ringtown, 
making  and  selling  local  views,  and  has  many  fine  pictures  taken  in  this 
region.  As  a  side  line  Mr.  StauflFer  has  been  making  photographic  enlarge- 
ments and  doing  framing,  and  he  is  now  making  a  specialty  of  crayon  enlarging, 
as  well  as  all  other  kinds'  of  enlarging,  being  prepared  to  furnish  anything 


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1168  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

in  the  enlarging  and  framing  line.  During  the  construction  of  the  large  stor- 
age reservoir  at  Ringtown  (capacity  312,280,000  gallons)  built  by  the  Girard 
Water  Company,  of  Pottsville,  he  was  the  official  photographer  for  the  com- 
pany and  also  for  Bennett  &  Randall,  of  Greensburg,  Pa.,  the  contractors. 

Personally  Mr.  Stauffer  bears  the  reputation  of  being  a  young  man  of  the 
highest  character,  possessing  many  fine  qualities.  On  March  31,  1907,  he  was 
confirmed  in  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of  Ringtown,  by  Rev. 
A.  P.  Pflueger,  pastor,  and  he  has  been  one  of  the  valued  members  of  its  Sun- 
day school  for  years.  He  was  elected  superintendent  of  St.  John's  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Sunday  school  Jan.  7,  1912,  and  during  his  first  year  in  that 
position  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  school  qualify  as  a  front  line  school, 
according  to  the  standard  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Sabbath  School  Associa- 
tion. He  has  kept  his  school  up  to  that  standard  during  his  many  years  of 
successful  superintendentship.  Mr.  Stauffer  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
county  and  State  conventions  of  the  association,  and  has  been  district  super- 
intendent of  its  Organized  Adult  Bible  Class  in  the  Ringtown  district,  No.  i, 
Schuylkill  county,  comprising  the  three  Union  townships  in  Schuylkill  county. 
He  is  at  present  district  superintendent  of  the  Secondary  Division  (teen  age, 
thirteen  to  twenty). 

Mr.  Stauffer  is  a  member  of  Washington  Camp  No.  265,  P.  O.  S.  of  A., 
of  Ringtown,  and  a  Past  President  of  that  organization,  and  was  representa- 
tive to  the  State  Camp  in  1914,  at  York,  Pa.  On  May  13,  1910,  he  joined 
Maple  Leaf  Camp,  No.  246,  Woodmen  of  the  World,  Ringtown,  as  a  charter 
member,  and  has  always  labored  zealously  to  promote  its  interests.  He  has 
just  completed  his  term  as  Consul  Commander,  the  highest  elective  office  of 
the  Camp,  which  he  is  now  serving  as  Past  Consul  Commander,  the  highest 
office,  an  honorary  position.  During  his  term  as  Consul  Commander  (191 5) 
the  Camp  gained  thirty-five  members,  of  whom  he  himself  proposed  twenty- 
seven,  doing  his  utmost  then  as  ever  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  organ- 
ization.   In  politics  Mr.  Stauffer  votes  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  StauflFer's  mother  was  brought  up  in  Union  township,  attending  the 
Home  school.  She  is  a  devout  member  of  St.  John  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  at  Ringtown,  and  was  formerly  a  teacher  in  Home's  Union  Sunday 
school.  The  Lindenmuth  family,  to  which  she  belongs,  has  been  in  this  county 
for  considerably  more  than  a  century,  her  great-grandfather,  Daniel  Linden- 
muth, having  come  hither  from  Berks  county,  Pa.,  in  1792.  He  and  his  three 
brothers,  Gieorge,  Henry  and  Martin  (who  later  moved  out  to  Indiana),  divided 
the  four  hundred  acres  awarded  their  father  for  his  services  in  the  Revolution, 
Daniel  settling  in  Union  township*,  where  Mrs.  William  Boyer  now  lives.  He 
was  married  four  times,  and  he  and  three  of  his  wives  are  buried  in  the  family 
cemetery  at  Lindenmuth's  Comer.    The  fourth  moved  from  this  section. 

George  Lindenmuth,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  Feb.  7,  181 5,  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Union  township,  and  died  July  21,  1885.  His  wife,  Polly  (Dum- 
bach),  bom  June  27,  1814,  died  March  20,  1893,  and  they  are  buried  at  the 
Old  White  Church.  They  had  six  children:  Charles  Daniel,  deceased  in  in- 
fancy ;  Sallie  Ann,  Mrs.  William  Lindenmuth ;  William  D. ;  Jeremiah,  who 
married  Catherine  Brobst ;  Polly ;  and  Amanda  Elizabeth,  who  lives  at  Ring- 
town.    She  and  William  are  the  only  survivors  of  the  family. 

William  D.  Lindenmuth  was  bom  May  9.  1841,  on  the  old  home  place  in 
Union  township  now  owned  by  the  William  Boyer  estate.  He  married  Han- 
nah Fry,  who  was  born  Aug.  9,  1845,  in  Union  township,  and  died  July  10. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSV^LVANIA  1169 

1910;  she  is  buried  at  the  Old  White  Church.  Four  children  were  bom  to  this 
marriage:  Mary  Sophia,  wife  of  William  Elmer  Stauffer;  Sallie  Savilla, 
widow  of  William  Boyer  and  living  on  the  old  Lindenmuth  homestead;  Dr. 
Eli  Oscar,  who  married  Elnora  Breisch ;  and  George  Clarence,  who  owns  and' 
occupies  his  father's  old  farm  in  Union  township.  In  1905  William  D.  Lin- 
denmuth sold  most  of  his  farm  to  his  son  Qarence,  retaining  for  himself  five 
acres,  on  which  he  built  a  fine  house  and  bam,  and  there  he  is  still  residing. 
An  extensive  account  of  the  Lindenmuth  family  appears  elsewhere  with  his 
personal  biography. 

PIUS  WILLIAM  BIRSTON  (officially  Bierstein),  of  Shenandoah,  has 
been  practically  a  lifelong  resident  of  Schuylkill  county,  having  been  a  very 
young  child  when  his  parents  settled  here.  He  is  of  Lithuanian  extraction 
and  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  language  and  customs  of  his  race  and  their 
native  land,  therefore  well  qualified  to  serve  them  with  counsel  in  numerous 
matters,  as  he  is  often  called  upon  to  do.  His  broad  ideals  on  the  subject  of 
good  citizenship,  as  exemplified  in  his  own  life,  have  gained  him  esteem  an\ong 
all  his  fellow  tow^nsmen  irrespective  of  nationality  or  other  distinctions. 

Mr.  Birston  was  born  Feb.  7,  1870,  son  of  Joseph  A.  Birston  and  grandson 
of  Ambrose  Birston.  The  grandfather  was  bora  in  1819  in  Birston,  Lithuania, 
Russia,  in  which  country  he  spent  all  his  life.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer, 
and  he  had  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres,  which  his  wife  received  as  dowry. 
Later  he  moved  to  Oskobolie,  in  the  same  country,  where  he  died  in  1840, 
when  his  son  Joseph  A.  was  five  weeks  old.  He  is  buried  at  Oskobolie.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Anna  Symanowycz,  died  when  about  seventy 
years  old.  By  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Birston  she  had  only  the  one  son,  Joseph  A. 
She  remarried,  becoming  the  wife  of  John  King,  and  they  had  the  following 
children :  John,  William  and  Veronica.  The  family  belonged  to  the  Lithu- 
anian Roman  Catholic  Church. 

Joseph  A.  Birston,  father  of  Pius  William  Birston,  was  bom  in  Oskobolie, 
Lithuania,  Jan.  i,  1840.  He  received  a  good  general  education,  attending  a 
seminary  in  Warsaw.  The  i  co-acre  farm  before  mentioned  was  his  inheritance 
when  his  father  died,  and  a  guardian  was  appointed  to  look  after  his  interests 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  His  uncle  was  later  appointed  his 
guardian,  and  because  of  litigation  with  this  uncle  conceming  this  property 
Joseph  A.  Birston  left  his  native  country  and  came  to  America,  m  1870. 
Upon  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  was  given  the  name  of  Bierstein,  which 
he  and  his  children  have  home  officially  since,  but  they  have  not  dropped  the 
use  of  the  proper  spelling.  For  a  while  the  family  lived  at  Boston,  Mass., 
thence  removing  to  Pittston,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  where  the  father  followed  mine 
work  for  some  time.  Then  they  lived  at  Shenandoah,  where  he  was  similarly 
employed,  and  after  trying  various  other  locations  he  settled  in  1872  at  Girard- 
ville,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  followed  mining  for  fourteen  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  returned  to  Shenandoah,  where  he  did  mine  work  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  April,  1892,  on  Easter  Monday.  He  is  buried  in  St. 
George's  Lithuanian  cemetery  at  Shenandoah.  Mr.  Birston  was  a  member  of 
St.  George's  Lithuanian  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  of  the  St.  Peter  and  St. 
Paul  Beneficial  Society.     Politically  he  was  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Birston  married  Anna  Smeltzer,  who  was  bom  in  Verbalis,  Lithuania, 

and  the  two  sons  bom  to  them  in  their  native  province  both  died  there,  in 

infancy.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children  in  all,  seven  sons  and  five 
Vol.  n— se 


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1170  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

daughters,  and  Pius  William  is  the  eldest  surviving  member  of  the  family. 
Margaret  married  William  Strolls,  a  merchant  of  Shenandoah,  and  they  have 
five  children.  Joseph  F.,  who  is  in  the  real  estate  business  in  Shenandoah, 
married  Bertha  Petchock.  John  R.,  who  is  a  teamster  in  Shenandoah,  married 
Pauline  Gourlcy.  Mary  I.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Medico-Chirurgical  Nurses' 
School,  Philadelphia,  and  is  now  engaged  as  a  trained  nurse  in  that  city,  where 
her  mother  lives  with  her.  Catherine  E.  is  also  in  Philadelphia,  clerking  in 
the  store  of  Strawbridge  &  Clothier.  Annie  E.  graduated  from  the  Keystone 
State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  Pa.,  in  1904,  and  for  several  years  has  been 
teaching  public  school  at  Shenandoah.  Edward  is  engaged  in  the  clothing 
business  in  New  York  City.  Theresa  graduated  from  3ie  Keystone  State 
Normal  School,  and  was  a  teacher  at  Passaic,  N.  J.,  at  the  time  of  her  death, 
Sept.  5,  191 5,  when  she  was  twenty- four  years  old.  During  the  Spanish- 
American  war  John  and  Joseph  served  in  the  army,  the  former  in  the  21st  U.  S. 
Infantry  and  the  latter  in  the  ist  U.  S.  Artillery. 

Pius  William  Birston  was  educated  in  Schuylkill  county,  attending  most 
of  the  time  in  Butler  township  and  at  Girardville.  He  began  to  earn  his  own 
living  like  many  boys  in  this  region,  in  the  humble  capacity  of  slate  picker  at 
the  mines,  and  did  that  and  other  mine  work  until  1888.  That  year  he  found 
a  position  as  clerk  in  a  general  store  in  Shenandoah,  to  which  place  the  family 
had  returned  in  1886,  and  was  so  engaged  for  about  two  and  a  half  years. 
He  was  then  away  from  home  for  fourteen  months,  part  of  the  time  attending 
school  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  the  rest  traveling  over  the  far  West.  When  he 
returned  to  Shenandoah  he  taught  in  the  business  college  for  about  one  year, 
and  in  the  early  nineties  he  started  in  business  on  his  own  account  as  a  real 
estate  dealer.  A  few  years  later  he  became  associated  with  L.  M.  Kazunas  in 
the  drug  business,  but  they  dissolved  partnership  in  1900,  after  about  three 
years,  and  Mr.  Birston  then  enlarged  the  scope  of  his  individual  enterprise, 
adding  general  insurance  to  his  original  line.  He  has  a  large  patronage  in 
both  branches,  having  gained  the  confidence  of  the  entire  community  by  his 
reliability  and  thorough  trustworthiness.  Since  the  year  1895  Mr.  Birston  has 
been  a  notary  public,  and  since  1912  has  been  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  was  originally  appointed  to  that  office  by  the  governor  in  1896,  and  was 
subsequently  elected  for  a  full  term  of  five  years,  but  on  that  occasion  did  not 
qualify  because  of  a  controversy  over  the  question  of  jurisdiction.  In  1912 
he  was  again  honored  with  election.  Mr.  Birston'  has  given  notably  efficient 
service  in  various  other  public  offices,  having  been  secretary  of  the  borough 
council  from  1900  to  1905,  and  served  as  treasurer  of  the  school  board,  in  18^, 
proving  deserving  of  the  support  of  his  constituents  in  all  these  incumbencies. 
In  1893  he  was  candidate  for  county  recorder,  but  was  defeated.  On  political 
questions  he  has  always  been  associated  with  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Birston  has  been  very  active  in  local  social  organizations,  holding 
membership  in  Lodge  No.  515,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Shenandoah,  of  which  he  is  a 
past  grand;  in  General  Harmon  Lodge,  No.  251,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which 
he  is  a  past  chancellor;  and  in  the  Lithuanian  association,  in  which  he  is 
particularly  popular,  having  been  elected  president  of  the  Lithuanian  Alliance 
of  America  at  the  convention  held  in  Chicago  in  May,  1906.  In  religion  he  is  a 
Catholic,  belonging  to  St.  George's  Lithuanian  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

On  Oct.  12,  1910,  Mr.  Birston  was  married  in  St.  George's  Church,  at 
Shenandoah,  to  Margaret  Griskin,  wha  was  bom  July  19,  1892,  daughter  of 
John  and  Anna  (Pleaczkailis)  Griskin,  and  they  have  had  three  children :  Ruth 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1171 

Marie,  bom  Aug.  5,  191 1 ;  Alice  Dorothy,  bom  Oct.  23,  1913;  and  Grace  Anna, 
bom  July  10,  191 5. 

CHARLES  A.  PORTLAND,  Pottsville,  Pa.,  president  of  the  Portland 
Contracting  Company,  Inc.,  rock  and  tunnel  work,  shaft  sinking,  etc.  Offices, 
comer  George  and  East  Market  streets. 

GEORGE  BATTEN,  deceased,  settled  at  Minersville  in  1856  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  iji  that  borough,  winning  the  esteem  and  good  will  of  his 
fellow  citizens  there  by  a  life  of/ consistent  integrity  and  industry.  Three  of 
his  children  still  reside  there  and  continue  to  uphold  the  excellence  of  the 
name,  his  sons  George  Henry  and  Shadrach  Batten,  and  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Wintersteen. 

George  Batten  was  bom  in  Bristol,  England,  son  of  Ernest  Batten,  who  lived 
and  died  in  that  country.  When  a  boy  about  seven  years  old  he  began  to  work  in 
the  mines,  and  he  lived  for  a  time  in  Wales  before  coming  to  America,  in 
1856.  Settling  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  he  continued  the  occupation 
to  which  he  had  been  trained  so  thoroughly,  spending  in  all  fifty  years  in  under- 
ground work,  which  he  gave  up  when  fifty-seven  years  old.  He  was  a  skillful 
miner,  and  by  hard  work  and  good  judgment  met  with  success  in  his  work, 
and  was  one  of  the  well  known  men  of  his  town  in  his  time.  His  death 
occurred  at  Minersville  in  August,  1886,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years,  and  he 
is  buried  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  cemetery.  Mr.  Batten  married  Jane  Davis, 
who  was  bom  at  Pontypool,  Wales,  and  they  had  children  as  follows :  Charlotte, 
who  is  deceased;  George  Henry;  Mary;  Ernest;  Harriet,  deceased,  who  was 
the  wife  of  William  Simmons;  and  Shadrach. 

George  Henry  Batten,  son  of  George  and  Jane  (Davis)  Batten,  was  bom 
Feb.  26,  1861,  at  Minersville,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  meantime  obtaining 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.  Mr.  Batten  was  in  business  for  a  number  of 
years  as  a  coal  dealer,  and  also  as  a  general  merchant,  and  at  different  times 
has  been  employed  as  a  skilled  workman.  For  six  years  he  was  assessor  at 
Minersville,  and  is  now  filling  the  position  of  t;ruant  officer  at  that  borough. 
He  is  a  popular  citizen  and  one  of  the  well  known  men  of  his  community,  presi- 
dent of  the  Rescue  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  and  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Americans.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr.  Batten's  first  marriage  was  to  Annie  Morgans,  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  A.  Morgans,  and  she  was  the  mother  of  one  daughter,  Edna,  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  Myron  Shellhammer,  the  young  couple  residing  with  her  father. 
Mrs.  Batten  died  in  June,  1890,  and  in  1^6  Mr.  Batten  married  (second) 
Kate  Hilbert,  of  Llewellyn,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.  Mrs.  Kate  Batten  passed  away 
Dec.  I,  1904,  leaving  one  son,  George,  at  present  the  only  representative  of  the 
name  in  his  generation.    Mr.  Batten  resides  on  Pine  street. 

Shadrach  Batten,  youngest  son  of  George  and  Jane  (Davis)  Batten,  was 
bom  March  3,  1866,  at  Minersville,  where  he  is  a  prosperous  merchant.  He 
attended  the  schools  in  his  native  town  and  during  his  young  manhood  was 
employed  at  mining  for  three  years.  Subsequently  he  was  with  John  R. 
Jones  and  Winfield  Scott  in  the  capacity  of  clerk,  familiarizing  himself  with 
business  methods  and  gaining  experience  which  was  of  great  value  to  him  when 
he  started  in  business  on  his  own  account,  Dec.  13,  1888.  His  store  and  home 
are  at  No.  336  New  Castle  street.    By  commendable  methods  and  strict  atten- 


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1172  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

tion  to  the  wants  of  his  trade  he  has  established  a  large  business,  and  he  has 
the  personal  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  his  patrons.  He  has  valuable  real 
estate  interests  in  the  borough.  His  fellow  citizens  have  given  substantial  evi- 
dence of  their  faith  in  his  ability  by  electing  him  a  member  of  the  school  board, 
on  which  body  he  served  for  some  time.  Mr.  Batten  is  weU  known  in  local 
fraternal  circles,  being  a  member  and  past  officer  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  and  his  family  are  Methodists 
in  religious  affiUation. 

Mr.  Batten  married  Christy  A.  Schopp,  daughter  of  William  Schopp,  of 
Minersville,  and  they  have  two  children,  Jessie  J.,  who  graduated  from  the 
Minersville  high  school  in  1914  and  is  now  at  home;  and  May,  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1915  of  the  Minersville  high  school,  who  in  a  typewriting  contest,  for 
speed  and  accuracy,  won  a  gold  medal  against  many  competitors  from  all  over 
the  state. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Batten)  Wintersteen,  the  only  surviving  daughter  of 
George  and  Jane  (Davis)  Batten,  was  bom  at  Minersville,  where  she  still 
resides.  She  is  the  wife  of  John  Wintersteen.  For  over  twenty  years  Mrs. 
Wintersteen  was  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  business  in  the  borough, 
and  she  still  has  valuable  real  estate  holdings  there. 

CHARLES  E.  SMITH,  proprietor  of  the  Shenandoah  Boiler  &  Machine 
Works,  at  Shenandoah,  has  established  a  reputation  for  reliable  machine  and 
blacksmith  work  which  brings  a  steady  patronage  to  his  plant.  The  varied 
experience  of  his  early  life  gave  him  a  thorough  insight  into  the  local  needs 
in  his  line,  and  his  success  demonstrates  that  he  is  well  fitted  to  conduct  the 
business.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill  county,  bom  at  West  Wood, 
near  Minersville,  Feb.  16,  1859,  son  of  William  E.  Smith  and  grandson  of 
John  Smith. 

John  Smith,  the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  where  he  lived 
until  long  after  his  marriage,  all  his  children  being  bom  there.  On  coming  to 
this  country  he  settled  at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  when  the  Wip^an 
slope  shaft  was  sunk  three  of  his  sons  served  as  leaders  of  a  shift.  Within 
several  years  after  their  arrival  in  America  the  family  had  become  scattered 
to  different  parts  of  the  country,  but  we  have  the  following  record  of  the 
children :  John,  James  and  Robert  are  deceased ;  Joseph,  who  went  to  Ken- 
tucky, was  a  stationary  engineer;  William  E.  was  the  father  of  Charles  E. 
Smith;  Sydney  went  to  California;  Jane  married  Michael  Welsh,  and  both 
are  deceased  (among  their  large  family  were  Michael  and  Thomas) ;  Mar- 
garet married  William  McKeghney,  who  served  five  years  in  the  army,  being 
a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Cavalry  during  the  Civil  war,  as  an 
officer,  and  is  now  in  the  soldiers'  home  at  Washington,  D.  C.  (they  had 
children,  Elmer,  William,  Robert  and  Adelaide).  The  family  were  Presby- 
terians. 

William  E.  Smith  was  bom  in  Scotland  March  22,  1832,  and  was  about  six 
years  old  when  the  family  came  to  America,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  at  Pottsville.  He  learned  the  molder's  trade  in  the  shops  at 
Minersville,  and  was  later  occupied  running  the  stationary  engine  at  the  West 
Wood  mines,  for  James  Lanigan.  After  a  short  residence  in  Minersville  he 
moved  in  1865  t^  Gilberton,  this  county,  where  he  ran  an  engine  for  a  Mr. 
Kendrick  for  a  few  years.  Then  he  located  at  Mahanoy  City,  and  ran  engines 
at  the  New  Boston  collieries.    For  a  few  years  he  was  in  the  saloon  business 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1173 

at  Mahanoy  City,  selling  out  to  John  Rating,  after  which  he  was  engineer  at 
the  Hills  colliery  there,  for  several  years.  Returning  to  Gilberton,  he  became 
outside  foreman  for  the  Draper  Coal  Company,  holding  that  position  eleven 
years,  was  subsequently  engineer  on  the  coal  slope  at  Boston  Run  for  two  and 
a  half  years,  and  then  moving  to  Shenandoah  bought  an  interest  in  the  Cam- 
bridge Coal  Company,  the  firm  name  becoming  Pierce,  James  &  Smith.  They 
operated  a  colliery  near  Shenandoah,  and  Mr.  Smith  at  the  same  time  conducted 
a  liquor  store.  After  selling  his  interests  at  Shenandoah  he  was  engaged  as 
engineer  at  the  county  almshouse  for  a  time,  was  employed  as  motorman  by 
the  Pottsville  Traction  Company,  and  retired  because  of  ill  health  some  time 
before  his  death,  which  occurred  in  November,  1913.  Though  he  did  not  aspire 
to  public  office  Mr.  Smith  held  the  position  of  school  director  at  Gilberton  in 
1870.  He  was  a  Republican  in  his  poHtical  convictions,  and  a  Presbyterian 
in  religious  connection,  he  and  his  wife  belonging  to  the  First  Churdi  at 
Pottsville.  Mr.  Smith  joined  the  Odd  Fellows  at  Frackville,  this  county,  later 
changing  his  membership  to  the  lodge  at  Shenandoah,  No.  515.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Anstey,  who  was  bom  in  England  in  April,  1832,  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  Anstey,  and  died  about  1904  at  Pottsville.  Her  father  was  a  miner. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  buried  in  the  Charles  Baber  cemetery  at  Pottsville. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  named  children :  Albert  is  employed 
as  a  stationary  engineer,  pumpman  and  boilermaker,  and  resides  at  Mahanoy 
Rane ;  he  has  been  twice  married,  to  Rebecca  Bayliss  and  Mrs.  Annie  Lawler, 
and  by  the  second  union  has  one  child,  William,  who  lives  in  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Charles  E.  is  next  in  the  family.  Agnes  married  Frank  Kurtz,  of  Pottsville, 
and  has  children,  William,  Elmer,  Ethel,  Clara  and  Mabel.  Clara  is  the 
widow  of  Harry  Hutchinson,  a  hatmaker,  of  New  York,  and  makes  her  home 
in  Pottsville;  she  has  one  son,  Hobart.  William  E.,  stationary  engineer  and 
pumpman,  of  Shenandoah,  married  Mary  QiflFord,  and  they  have  had  six 
children,  Lizzie,  William,  Clifford,  Charles,  Mildred,  and  a  son  that  died  young. 
Robert,  a  barber,  married  a  Miss  Bums,  and  both  are  deceased ;  they  had  one 
child,  William,  who  is  serving  in  the  United  States  marines.  Jane  is  the  wife  of 
Richard  Reese,  a  machinist  at* the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works,  Philadelphia; 
their  children  are  Lillian,  Ethel,  Jane,  Raymond  and  Bruce.  John,  deceased, 
was  a  barber  in  Germantown,  Pa. ;  he  ^narried  and  had  one  son,  William. 
Mame  is  the  widow  of  Dr.  William  H.  Robinson. 

Charles  E.  Smith  grew  up  at  Gilberton,  where  he  received  a  public  school 
education.  When  but  eight  years  old  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  New 
Boston  colliery,  where  he  was  employed  for  three  years,  and  then  for  a  few 
years  did  the  same  kind  of  work  at  the  Hills  colliery,  imtil  the  breaker  burned 
down.  For  a  couple  of  years  after  that  he  continued  slate  picking,  at  the 
Silliman  colliery  near  Mahanoy  City,  for  a  couple  of  years  more  at  the  Draper 
colliery  (Gilberton),  and  a  short  time  at  the  new  breaker.  He  was  employed 
a  little  while  in  the  blacksmith  shop  and  for  a  brief  period  in  the  engine  house, 
cleaning  engines,  and  then  for  three  and  a  half  years  ran  wagons  from  the 
top  of  the  slope  into  the  breaker.  From  that  he  was  promoted  to  caging 
wagons  at  the  top  of  the  slope,  being  so  engaged  two  years,  and  during  the 
two  years  following  ran  the  fan  and  tended  three  boilers  for  the  Draper  Coal 
Company.  After  his  removal  to  Shenandoah,  in  1879,  he  was  employed  for 
eight  months  running  a  fan  and  tending  boilers,  and  then  entered  the  boiler 
shop  of  George  A.  Schimpf  &  Brother,  where  he  served  a  term  at  the  trade  of 
boilermaking.     He  worked  some  years  for  the  same  firm  as  a  journeyman, 


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1174  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

foing  with  them  to  Pottsville  when  their  works  were  moved  to  that  place, 
returning  to  Shenandoah,  he  started  business  in  that  line  on  his  own  account, 
under  the  name  of  the  Shenandoah  Boiler  &  Machine  Works.  He  has  a  well 
equipped  machine  shop,  with  blacksmith  shop  attached,  and  does  all  kinds  of 
work  in  both  lines,  including  boiler  repairing,  steam  and  hot  water  fitting, 
horseshoeing  and  wagon  repairing.  His  executive  ability,  comprehensive 
knowledge  of  the  requirements  of  his  patrons,  and  mechanical  skill,  have  com- 
bined well  towards  making  his  venture  successful.  It  has  proved  a  convenience 
to  many  of  the  local  business  houses,  to  whom  Mr.  Smith's  efficient  services 
have  become  invaluable.  He  has  been  a  useful  citizen  of  the  borough,  where 
he  gave  his  time  as  member  of  the  board  of  health  for  fifteen  years.  In  politics 
he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Odd 
Fellows  (Lodge  No.  591,  Shenandoah)  and  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  having  originally 
joined  Washington  Camp  No.  206,  which  afterwards  merged  into  No.  112,  of 
Shenandoah.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  for  years 
sang  in  the  choir.  Mrs.  Smith  also  belongs  to  that  church,  and  formeriy 
sang  in  the  choir. 

Mr.  Smith  married  Allison  W.  Graham,  who  was  bom  Sept.  5,  1863,  ^ 
Ohio,  and  was  ten  years  old  when  the  family  moved  to  Shenandoah,  where 
she  received  her  education.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  had  three  children: 
Raymond  D.,  bom  Nov.  13,  1891,  attended  public  school  in  Shenandoah,  and  is 
now  a  machinist  at  Glassboro,  N.  J.  Harry  P.,  bom  Jan.  14,  1893,  began  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Shenandoah,  and  graduated  in  191 5  from 
the  mechanical  engineering  department  of  Lehigh  University;  he  is  now 
mechanical  engineering  assistant  in  the  laboratory  at  Annapolis,  Md.  Charles 
A.,  bom  Sept.  2,  1896,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  School  at  Mount 
Airy,  near  Philadelphia,  and  is  a  cigarmaker  by  trade. 

William  Graham,  ^Mrs.  Smith's  grandfather,  came  to  this  country  from 
Scotland,  where  he  had  married,  and  settled  at  Hazleton,  Luzeme  Co.,  Pa. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  miner.  He  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  are  buried  at 
Hazleton.  They  were  Presbyterians  in  religion.  They  had  the  following 
children :  John ;  James,  who  died  young ;  Marion,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife 
of  John  Johnson,  of  Hazleton,  Pa.;  Agnes,  who  married  James  Brown,  of 
Hazleton ;  and  Margaret,  deceased,  who  married  John  Brown,  of  Hazleton. 

John  Graham,  son  of  William,  was  bora  March  10,  1838,  at  Edinburgh. 
Scotland,  and  was  a  yoimg  man  when  he  arrived  in  America.  He  traveled 
about  the  country  considerably,  spending  some  time  in  Ohio,  where  he  worked 
in  the  coal  mines,  and  also  followed  that  occupation  after  settling  at  Shenan- 
doah. He  retired  about  fifteen  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  July  5, 
1910.  He  was  married  at  Minersville,  this  county,  to  Grace  Watson,  who  was 
born  May  8,  1842,  and  came  to  this  country  when  about  sixteen  years  old. 
They  had  been  sweethearts  in  the  old  country.  Mrs.  Graham  died  April  26, 
1884,  and  is  buried  with  her  husband  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  Shenan- 
doah. They  had  the  following  children :  William,  bom  June  28,  1861,  is  clerk 
in  a  store  at  Blackwood,  Va. ;  he  married  Caroline  Brown,  and  their  children 
are  Raymond,  Margaret,  Bertha  and  Agnes.  Allison  W.,  Mrs.  Smith,  is  next 
in  the  order  of  birth.  Elizabeth  T.,  bom  Aug.  26,  1865,  died  May  4,  1884. 
Thomas  W.,  bom  Feb.  12,  1868,  died  April  29,  1884.  James  R.,  bom  Jan.  27, 
1870,  died  May  6,  1884.  George,  born  Feb.  7,  1872,  died  May  7,  1884.  John  J., 
born  May  12,  1874,  is  a  gold  miner  in  South  Dakota.  Euphemia,  bom  Sept.  4. 
1876,  died  March  22,  1878.    Grace,  bom  June  22,  1881,  married  Jacob  Foose, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1175 

who  is  a  contractor  and  builder  at  Shenandoah.     The  father  of  this  family 
was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  doctrine. 

Thomas  Watson,  Mrs.  Smith's  maternal  grandfather,  came  from  Scotland, 
where  he  had  been  employed  as  a  hostler  at  the  mines.  For  a  time  he  was 
located  near  Pottsville,  Pa.,  where  he  worked  in  the  mines,  later  moving  to 
Shenandoah,  where  he  died  when  about  fifty  years  old.  He  married  Alhson 
Lawson,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  about  eighty-eight  years,  and  they  had  a  family 
of  seven  children :  John,  deceased,  a  miner,  who  married  Agnes  Adamson  (she 
is  now  living  at  Shenandoah)  ;  James,  of  Yatesville,  Schuylkill  county,  who 
married  Jane  Rammage;  George,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years; 
Thomas,  a  mine  foreman  at  Shenandoah,  who  married  Martha  Doherty ;  Grace, 
Mrs.  Smith's  mother;  Ellen,  who  married  William  Muhr,  of  Shamokin;  and 
Euphemia,  deceased,  who  was  the  first  wife  of  Thomas  Rammage  (for  his 
second  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Lawson).  The  parents  are  buried  in  the  Odd 
Fellows  cemetery  at  Shenandoah.  Mr.  Watson  was  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  in  religious  connection  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.    He  was  very  well  versed  in  the  Bible. 

JOSEPH  L.  WARNE,  M.  D.,  practicing  physician  and  surgeon,  residing 
at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania. 

WALTER  SCOTT  SHEAFER,  late  of  Pottsville,  civil  and  mining 
engineer,  and  later  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business,  was 
bom  April  5,  1837,  at  Wiconisco,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary 
( Wenrich)  Sheaf er.  His  father  was  a  prominent  pioneer  of  Dauphin  county, 
president  of  the  Lykens  Valley  Railroad  Company,  developed  and  superin- 
tended the  Lykens  Valley  coal  mines  at  Wiconisco,  and  in  1834  introduced 
anthracite  coal  into  the  Susquehanna  markets. 

After  graduation  from  the  Scientific  department  of  Yale  College,  in  i860, 
Walter  S.  Sheafer  entered  the  offices  of  his  brother,  P.  W.  deafer,  with  whom 
he  was  associated  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1891.  After  that  he  acted  as 
one  of  the  executors  of  the  Sheafer  Estate  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
management  of  the  same.  He  was  especially  interested  in  the  development 
of  the  Mahanoy  and  Shenandoah  coal  fields.  For  many  years  he  was  the 
engineer  for  the  Gilbert  Estate,  owners  of  property  in  these  several  regions. 
During  his  professional  career  as  mining  engineer  he  made  extensive  examina- 
tions of  coal  properties  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  also  in 
Mexico.  Mr.  Sheafer  was  interested  in  the  insurance  business  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  firm  of  Sheafer  &  Lowrey  for  many  years.  In  1887  Mr. 
Sheafer  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Pottsville,  and  through  his 
especial  eflforts  the  Tilt  Silk  Mill  was  located  there.  He  was  also  connected 
with  the  installation  of  the  Steam  Heat  Company,  and  was  its  president  for 
many  years,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  20,  1908,  at  his  home  in 
Pottsville,  No.  207  Mahantongo  street,  after  a  year's  illness.  He  was  buried 
in  the  Charles  Baber  cemetery. 

On  June  7,  1864,  Mr.  Sheafer  was  married  to  Jane  Augusta  Camp,  a  native 
of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  born  Feb.  2,  1838,  and  they  had  two  children,  Paul  and 
Frances  M.  (now  Mrs.  Howell  Habberstadt).  Mrs.  Sheafer  survived  her 
husband  but  a  few  months,  passing  away  Sept.  22,  1908,  at  her  home  in  Potts- 
ville.    She,  too,  is  interred  in  the  Charles  Baber  cemetery. 

Mr.  Sheafer  was  a  past  master  of  Pulaski  Lodge,  No.  216,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 


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1176  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Pottsville;  a  past  high  priest  of  Mountain  City  Chapter,  No.  196,  R.  A.  M.; 
a  past  eminent  commander  of  Constantine  Commandery,  No,  41,  K.  T.,  of 
Pottsville ;  and  a  Scottish  Rite  Mason  of  the  thirty-second  d^ree.  He  assisted 
in  organizing  Constantine  Commandery  and  was  its  first  eminent  commander. 

Paul  Sheafer,  son  of  Walter  Scott  Sheafer,  is  now  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance business  in  Pottsville. 

JOSEPH  GABRIEL  SMITH  has  been  associated  with  business  and 
public  affairs  in  Asliland  for  a  period  of  forty  years,  and  in  the  numerous 
public  positions  to  which  he  has  been  chosen  has  served  his  fellow  citizens 
well.  Some  of  the  most  approved  ideas  in  municipal  government  now  in  force 
in  the  borough  are  due  to  his  persistent  efforts  to  place  the  local  government 
upon  a  sound  basis.  For  thirty-five  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Washington  Fire  Company,  and  has  been  one  of  the  efficient  workers  in  that 
organization.  Mr.  Smith  is  now  in  business  as  a  blacksmith  and  wheel- 
wright. 

The  Smith  family  is  of  German  origin,  and  Frederick  Smith,  father  of 
Joseph  G.  Smith,  was  bom  in  Germany,  in  which  coimtry  his  parents  lived  and 
died.  He  came  to  America  in  1848  and  settled  at  once  in  Pottsville,  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  became  a  mine  employe,  continuing  to  follow  that  kind 
of  work  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  died  in  Pottsville  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years.  He  was  married  at  that  place  to  Barbara  Lann,  like  himself  a  native 
of  Germany,  bom  in  Hanmetz.  Her  parents  died  in  Germany,  and  after  com- 
ing to  America  she  lived  at  Pottsville.  Five  children  were  bom  to  her  marriage, 
Joseph  G.  being  the  eldest  of  the  family ;  Adam  is  deceased ;  Mary  is  the  wife 
of  Peter  Heim,  of  Pottsville;  Theresa,  the  widow  of  John  Better,  lives  at 
Yorkville,  this  county;  Charles  L.  is  deceased. 

Joseph  G.  Smith  was  bom  March  17,  1849,  ^^  Pottsville,  where  he  was 
reared,  meantime  receiving  his  education  in  the  parochial  schools.  For  two 
years  he  was  employed  at  the  colliery  of  Kimball  &  Sailor,  and  subsequently 
spent  five  years  in  die  shop  of  John  T.  Noble,  boilermaker.  Then  he  served 
a  three  years'  apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of  carriage  blacksmith  in  a  shop 
located  on  the  present  site  of  the  Pottsville  post  office.  Coming  to  Ashland, 
he  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  the  employ  of  Wesley  Manley  for  three  years, 
until  he  commenced  business  on  his  own  account,  opening  his  present  shop 
March  18,  1874.  He  bought  this  property  and  shop  from  William  Mattis,  also 
acquiring  his  interest  in  the  blacksmith  business,  which  he  has  carried  on  con- 
tinuously since.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  reliable  mechanic  and  has  done  well  at  his 
trade,  but  much  of  his  time  has  been  given  to  his  public  duties.  He  was  elected 
assessor  of  the  Third  ward,  and  after  completing  his  term  was  elected  to  the 
town  coimcil  for  three  years'  service,  doing  notable  work  in  that  body,  where  he 
was  honored  with  the  chairmanship  of  various  committees.  He  has  been  espe- 
cially active  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  public  schools  in  Ashland,  has 
been  school  director,  and  was  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  election  of 
W.  G.  Esther  as  superintendent  of  the  public  schools,  a  service  which  met  with 
unqualified  approval.  For  three  years  he  held  the  position  of  tax  collector  of 
the  borough,  during  that  time  handling  a  vast  amount  of  money.  It  was  he 
who  made  the  first  deposit  with  county  treasurer  Thomas  Pepper,  of  Ashland. 
Mr.  Smith  was  at  one  time  a  candidate  for  county  register. 

Thirty-five  years  ago  Mr.  Smith  joined  the  Washington  Fire  Company  of 
Ashland,  in  which  he  has  continued  to  hold  membership  ever  since,  and  he 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1177 

served  at  one  time  as  chief  fire  marshal.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  first  firemen's 
convention  of  the  county,  held  at  Ashland,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  State 
convention  held  at  Lebanon  county  in  1912.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Firemen's  Association. 

On  Jan.  8,  1874,  Mr.  Smith  married  Margaret  Ney,  who  was  bom  in  this 
county,  near  Pottsville,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Cast)  Ney,  who  came 
from  Germany  and  settled  here  many  years  ago.  Her  father  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ney  are  both  deceased.  They  had  a  family  of 
seven  children.  Mrs.  Smith  passed  away  in  August,  1913,  the  mother  of  four- 
teen children,  of  whom  Frank  Joseph  G.,  now  located  at  Mount  Carmel,  Pa., 
is  superintendent  of  the  Cumberland  Shirt  Factory ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Barrang,  who  is  a  foreman  in  the  navy  yard  at  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Annie 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Webber,  a  house  painter  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  William 
Leopold  served  three  years  in  the  United  States'  army  as  a  member  of  the 
engineer  corps,  and  is  now  at  Washington,  D.  C,  employed  as  a  clerk  at  the 
station  of  the  Southern  Railway  Company ;  Stella  Theresa  is  deceased ;  Regina 
"Margaret  is  a  resident  of  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Josephine  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Malber  of  Ashland;  James  Henry  is  a  blacksmith  at  Ashland;  Stella 
Ney  keeps  house  for  her  father;  John  Leo  is  in  the  government  service  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  as  a  member  of  the  civil  engineer  corps ;  Lucy  Agnes  is  at 
home.  Mr.  Smith  and  his  family  are  members  of  St.  Mauritius  German  Catho- 
lic Church,  at  Ashland. 

HENRY  TALLMAN,  late  of  Porter  township,  had  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance in  his  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was  a  prosperous  farmer 
and  hotelkeeper  for  twenty  years.  His  widow  still  resides  at  his  homestead 
there.  He  was  t>f  German  origin.  Jacob  and  Amelia  (Beller)  Tallman,  his 
parents,  came  to  this  country  from  their  native  land,  Germany,  in  the  early 
thirties,  and  settled  near  Gratz,  Pa.,  in  Pauphin  dounty,  where  the  father  fol- 
lowed farming  and  his  trade,  that  of  stonemason.  He  had  the  first  hotel  at 
Wiconisco,  that  county,  carrying  it  on  for  thirty-seven  years.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jacob  Tallmfan  was  bom  a  family  of  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  reached 
maturity,  Jacob,  Matthew,  John,  Henry  and  Amanda.  The  parents  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Henry  Tallman  had  such  advantages  as  the  public  schools  of  the  home 
locality  afforded.  Five  years  after  his  marriage  he  settled  in  the  western  part 
of  Porter  township,  Schuylkill  county,  at  Sharadin,  where  he  bought  the 
"Brookside  Hotel"  and  a  farm  of  eighty-six  acres,  and  there  he  made  a  perma- 
nent home,  conducting  the  hotel  very  successfully,  and  doing  equally  well  in 
'his  agricultural  operations.  He  took  a  keen  interest  in  local  affairs,  serving  as 
school  director  and  in  other  public  offices,  was  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  held  membership  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  passed  away  Feb.  i, 
1891,  and  his  widow  has  since  occupied  the  farm,  her  son  Franklin  now 
looking  after  the  cultivation  of  the  property,  making  a  specialty  of  dairying. 

In  1865  Mr.  Tallman  married  Mary  A.  Schreffler,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Catherine  (Satzler)  Schreffler,  of  Dauphin  county,  where  Mr.  Schreffler  fol- 
lowed farming  and  carpenter  work.  Their  family  consisted  of  seven  children, 
of  whom  Sarah  Delilah  married  John  M.  Bellow  (deceased),  and  now  lives 
in  South  Dakota;  Louisa  died  aged  fifteen  years;  Elizabeth  married  Edward 
Munsch,  and  is  living  in  Iowa;  Mary  A.  is  the  widow  of  Henry  Tallman; 
Catherine,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  Good,  of  Boone,  Iowa;  John  is  a 


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1178  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

retired  farmer  living  at  Polo,  111.;  Ellen  married  John  Wolf,  and  both  arc 
deceased. 

Thirteen  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tallman:  Harry  H.,  now 
living  at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  married  Amelia  Lutz,  and  they  have  one, son,  Lloyd; 
J.  Franklin  operates  the  home  farm  in  Porter  ^ownship  and  is  a  member  of  the 
township  school  board;  Edwin  M.,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.,  married  Edna  Ditzler, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Homer  E. ;  Minnie  L.  died  when  four  years  old ;  Kate 
R.  is  the  wife  of  John  Reinhardt,  a  merchant  of  Tower  City,  and  they  have 
had  six  children,  Malba,  Mary  A.,  Henry,  Ama,  Dorothy,  and  Ethel,  the  last 
named  deceased ;  Charles  C.  is  clerk  at  the  "Hotel  Grand,"  in  Schuylkill  Haven, 
Pa.;  Prof.  Joseph  R.  graduated  from  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  at 
Kutztown,  Pa.,  and  from  Muhlenberg  College,  at  Allentown,  Pa.,  and  attended 
one  term  at  Mount  Airy  Seminary,  and  taught  school  until  his  death,  at  the 
aee  of  thirty-four  years,  being  engaged  in  Porter  township,  later  as  principal 
of  the  schools  of  Hamburg,  Pa.,  and  finally  as  superintendent  of  the  Potts- 
ville  schools  (he  is  buried  in  Greenwood  cemetery,  at  Tower  City);  Bessie 
died  in  May,  1906,  when  twenty-seven  years  old;  Lulu  E.  resides  at  home; 
George  Oliver,  of  Allentown,  married  Minnie  Arehart,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Jacob;  Andrew  is  a  resident  of  Allentown;  William  lives  at  home;  Lettie  A. 
died  when  thirteen  years  old. 

Mrs.  Tallman  built  her  present  home  in  1891,  and  has  made  many  other 
notable  improvements  on  the  farm.  The  bam  was  built  in  1892,  and  the  dairy 
business  was  started  in  1897  and  has  been  conducted  according  to  modem 
standards,  neither  expense  nor  pains  having  been  spared  to  provide  facilities 
for  proper  attention  to  the  requirements  of  the  present  day  in  that  line,  and  for 
the  care  of  their  fine  Jersey  cattle.     The  product  is  marketed  at  Tower  City. 

• 

GEORGE  F.  BOWMAN,  of  Minersville,  junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Spayd  &  Bowman,  dealers  in  books  and  stationery,  bears  a  name  which  for  gen- 
erations has  stood  for  industry  and  integrity  in  this  section  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  is  of  old  Mennonite  ancestry^  a  descendant  of  Wendell  Bowman,  a  native 
of  Switzerland  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Mennonite  faith  in  Brecknock 
township,  Berks  county,  this  State.  He  came  into  the  Allegheny  valley  in  1760, 
owned  considerable  land,  and  was  rated  among  the  well-to-do  farmers.  He 
was  twice  married,  but  his  children  were  all  by  his  first  marriage.  They 
were :  Christian ;  Wendell  and  Joseph,  who  both  settled  in  Canada ;  Susanna, 
who  married  a  Bechtol,  and  also  went  to  Canada;  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Daniel  Gehman;  and  Esther  (born  July  31,  1790 — died  Sept.  11,  1827),  who 
married  Henry  Weber  (bom  June  7,  1794 — died  Jan.  16,  1873). 

Christian  Bowman,  son  of  Wendell,  was  a  well  known  farmer  in  the 
Allegheny  valley,  making  his  home  in  Brecknock  township.  In  1777  he  built 
the  Bowman  mill,  which  is  still  in  the  family,  being  owned  and  operated  by 
Noah  M.  Bowman,  the  great-grandson  of  the  builder.  Christian  Bowman 
adhered  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  and  was  active  in  the  Mennonite  Church. 
He  is  buried  at  the  Allegheny  meetinghouse,  and  his  grave  is  marked  by  a 
sandstone,  whose  inscription  has  long  since  been  eflPaced  by  the  elements.  He 
married  Nancy  Huber  (or  Hoover),  and  their  children  were:  (i)  Joseph, 
bom  Jan.  22,  1784,  died  Jan.  9,  1841.  He  was  a  well  known  miller,  owning 
and  operating  the  Bowman  mill  in  Brecknock  township,  and  also  cultivating 
the  fifty  acres  of  land  belonging  to  the  mill  property,  and  was  successful  in  all 
his  business  undertakings.     He  was  buried  at  the  Allegheny  meetinghouse. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1179 

By  his  marriage  to  Nancy  Hoover  he  had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Elizabeth,  who  married  Samuel  Bowman,  of  County  Waterloo, 
Ontario,  Canada;  Isaac,  who  married  Judith  Gehman;  Benjamin,  who  married 
Lovina  Mosser;  Esther,  who  married  Joseph  Gehman;  Nancy,  who  married 
Jacob  Mosser;  and  Jacob.  (2)  Lizzie,  bom  Nov.  20,  1785,  married  Jacob 
Good,  and  died  July  6,  1866,  aged  eighty  years,  seven  months,  sixteen  days. 
(3)  Samuel,  Born  Dec.  i,  1789,  died  Jan.  19,  1857.  He  was  a  noted  man  of 
his  day,  the  founder  of  Bowmansville,  Pa.  (4)  Daniel  settled  near  Bowmans- 
ville.  Pa.  (5)  Maricha  married  Samuel  Weaver.  (6)  Mary  married  Jonas 
Good.     (7)  Sallie  married  Johathan  Weaver. 


John  Bowman,  grandfather  of  George  F.  Bowman,  was  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  and  came  thence  to  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  also  living  at 
different  times  in  small  towns  near  that  borough.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
timber  business.  His  death  occurred  at  Minersville  and  he  is  buried  in  the 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  cemetery.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served  in  Com- 
pany K,  67th  Regiment,  from  Pennsylvania.  His  wife  was  Catherine  Hanich, 
and  they  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  all  now  deceased,  namely :  William, 
John,  Kate  (Mrs.  E.  Zumbalt),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Philip  Lebler),  Joseph,  Henry 
and  George. 

John  Bowman,  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Hanich)  Bowman,  was  bom 
Feb,  2,  1 841,  near  Minersville,  and  in  his  early  manhood  was  employed  with 
his  father  in  the  timber  business.  Later  he  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter  at 
the  mines,  but  during  the  last  twelve  years  of  his  life  his  health  was  so  poor 
that  he  had  to  give  up  all  work.  This  was  the  result  of  injuries  he  received 
during  the  Civil  war.  Like  his  father  he  was  a  private  in  Company  K,  67th 
Pennsylvania  Regiment,  was  wounded  in  the  head,  taken  prisoner,  and  con- 
fined for  thirty-four  days  in  the  notorious  Libby  prison.  He  was  a  charter 
member  of  Capt.  James  Lawrence  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  in  whose  work  he  took  an 
active  part,  and  by  virtue  of  his  father^s  service  was  entitle"d  to  membership 
in  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  being  very  much  interested  in  this  order,  whose 
camp  at  Minersville  he  helped  to  organize,  being  one  of  its  charter  members. 
His  death  occurred  April  21,  1895,  and  he  is  buried  in  the  Lutheran  and 
Reformed  cemetery.  His  wife,  Mary  E.  (Miller),  is  still  living,  at  No.  124 
North  street,  Minersville.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Wolf) 
Miller,  the  former  a  resident  of  Minersville  and  a  carpenter  at  the  mines.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowman  were  bom  three  children:  William  H.,  who  lives  at 
Minersville;  Christie  Rebecca,  who  is  deceased;  and  George  F. 

George  F.  Bowman  was  bom  Dec.  5,  1879,  ^t  Minersville,  where  he  received 
the  advantages  of  the  excellent  public  schools,  graduating  from  high  school 
in  1898,  after  which  he  became  a  clerk  for  L.  F.  Roehrig,  in  whose  employ  he 
continued  until  1909,  in  which  year  he  became  associated  with  Prof.  H.  H. 
Spayd  in  his  present  line,  under  the  firm  name  of  Spayd  &  Bowman.  They  have 
built  up  a  large  trade  as  dealers  in  books,  stationery  and  wall  paper,  carrying 
a  large  and  well  selected  stock.  In  his  years  of  work  as  an  educator  Professor 
Spayd  became  very  widely  known  throughout  this  section,  and  Mr.  Bowman  is 
everywhere  regarded  as  a  most  trustworthy  young  business  man,  so  that  the 
business  which  they  have  attracted  has  been  no  surprise  to  their  fellow  towns- 
men. As  men  of  the  highest  integrity  and  unquestioned  qualifications,  they  are 
carrying  on  their  business  according  to  the  modem  ideas  of  trade  and  accomoda- 
tion, and  their  reward  has  been  in  proportion  to  their  efforts. 


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1180  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr.  Bowman  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  his  religious  connection  is 
with  the  English  Lutheran  Church.  He  is  unmarried  and  makes  his  home 
at  Minersville  with  his  mother. 

CHRISTIAN  FRANTZ,  6f  Shenandoah,  is  one  of  the  responsible  em- 
ployes at  the  plant  of  the  Home  Brewing  Company,  being  foreman  of  the 
fermenting  cellar.  He  is  a  native  of  Alsace-Lorraine,  Germany,  bom  April 
22,  1868,  at  Alt^lashiite,  son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Piett)  Frantz,  and 
grandson  of  FraiJc  and  Margaret  (Miller^  Frantz. 

Frank  Frantz  followed  lumbering  in  Alsace  and  the  Rhine  Prqvince  dur- 
ing his  young  manhood,  and  later  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  which  he 
followed  until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  ninety-three  years  old. 
He  and  his  wife  were  Catholics  in  religious  faith.  They  had  the  following 
children:  Henry  was  the  father  of  Christian  Frantz;  Nicholas,  a  blacksmith, 
still  living  at  Alteglashiite,  has  been  married  twice,  having  three  children 
(Nicholas,  Elizabeth  and  Frank)  by  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth  (Koenig),  and 
none  by  his  second;  Elizabeth  married  Remisus  Gr^oria,  manager  of  the 
Gargon  &  Wendel  Coal  Company  (known  as  the  Klein  Rossel  Coal  Com- 
pany) in  Alsace-Lorraine,  and  they  had  ten  children,  Desire  (he  died  at  the 
age  of  nine  years),  Catherine  (who  married  George  Bradiger  and  had  one 
child,  Catherine),  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Arnold,  who  has  a  daughter),  Mary  (who 
is  riiarried  and  living  in  Germany),  Margaret  (married  and  living  in  Ger- 
many), Virginia  (married  and  living  in  Germany),  and  four  children  who  died 
when  infants ;  Catherine  married  Joseph  Hesse,  a  stonemason,  boss  contractor 
at  Alteglashiite,  and  had  children,  Nicholas,  John,  Remisus-,  Henry,  Joseph, 
Frank,  Catherine  and  Mary;  John,  a  mine  boss  at  Alteglashiite,  married 
Theresa  Klein  and  had  John,  Catherine,  Jean  Baptiste,  Margaret,  Frank 
and  one  yotmger;  Mary  died  aged  thirteen  years. 

Henry  Frantz  was  born  at  Alteglashiite,  and  died  in  Germany  in  February, 
1889,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  By  occupation  he  was  a  miner.  His 
tvrife,  also  a  native  of  Alteglashiite,  came  to  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa., 
the  year  of  his  death,  and  died  there  Aug.  8,  1907.  They  were  German 
Catholics,  and  after  coming  to  this  country  Mrs.  Frantz  became  a  member 
of  the  Holy  Family  Church  at  Shenandoah.  She  was  the  mother  of  nine 
children,  viz.:  Nicholas,  bom  Aug.  25,  1858,  in  Alsace-Lorraine,  is  now 
stable  boss  at  the  Maple  colliery,  Shenandoah;  John,  deceased  at  the  age  of 
forty-nine  yeirs,  who  was  a  miner  at  the  silver  mines  at  Salida,  Colo.,  mar- 
ried Mary  Klepfal,  and  they  had  six  children,  Catherine,  Christian,  Mary, 
Frank,  John  and  Carl ;  Christian  died  when  nine  years  old ;  John  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  in  1885;  Christian  is  next  in  the  family;  Frank, 
brewmaster  at  Rupert^s  brewery,  in  New  Yoi;k  City,  married  Elizabeth  Graber 
(they  have  no  children)  ;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Eberhard  C.  Grosskettler, 
of  Shenandoah,  fireman  at  the  Home  brewery,  and  they  have  had  two  chil- 
dren, Theresa  (born  July  4,  1904)  and  Francis  (who  died  when  two  years 
old)  ;  Peter  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Henry  is  employed  at  the  Indian 
Ridge  colliery,  Shenandoah. 

Christian  Piett,  father  of  Mrs.  Catherine  (Piett)  Frantz,  died  in  the  old 
country  when  fifty-three  or  fifty- four  years  old,  from  the  effects  of  injuries 
received  tw;o  years  previously  while  engaged  at  his  occupation  of  lumbering. 
His  wife,  Susanna  (Forgeng),  then  came  to  America,  and  she  died  at  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1181 

age  of  ninety-three  years  near  Wellsford,  Kiowa  Co.,  Kans.,  at  the  residence 
of  her  grandsons,  Christian  and  Nicholas  Frantz.  Of  the  five  children  bom 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christian  Piett,  one  died  in  infancy.  Mary,  who  never  mar- 
ried, died  in  Germany.  Catherine  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Frantz.  Katherina 
married  Peter  Spor  and  they  settled  in  Shenandoah;  they  had  eight  chil- 
dren, seven  sons  and  one  daughter,  viz.:  Nicholas,  who  died  in  infancy; 
John,  a  miner  at  Shenandoah;  Nicholas  (2),  who  is  employed  in  the  wash 
house  of  the  Home  brewery  (he  married  Mary  MacAndrew;  they  have  no 
children)  ;  Peter,  who  works  in  the  Home  brewery  (he  is  unmarried)  ;  Henry, 
fire  boss  at  the  Maple  Hill  colliery;  John,  carpenter  at  the  Shenandoah  City 
colliery;  Valentine,  a  brakeman,  who  lives  in  Pittsburgh  (he  married  Anna 
Hayo)  ;  and  Catherine,  wife  of  Theodore  Abel,  a  linen  weaver,  of  Reading, 
Pa.    Margaret  Piett  married  Adam  Miro. 

Christian  Frantz  received  a  good  common  school  education  in  Germany, 
and  later  was  trained  to  mine  work  there.  In  1888  he  and  his  brother 
John  came  to  this  country  together,  sailing  from  Havre,  France,  in  the 
steamer  "Champagne,^'  and  landing  at  New  York.  Thence  they  continued 
their  journey  to  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Christian  Frantz 
found  work  as  a  laborer,  being  so  employed  from  September,  1888,  until 
May,  1889.  Meantime,  his  mother,  with  the  rest  of  the  family  and  her, 
mother,  had  come  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Kiowa  county,  Kans.,  and 
he  joined  them  there,  farming  in  that  section  for  a  period  of  five  years. 
Returning  to  Shenandoah,  Pa.,  he  then  found  work  at  the  Shenandoah  City 
colliery  under  Fred  Carl,  foreman,  and  eighteen  months  later  became  a  regu- 
lar miner,  being  so  employed  under  Mr.  Carl  for  four  years.  The  next  two 
years  he  was  at  the  Kohinoor  colliery,  after  that  experience  accepting  his 
present  position  in  the  Home  brewery,  where  he  has  proved  a  faithful  and 
reliable  worker.  He  is  a  good  citizen  and  stands  well  among  his  associates. 
Socially  he  holds  membership  in  the  Washington  Beneficial  Society  and  St. 
Michael's  Society.     In  politics  he  sides  with  the  Republican  party. 

On  July  26,  1904,  Mr.  Frantz  was  married,  in  the  Holy  Faitiily  Church 
at  Shenandoah,  to  Mary  Josephine  Grosskettler,  who  was  bom  July  17,  1874, 
at  Endorf ,  Westphalia,  Germany.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  this  mar- 
riage: Anna  M.,  May  22,  1905;  Mary  Catherine,  June  7,  1907:  Henry  Gerard, 
Nov.  3,  1909;  John  Eugene,  May  11,  1912.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frantz  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Holy  Family  Catholic  Church. 

Eberhardt  Grosskettler,  Mrs.  Frantz's  father,  was  born  at  Holtum,  near 
Werl,  Westphalia,  received  his  education  in  the  local  government  schools, 
and  served  a  thorough  apprenticeship  at  the  tradeis  of  locksmith  and  machinist, 
'  obtaining  certificates  which  entitled  him  to  work  as  a  journeyman,  in  which 
capacity  he  was  engaged  for  several  years.  He  saw  considerable  service  in 
the  German  army,  in  the  wars  waged  during  1864,  1866  and  1870.  He  mar- 
ried at  Endorf,  Westphalia,  and  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  produce  business 
at  that  place  until  he  brought  his  family  to  America  in  1881.  Locating  at 
Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Mr.  Grosskettler  found  employmeht  as  a 
blacksmith  at  the  Plank  Ridge  colliery,  where  he  remained  for  two  years. 
Then  he  traveled  down  to  Alabama,  and  westward  to  Franklin  county.  Mo., 
in  search  of  a  suitable  place  for  a  permanent  home,  eventually  returning  to 
Shenandoah,  where  he  bought  a  blacksmith  shop,  at  the  comer  of  Coal  street 
and  Pear  alley,  where  he  was  established  in  business  for  some  time.  He 
lived  retired  for  several  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in  April, 


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1182  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

1901.  His  wife,  Anna  Maria  (Pott),  was  bom  at  Endorf,  daughter  of  Anton 
and  Theresa  (Beste)  Pott,  the  former  a  farmer  and  blacksmith.  Mrs.  Anna 
Maria  Grosskettler  died  in  1912.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grosskettler  were  bom 
children  as  follows:  Joseph;  Eberhard,  fireman  at  the  Home  brewery,  who 
married  Catherine  Frantz;  John,  of  Shenandoah;  Anton,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years ;  Theresa,  who  is  the  wife  of  Eugene  Fretz  and  has 
one  child,  Marguerite;  and  Mary  Josephine,  Mrs.  Christian  Frantz.  All  the 
family  belong  to  the  German  Catholic  Church  of  the  Holy  Family,  and  Mr. 
Grosskettler  was  a  member  of  St.  Michael's  Society.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat. 

WILLIAM  R.  MAURER,  of  Orwigsburg,  is  at  present  giving  all  his 
attention  to  the  duties  of  deputy  sheriff  of  Schuylkill  county.  He  has  been 
well  known  for  a  ntunber  of  years  as  a  prominent  local  worker  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  as  such  has  been  quite  influential  in  the  selection  of  proper 
officials  for  the  county.  He  was  bom  at  Orwigsburg  Dec.  5,  1870,  son  of 
George  Maurer.  Though  he  had  public  school  advantages,  they  were  rather 
limited,  as  he  was  only  eleven  and  a  half  years  old  when  he  began  to  work 
as  a  tobacco  stripper  for  S.  P.  Kepner.  The  boy  was  ambitious,  however,  and 
after  working  all  day  here  attended  night  school,  continuing  his  studies  until 
he  had  a  good  average  education.  He  remained  with  Mr.  Kepner  for  the 
long  period  of  thirty-one  years,  in  different  capacities.  After  learning  the 
trade  thoroughly  he  worked  at  the  bench  for  many  years,  and  eventually 
became  foreman  of  the  plant,  which  he  left  to  engage  in  the  business  on  his 
own  account.  After  three  years  of  independent  work  he  returned  to  Mr. 
Kepner's  employ,  in  which  he  continued  until  he  resigned  his  position  Jan. 
5, 1914,  to  become  deputy  sheriff,  having  been  appointed  by  Charles  F.  Ditchey, 
the  present  sheriff.  As  noted,  Mr.  Maurer  has  been  prominent  in  the  councils 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  for  twelve  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
standing  committee  of  his  district,  in  which  connection  he  became  very  well 
known  in  political  circles.  Personally  he  has  the  highest  respect  of  all  his 
acquaintances,  and  they  are  many  in  this  region.  He  is  a  prominent  member 
of  St.  John's  Reformed  Church  of  Orwigsburg,  taking  an  active  part  in  its 
work,  and  is  one  of  the  faithful  teachers  in  the  Sunday  school,  from  which 
he  has  not  been  absent  once  in  the  last  seven  years.  Socially  Mr.  Maurer  is 
a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.    He  continues  to  live  at  Orwigsburg,  his  old  home  town. 

Mr.  Maurer  married  Annie  Burkhart,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Burkhart,  of 
East  Brunswick  township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  they  have  one  son,  Allen, 
born  Sept.  25,  1892.  He  is  now  a  law  student  at  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania. 

WILLIAM  H.  SABOLD,  Sr.,  has  been  a  resident  of  Palo  Alto  for  over 
thirty  years,  and  as  yardmaster  at  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  yards  for  many 
years  became  widely  known  in  the  borough  and  to  a  large  number  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  employes.  He  was  retired  in  1910,  after  more  than 
forty-seven  years  of  service  with  the  same  company. 

Mr.  Sabold  was  bom  at  Pottstown,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct  5,  1840. 
His  father,  John  Sabold,  also  a  native  of  Montgomery  county,  followed  farm- 
ing there,  and  died  in  that  county  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Schick,  was  also  bom  in  Mont- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1183 

gomery  county,  and  like  her  husband  lived  to  be  eighty-four  years  old.  They 
had  the  following  family :  Mary,  who  died  young ;  John,  who  lived  to  the  age 
of  seventy- four  years;  Charlotte,  who  married  Samuel  Hartenstine,  and  had 
fourteen  children ;  Aaron,  who  died  young ;  and  William  H. 

William  H.  Sabold  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  at  Potts- 
town.  He  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm,  remaining  there  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  and  meantime  had  learned  the  trade  of  black- 
smith. It  was  during  the  Civil  war  period  that  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company.  In  1863  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Union  army,  from  Montgomery  county,  entering  Company  H,  I75th  Pennsyl- 
vania Regiment,  for  a  term  of  nine  months.  His  officers  were  Captain  Steele 
and  Col.  S.  A.  Dyer.  Upon  his  return  home  he  went  to  work  again  for  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company,  with  which  he  remained  there  for 
a  period  of  ten  years.  Two  years  and  nine  days  later,  on  March  26,  1875, 
he  moved  to  Pottsville  from  Philadelphia  and  resumed  work  with  his  old 
company,  remaining  there  for  eight  years,  becoming  engineer  in  the  mean- 
time. On  April  i,  1883,  he  took  the  position  of  night  yardmaster  at  the  yards 
situated  in  Palo  Alto,  this  county,  holding  that  position  for  the  next  seven 
years.  On  June  9,  1890,  Mr.  Sabold  was  made  day  assistant  and  wreckmaster, 
and  in  1896  he  received  further  promotion,  becoming  day  yardmaster,  in  which 
responsibility  he  was  retained  until  his  retirement,  Oct.  31,  1910.  His  service 
at  the  Palo  Alto  yards  covered  more  than  twenty-nine  years,  and  his  entire 
service  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company  forty-seven  years  and 
seven  months.  Mr.  Sabold  is  one  of  the  respected  old  residents  of  Palo  Alto, 
where  his  home  is  at  No.  404  West  Bacon  street.  He  is  a  Republican  on 
political  questions,  and  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  in  social  connection,  and 
religiously  an  adherent  of  the  Reformed  faith.  His  family,  however,  are 
Lutherans. 

In  1862  Mr.  Sabold  married  Annie  Favinger,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
.  Lydia  (Mauger)  Favinger,  of  Pottstown,  Montgomery  county,  both  now 
deceased.  Mrs.  Sabold  passed  away  Feb.  13,  191 2.  She  was  the  mother  of 
the  following  children:  Sallie  died  in  1864;  Elizabeth  also  died  young;  Annie 
married  Samuel  Little,  and  died  in  191 1 ;  William  H.,  Jr.,  is  a  fireman  in  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company;  Mary  is  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Berger;  Harvey  is  an  engineer  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railway  Company;  Bertha,  who  lives  at  home,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  S. 
Evert,  a  corporal  of  the  State  police  at  Pottsville. 

EBERHARD  CASPER  GROSSKETTLER,  of  Shenandoah,  is  a  typical 
member  of  a  respected  family  of  that  borough,  a  man  of  steady  habits  and 
reliable  character,  and  one  of  the  trustworthy  assistants  at  the  plant  of  the 
Home  Brewing  Company,  where  he  has  charge  of  the  boiler  house.  He  was 
bom  in  Endorf,  Westphalia,  Germany,  Dec.  11,  1876,  and  was  in  his  fifth 
year  when  he  came  to  America  with  his  parents,  Eberhardt  and  Anna  Maria 
(Pott)   Grosskettler. 

Joseph  Grosskettler,  the  grandfather,  was  born  at  Holtum,  near  Werl, 
Westphalia,  where  there  is  still  a  fort  which  was  built  at  the  time  of  the 
Roman  conquest.  He  was  a  country  gentleman,  owning  an  estate  of  two 
hundred  acres  which  had  been  in  the  family  for  many  generations,  and  there 
he  spent  all  of  his  long  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty- four  years.  His  wife 
passed  away  when  seventy-four  years  old,  and  is  buried  at  Holtum,  near  Werl. 


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1184  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Eberhardt  Grosskettler,  father  of  Eberhard  C.  Grosskettler,  was  born  at 
Holtum,  near  Werl,  Westphalia,  received  his  education  in  the  local  govern- 
ment schools,  and  served  a  thorough  apprenticeship  at  the  trades  of  machinist 
and  locksmith,  obtaining  certificates  which  entitled  him  to  work  as  a  journey- 
man,  in  which  capacity  he  was  engaged  for  several  years.  He  saw  considerable 
service  in  the  German  army,  in  the  wars  waged  during  1864,  1866  and  1870, 
in  1864  acting  in  the  secret  service,  carrying  dispatches  through  the  picket 
lines.  On  one  occasion  during  that  war  he  traveled  for  forty-eight  hours  to 
deliver  a  message  to  one  of  the  colonels,  and  being  obliged  to  rest  on  the 
groimd  had  his  hair  frozen  to  the  earth  as  he  slept,  which  caused  the  loss 
of  nearly  all  his  hair.  During  1866  he  served  as  a  corporal  in  the  cavalry. 
In  1870  he  was  orderly  to  a  doctor  on  the  medical  staff. 

Mr.  Grosskettler  was  married  at  Endorf,  Westphalia,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  produce  business  at  that  place  until  he  brought  his  family  to 
America  in  1881.  Locating  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Mr.  Gross- 
kettler found  employment  as  a  blacksmith  at  the  Plank  Ridge  colliery,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years.  Then  he  traveled  down  to  Alabama,  and  west- 
ward to  Franklin  county.  Mo.,  in  search  of  a  suitable  place  for  a  permanent 
home,  eventually  returning  to  Shenandoah,  where  he  bought  a  blacksmith 
shop,  at  the  comer  of  Coal  street  and  Pear  alley,  where  he  was  established 
in  business  for  several  years.  ,He  lived  retired  for  some  time  before  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  April,  ,1901.  His  wife,  Anna  Maria  (Pott),  was 
born  at  Endorf,  daughter  of  Anton  and  Theresa  (Beste)  Pott,  the  former 
a  farmer  and  blacksmith.  Mrs.  Grosskettler  died  Oct.  7,  1912.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Grosskettler  were  bom  children  as  follows :  Joseph,  of  Shenandoah,  who 
married  Ida  Beck;  Eberhard  C. ;  John,  assistant  brewmaster  at  the  Home 
brewery,  who  married  Catherine  E.  Schmidt  and  has  three  children,  Agnes 
M.,  Gertmde  M.  and  Mary  J.;  Anton,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years ;  Theresa,  who  is  the  wife  of  Eugene  Fretz  and  has  one  child,  Marguerite 
(Mr.  Fretz  is  State  agent  of  the  Northwestem  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  North  and  South  Dakota,  with  headquarters  at  Grand  Forks,  N. 
Dak.)  ;  and  Mary  Josephine,  who  is  the  wife  of  Christian  Frantz,  one  of 
the  foremen  at  the  Home  brewery,  and  has  children,  Anna  M.,  Mary  Catherine, 
Henry  G.  and  John  Eugene.  All  the  family  belong  to  the  German  Catholic 
Church  of  the  Holy  Family,  and  Mr.  Grosskettler  was  a  member  of  St. 
Michael's  Society.     In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 

Eberhard  C.  Grosskettler  attended  the  parochial  school  in  Shenandoah 
conducted  by  the  Sisters,  in  connection  with  the  Holy  Family  Church.  He 
began  early  to  assist  in  the  support  of  the  family,  being  only  seven  years  old 
when  he  started  to  pick  slate  at  the  Turkey  Run  colliery  during  the  summer 
vacation,  working  under  Foreman  Frederick  Reese.  He  was  employed  there 
for  two  years,  and  for  a  few  years  afterwards  picked  slate  at  the  Kohinoor 
colliery  under  Foreman  Marshall  Ball.  Later  he  found  work  at  the  Maple 
Hill  colliery,  under  Reese  Tasker,  carrying  steel  drills,  etc.,  to  the  tunnel 
men,  remaining  there  two  years  in  that  capacity  and  then  for  two  years  serv- 
ing as  blacksmith's  helper  in  the  blacksmith  shop  at  that  colliery.  Following 
this  he  spent  a  year  in  Franklin  county,  Mo.,  living  with  his  cousin,  Casper 
Radermacher,  assisting  with  farm  work  and  also  in  the  installation  of  a  local 
telephone  line,  the  connecting  link  of  the  Bell  system  between  New  York  City 
and  Kansas  City.  On  his  retum  to  Shenandoah  he  worked  as  a  laborer  with 
the  stonemasons  at  the  mines  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  ^       1185 

Company  under  John  Senior,  boss  mason,  for  a  period  of  seven  months,  after 
which  he  drove  mules  at  the  Shenandoah  City  colliery  for  two  years,  during 
which  his  foreman  was  Frederick  Carl.  Then  for  a  year  he  was  one  of  the 
repair  gang  in  the  Maple  Hill  workings,  under  David  Adamson,  leaving  there 
to  begin  work  for  the  Home  Brewing  Company  of  Shenandoah.  He  was  first 
employed  on  the  ice  tank,  pulling  ice,  for  a  time,  and  then  became  fireman 
in  the  boiler  house.  After  two  and  a  half  years'  emplo)rment  at  the  brew- 
ery he  resumed  work  with  the  repair  gang  at  the  Maple  Hill  colliery,  working 
there  for  another  two  years,  under  Mr.  Adamson.  He  has  since  been  engaged 
in  the  boiler  house  of  the  brewery,  where  he  now  has  charge,  and  his  strict 
attention  to  his  important  duties  shows  that  he  has  a  proper  sense  of  his 
responsibilities.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Brewery  Workers'  Local,  No.  210, 
of  Shenandoah,  and  his  other  social  connections  are  with  St.  Michael's  Society 
and  the  Washington  Beneficial  Society. 

Mr.  Grosskettler  married  Catherine  Frantz,  who  was  bom  Aug.  31,  1873, 
in  Alteglashiite,  Alsace-Lorraine,  and  received  her  education  in  the  parochial 
school  conducted  by  the  Sisters  in  that  parish,  of  which  Father  Heinrich 
Mollinger  was  priest.  Mrs.  Grosskettler  was  fifteen  years  old  when  she  came  to 
America.  Two  children  have  been  bom  to  this  marriage :  Francis  Christian, 
bom  June  14,  1907,  who  died  Nov.  20,  1910;  and  Anna  Theresa,  born  July 
4,  1904,  who  attends  the  parochial  school  of  the  Holy  Family  Church  at 
Shenandoah.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grosskettler  are  members  of  that  church.  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment. 

Frank  Frantz,  Mrs.  Grosskettler's  grandfather,  followed  lumbering  in 
Alsace  and  the  Rhine  Province  during  his  young  manhood,  and  later  learned 
the  trade  of  blacksmith,  which  he  followed  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  ninety-three  years  old.  He  and  his  wife,  Margaret  (Miller), 
were  Catholics  in  religious  faith.  They  had  the  following  children :  Henry  was 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Grosskettler;  Nicholas,  a  blacksmith,  still  living  at  Alteglas- 
hiite, has  been  married  twice,  having  three  children — Nicholas,  Elizabeth 
and  Frank — ^by  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth  (Koenig),  and  none  by  his  second; 
Elizabeth  married  Remisus  Gregoria,  manager  of  the  Gargon  &  Wendel  Coal 
Company  (known  as  the  Klein  Rossel  Coal  Company)  in  Alsace-Lorraine, 
and  they  had  ten  children,  Desire  (he  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years),  Cathe- 
rine (who  married  George  Bradiger  and  had  one  child,  Catherine),  Elizabeth 
(Mrs.  Arnold,  who  has  a  daughter),  Mary  (who  is  married  and  living  in 
Germany),  Margaret  (married  and  living  in  Germany),  Virginia  (married 
and  living  in  Germany),  and  four  children  who  died  when  infants;  Catherine 
married  Joseph  Hesse,  a  stonemason,  boss  contractor  at  Alteglashiite,  and  had 
children,  Nicholas,  John,  Remisus,  Henry,  Joseph,  Frank,  Catherine  and 
Mary;  John,  a  mine  boss  at  Alteglashute,  married  Theresa  Klein  and  had 
John,,  Catherine,  Jean  Baptiste,  Margaret,  Frank  and  one  younger;  and  Mary 
died  aged  thirteen  years. 

Henry  Frantz  was  Born  at  Alteglashute,  and  died  in  Germany  in  Feb- 
mary,  1889,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  By  occupation  he  was  a  miner. 
His  wife,  Catherine  (Piett),  also  a  native  of  Alteglashute,  came  to  Shenan- 
doah, Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  the  year  of  his  death,  and  died  there  Aug.  8,  1907. 
They  were  German  Catholics,  and  after  coming  to  this  country  Mrs.  Frantz 
became  a  member  of  the  Holy  Family  Church  at  Shenandoah.  She  was  the 
mother  of  nine  children,  viz. :  Nicholas,  John  (deceased),  Christian  (deceased), 
John  (deceased),  Christian,  Frank,  Catherine,  Peter  and  Henry. 
Vol.  n— s7 


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1186  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLYANLV 

GEORGE  M.  WATSON,  of  Pottsville,  belongs  to  an  old  and  substantial 
family  of  this  part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  in  whose  honor  the  borough 
of  Watsontown,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  was  named.  His  grandfather, 
George  Watson,  was  a  very  large  landowner  and  a  prosperous  farmer  in  that 
vicinity.  He  died  at  Watsontown,  and  is  buried  there.  His  children  were: 
Robert,  Daniel,  David,  Rebecca,  Phebe,  Angeline  and  Elizabeth. 

David  Watson,  son  of  George,  was  bom  at  Watsontown,  and  died  at 
AUenwood,  Pa.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and  prospered  steadily  in  that  call- 
ing, acquiring  the  ownership  of  three  farms,  at  Allenwood,  in  Union  county, 
Pa.,  comprising  125,  forty  and  sixty  acres,  respectively.  The  well  known 
Hunter  mill  was  also  one  of  his  possessions,  and  he  was  a  prominent  man 
of  his  day  in  that  section,  contributing  his  full  share  to  the  prosperity  of  the 
locality.  He  married  Maria  Hunter,  daughter  of  John  Hunter,  of  Allenwood, 
where  she  still  resides,  and  the  following  children  were  bom  to  this  union: 
William  H.,  now  a  resident  of  Spokane,  Wash.;  Lillie,  married  to  W.  R. 
Peoples,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Williamsport,  Pa.;  Angeline,  who  lives  at 
home ;  George  M. ;  Leon  Edward,  now  engaged  in  farming  at  Allenwood  (he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Lyccwning  county,  but  practiced  only  one  year) ; 
Horatio  H.,  a  telegraph  operator  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
stationed  at  Montgomery,  Pa.;  Lewis  D.,  of  Allenwood;  David,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  teaching;  Isabella,  married  to  Linn  Shaeffer;  and  Maria,  twin  of 
Isabella,  who  died  young. 

George  M.  Watson  was  bom  Aug.  4,  1868,  at  Allenwood,  Union  county, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood.  His  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools, 
which  he  attended  during  the  winter  seasons,  assisting  his  father  with  the 
farm  work  during  the  summer.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  reached  the  age 
of  eighteen  years,  when  he  went  to  Port  Carbon,  where  he  worked  on  the 
farm  of  Dr.  Brown,  who  was  so  well  satisfied  with  his  services  that  he  con- 
tinued with  him  for  a  period  of  fourteen  years.  Meantime  he  also  became 
engaged  in  dealing  in  horses,  but  he  was  ambitious  to  enter  business  on  his 
own  account,  and  he  located  in  Philadelphia  and  embarked  in  the  furniture 
trade,  which  he  carried  on  there  for  a  few  years.  In  1897  ^^  opened  his 
present  store  at  Pottsville,  where  he  is  engaged  in  dealing  in  new  and  second- 
hand furniture,  stoves,  etc.  His  establishment  is  at  Nos.  407-409  North 
Centre  street.  Mr.  Watson  has  had  a  thriving  custom  throughout  the  period 
of  his  location  in  Pottsville,  and  as  he  speaks  German,  Polish,  Slavic  and  some 
Italian,  as  well  as  'English,  he  has  drawn  considerable  pat^onage  from  the 
foreign  population  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Watson  has  continued  to  make  his 
home  at  Port  Carbon,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  both  his  residence 
and  business  locations.  He  has  become  quite  prominent  in  politics,  and  in 
1908  was  the  Republican  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  for  which  office  he 
was  defeated  by  only  a  few  votes.  He  has  also  been  candidate  for  jury  com- 
missioner, and  has  always  made  a  good  run  on  his  ticket.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  belonging  to  Lodge  No.  411,  of  Pottsville. 

Mr.  Watson  married  Bessie  Smith,  daughter  of  Robert  Smith,  who  for 
forty  years  was  engaged  as  boss  molder  at  the  Allison  shops.  Port  Carbon. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  have  had  the  following  children:  Bessie,  who. married 
Harold  Sabold  and  resides  at  Palo  Alto,  this  county ;  David,  a  machinist,  living 
at  home ;  Robert,  who  is  employed  with  his  father ;  William,  who  is  engaged 
as  a  clerk ;  and  Horatio  H.    The  family  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1187 

HARRY  E.  MASTER,  of  Shenandoah,  has  the  most  up-to-date  garage 
in  Schuylkill  county,  and  also  acts  as  agent  for  the  Ford  and  Jeffery  cars 
in  his  district.  In  his  successful  handling  of  the  automobile  business  he  has 
shown  enterprise  and  ability  which  stamp  him  as  a  typical  member  of  the 
family  to  which  he  belongs,  the  Masters  having  been  ranked  among  the 
thrifty  residents  of  the  community  wherever  found. 

The  family  is  an  old  one  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  where  David  and  Catherine 
(Hunsberger)  Master,  grandparents  of  Harry  E.  Master,  were  bom  and  spent 
their  lives.  David  Master  was  a  shoemaker  by  occupation.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  ten  children,  namely:  Mary,  who  married  Amos  Fryer,  of  Shimer- 
ville.  Pa. ;  Henry,  a  blacksmith,  of  Macungie,  Lehigh  county.  Pa. ;  Evan,  op- 
erator of  a  granite  quarry  in  Berks  county;  Tames,  similarly  engaged  at 
Mertztown,  Pa. ;  John,  in  the  same  business  at  Minersville,  Pa. ;  William,  who 
died  in  youth ;  George  W.,  a  blacksmith,  of  Robesonia,  Berks  county ;  David, 
who  died  young;  Milton  H. ;  and  Kate,  wife  of  John  Stichter,  of  Zionsville, 
Lehigh  county. 

Milton  H.  Master  was  bom  Sept.  21,  1855,  in  Berks  county,  received  a 
common  school  education  there,  and  learned  the  trade  of  marble  cutter.  His 
apprenticeship  completed,  he  first  established  himself  in  business  at  Miners- 
ville, Schuylkill  county,  where  he  remained  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  remov- 
ing thence  to  Shfenandoah,  where  in  1881  he  started  what  became  well  known 
as  the  Shenandoah  Steam  Marble  &  Granite  Works.  His  skill  and  good  taste 
made  his  work  very  popular,  and  the  cemeteries  of  Schuylkill  and  adjoining 
counties  contain  many  highly  creditable  specimens  of  his  handicraft.  He 
built  up  so  large  a  business  that  seven  or  eight  skilled  stonecutters  were 
employed  steadily,  and  orders  were  filled  promptly  and  efficiently.  Mr.  Masters 
became  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  borough,  and  was  actively 
engaged  until  five  weeks  before  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  6,  1914.  He 
is  buried  in  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery  at  Shenandoah.  He  took  an  intelligent 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  borough,  served  as  a  member  of  the  council  and 
secretary  of  that  body,  and  in  1805  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  county 
comptroller,  but  his  ticket  was  defeated  that  election.  Socially  he  belonged 
to  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  On  March  21,  1878,  Mr.  Masters  married  Lavina  Hanich, 
who  survives  him  and  continues  to  reside  at  Shenandoah.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  to  which  Mr.  Master  also  belonged.  They  became 
the  parents  of  children  as  follows :  Harry  E.  is  mentioned  below ;  Robert  H. 
.died  when  five  years  old ;  Grace  married  James  Ringler,  present  secretary  of 
the  borough  council  of  Shenandoah;  Mabel  Irene  is  unmarried;  Thomas  J., 
who  is  employed  with  his  brother  Harry  E.,  married  Ethel  S.  Ward,  of  Jersey 
City,  N.  J.;  Ruth  M.  died  April  30,  1915,  aged  twenty-three  years. 

Henry  Hanich,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lavina  (Hanich)  Master,  lived  in 
Berks  county,  but  died  at  Minersville.  Amos  Hanich,  her  father,  was  born 
at  Mertztown,  Berks  county,  settled  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  and 
followed  his  trade  of  carpenter  in  work  about  the  collieries.  He  died  at 
Minersville  when  eighty-two  years  old.  By  his  marriage  to  Christene  Bow- 
man he  had  children  as  follows :  Amelia,  who  married  Charles  Oerther ;  Sarah, 
wife  of  Henry  Oerther;  George  H.,  deceased;  Emma,  wife  of  Charles  Stein; 
Lavina;  Mrs.  Master;  and  Kate,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Henry 
Bachman. 

Harry  E.  Master  was  born  Oct.  31,  1878,  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county, 
and  attended  public  school  at  Shenandoah,  whither  the  family  removed  dur- 


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1188  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

ing  his  early  childhood,  when  he  was  but  three  years  old.  He  learned  the 
marble  and  granite  business  with  his  father,  for  whom  he  continued  to  work 
until  1910,  in  which  year  he  engaged  in  the  automobile  business,  which  he 
has  developed  steadily  by  thorough  application  to  its  needs.  His  first  garage 
was  at  Nos.  122-124  North  Pear  street,  with  office  at  Nos.  14-18  North  West 
street,  and  in  1916  he  moved  the  business  to  its  present  location,'  at  the  rear 
of  Nos.  125-127  North  Jardin  street.  The  Shenandoah  Garage  is  considered 
the  model  establishment  of  its  kind  in  the  county,  and  Mr.  Master  not  only 
sells  a  lai^  ntunber  of  Ford  and  JefFery  cars,  but  al^o  sells  accessories  and 
supplies,  and  has  all  conveniences  for  doing  general  repairing.  He  is  promi- 
nent in  the  local  social  organizations,  belonging  to  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles  (of  which  he  is  a  past  president)  and  Rescue  Hook  &  Lad- 
der Company. 

Mr.  Master  married  Mercy  Bees,  and  they  have  one  child,  Dorothv  H.,  now 
attending  school.  Mrs.  Master's  parents,  John  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Ratford) 
Bees,  had  the  following  children:  Eliza,  Annie,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Mattie, 
William,  Mary,  Mercy,  Charles,  Margaret  and  Harry. 

WILLIAM  KEISER,  assistant  inside  foreman  at  the  West  Brookside 
colliery,  was  bom  at  Mahanoy  City  May  28,  1870,  a  son  of  John  Reiser.  The 
latter  was  bom  in  Germany  and  came  to  the  United  States  when  twenty  years 
old,  locating  at  Mahanoy  City,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  mining. 
In  1 87 1  he  moved  to  Porter  township,  and  continued  mining  at  the  Kalmia 
and  Brookside  collieries.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Eva  Filler, 
and  their  children  were:  Catherine  married  Elmer  Heckler,  who  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  Girard  estate  at  Shenandoah,  where  he  died,  his  widow  still 
residing  there;  John  is  a  resident  of  Tower  City;  Lena  died  young;  Susan 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  William  is  next  in  the  family;  Emma 
married  August  Renner.  John  Keiser  and  his  wife  died  in  Porter  township, 
and  are  buried  at  Muir,  in  that  township. 

William  Keiser  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Porter  township  and  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years  began  picking  slate  in  the  West  Brookside  colliery, 
later  going  to  the  Kalmia  colliery.  Close  attention  to  his  work,  and  faith- 
fulness in  the  performance  of  his  duties,  gained  him  successive  promotions, 
and  he  rose  to  be  loader  boss.  In  1903  he  was  made  assistant  inside  foreman 
at  the  West  Brookside  colliery,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

Mr.  Keiser  married  Elizabeth  Adams,  and  she  is  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Kuntzelman)  Adams.  Their  children  are  as  follows:  Ida. 
who  married  Frank  Myers;  Eva,  who  married  F.  Knorr;  Helen;  Esther; 
Elmer;  Raymond;  and  John,  William  and  Norman,  all  three  deceased,  ifr. 
Keiser  has  been  for  many  years  superintendent  of  the  Reinerton  Sunday 
school,  and  is  very  much  interested  in  its  work  and  development.  Frater- 
nally he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Red  Men  and  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M. 
For  many  years  he  has  taken  a  helpful  part  as  a  director  of  the  Williams 
Valley  Building  and  Loan  Association,  in  the  conduct  of  this  organization. 
In  the  fall  of  191 5  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Porter 
township,  and  will  doubtless  prove  himself  a  valuable  addition  to  that  body. 
A  man  of  strong  characteristics,  he  has  forged  ahead,  and,  while  advancing 
himself,  has  assisted  others  on  their  upward  climb  in  life. 

ABRAHAM  F.  RISSINGER,  of  Shenandoah,  has  for  several  years 
been  acting  as  outside  foreman  at  collieries  in  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  has 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1189 

a  high  reputation  for  intelligence  and  conscientious  attention  to  his  duties. 
Since  the  summer  of  191 5  he  has  been  at  the  West  Shenandoah  colliery. 

The  Kissingers  are  of  German  extraction,  and  Karl  Gottlieb  Reissiger, 
musical  composer,  bom  1798,  died  1859,  was  a  member  of  the  family.  Abra- 
ham Kissinger,  grandfather  of  Abraham  F.  Kissinger,  was  probably  born  in 
Germany,  and  was  a  son  of  Emanuel  Kissinger,  who  settled  at  Gratz,  Dauphin 
Co.,  Pa.  After  residing  for  a  time  in  Philadelphia  Abraham  Kissinger  located 
in  Dauphin  county,  where  he  followed  farming  in  Lykens  township,  and  he 
died  there  in  1879.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Klinger,  preceded  him 
to  the  grave.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Joseph,  Jacob,  Daniel,  Philip, 
Catherine  (who  married  Marvin  Peterson)  and  Mary  (who  married  Frank 
Long  and  is  deceased). 

Daniel  Kissinger,  son  of  Abraham,  was  bom  at  Gratz,  Pa.,  and  received  a 
public  school  education  there.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Dauphin  cotmty 
and  was  also  employed  in  the  mines  there,  at  the  Bear  Valley  workings,  Wil- 
liamstown.  He  died  at  Gratz  in  1900,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  Mr. 
Kissinger  married  Amelia  Koppenhafer,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
(Leidich)  Koppenhafer,  and  she  is  still  living  at  Gratz.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kis- 
singer were  members  of  the  Keformed  Church,  in  which  he  served  as  (deacon 
and  elder.  They  had  eight  children  who  grew  to  maturity,  four  of  the 
family  bom  to  them  dying  young;  of  the  others,  Abraham  F.  is  mentioned 
below ;  Jacob  J.  married  Mabel  Saltzer ;  Charles  M.  married  Clara  Troutman ; 
William  H.  married  a  Miss  Shade,  and.  they  have  two  children,  Homer  and 
Koy ;  Andrew  married  Lottie  Kimmel  and  they  have  one  child,  Dorsey ;  Har- 
rison married  Ellen  Unger;  Mary  married  Elmer  Daniels;  Sallie  married 
John  Morrow  and  has  six  children ;  Austin  is  deceased ;  twins  died  in  infancy. 

Abraham  F.  Kissinger  was  bom  Dec.  24,  1873,  at  Gratz,  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa., 
and  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm,  meantime  receiving  common  school  advan- 
tages. When  twelve  years  old  he  began  picking  slate  at  the  Bear  Valley  col- 
liery, Williamstown.  Later  he  went  to  leam  the  trade  of  carpenter  with 
Alexander  Klinger,  serving  a  three  years*  apprenticeship  and  afterwards 
working  as  a  journeyman  at  Shamokin,  Pa.  Subsequently  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Keading  Coal  &  Iron  Company,  building  break- 
ers, and  on  July  21,  1903,  was  made  carpenter  foreman  at  the  East  Brookside 
colliery,  receiving  the  appointment  from  master  carpenter  H.  E.  Muehlhof, 
of  Pottsville.  After  filling  that  position  satisfactorily  a  few  years  he  was 
transferred  from  the  carpenter  department  to  the  coal  department  in  the 
capacity  of  foreman  at  the  Middle  Creek  washery,  under  E.  E.  Kaercher, 
general  superintendent,  Pottsville.  He  was  retained  there  until  June  18,  1908, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Lincoln  colliery  as  outside  foreman.  On  June 
17,  1912,  he  was  changed  thence  to  the  Brookside  colliery,  in  the  same  capacity, 
remaining  in  that  position  until  assigned  to  his  present  duties  at  the  West 
Shenandoah  workings.  His  record  of  service  has  been  highly  creditable,  and 
he  has  an  equally  enviable  character  for  citizenship  at  the  various  places  where 
he  has  resided.  While  living  at  Tower  City  he  was  a  director  of  the  Lykens 
Valley  Building  &  Loan  Association  of  that  town.  He  is  a  Mason  in  good 
standing,  belonging  to  Swatara  Lodge,  No.  267,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Tremont,  this 
county;  Tremont  Chapter,  No.  221,  K.  A.  M. ;  Constantine  Commandery,  No. 
41,  K.  T.,  of  Pottsville;  and  Kajah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Keading. 
At  Tremont  he  also  holds  membership  in  the  Koyal  Arcanum.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Keformed  Church. 


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1190  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr.  Rissinger  married  Carrie  Hoffman,  daughter  of  Emanuel  and  Fietta 
(Shadle)  Hoffman,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  five  children:  James  A., 
Eva  M.,  Florence  A.,  William  A.  and  Ruth  I. 

JOHN  B.  FAYHEY,  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker.  Port  Carbon, 
Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania. 

JACOB  J.  RISSINGER,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Hubley  township, 
near  the  village  of  Sacramento,  and  who  is  also  serving  in  the  capacity  of 
constable,  was  bom  Feb.  i8,  1876,  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Amelia'  (Kopenhfeffer)  Rissinger. 

Abraham  Rissinger,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Jacob  J.  Rissinger,  is 
the  first  of  the  name  of  whom  we  have  any  record.  He  resided  for  a, time 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  then  removed  to  Dauphin  county,  where 
he  became  a  prosperous  farmer.  It  is  probable  that  he  was  bom  in  Germany, 
and  that  he  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  emigrate  to  the  United  States.  He 
married  a  Miss  Klinger,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely: 
Joseph;  Jacob;  Daniel;  Felix;  Mary,  who  married  Frank  Long;  and  Kath- 
erine,  who  married  M.  Peters.  The  father  of  these  children  died  in  1879, 
the  mother  passing  away  several  years  earlier. 

Daniel  Rissinger,  the  father  of  Jacob  J.  Rissinger,  was  born  at  Gratz, 
Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place.  He 
was  engaged  in  various  lines  of  enterprise  for  several  years,  but  eventually 
settled  down  to  farming  in  Dauphin  county  and  continued  to  be  engaged 
therein  during  his  active  years.  He  died  in  1900,  firm  in  the  faith  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  which  he  had  served  as  deacon  and  elder  for  several  years. 
Mrs.  Rissinger  is  also  a  member  of  that  church.  Of  their  twelve  children, 
four  died  young  and  eight  grew  to  maturity.  We  have  the  following  record 
of  the  family:  Abraham,  who  married  Carrie  HoflFman  and  has  had  five 
children,  James,  William,  Eva,  Florence  and  Ruth;  Jacob  J.;  Charles,  who 
married  Clara  Troutman;  Mary,  who  married  Elmer  Daniels;  William,  who 
married  a  Miss  Shade  and  has  two  children,  Homer  and  Roy;  Austin,  who 
is  deceased;  Andrew,  who  married  Lottie  Kimmel,  and  has  one  child, 
Dorsey;  Sallie,  who  married  John  Morrow  and  has  six  children;  Harrison, 
who  married  Ellen  Unger;  and  twins  who  died  in  infancy. 

Jacob  J.  Rissinger  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  home  com- 
munity in  Dauphin  county,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm,  on  which  he  worked  as 
his  father's  assistant  from  boyhood  until  he  reached  manhood.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  he  began  farming  for  himself,  although  on  the  farm  belong- 
ing to  his  tather-in-law,  on  which  he  remained  until  July"  2,  1901,  at  which 
time  he  purchased  his  present  property.  This  is  a  well-cultivated  tract  of 
seventy-three  acres,  lying  in  Hubley  township,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  upon  which 
he  has  made  numerous  valuable  improvements.  His  residence  is  a  large  brick 
building,  modem  in  its  equipment,  and  indicates  thrift  and  neatness,  while 
his  bams  and  outbuildings  also  show  substantial  construction  and  are  equipped 
with  all  devices  of  a  labor-saving  character.  Mr.  Rissinger  is  known  as  one 
of  the  prosperous  and  progressive  agriculturists  of  the  Valley  View  district, 
is  considered  a  man  of  up-to-date  views  and  tendencies,  and  has  established 
his  reputation  for  good  citizenship  by  linking  his  name  with  every  move- 
ment for  the  public  welfare  and  advancement.  In  191 1  he  was  elected  on  the 
Republican  ticket  as  constable,  and  in  191 5  was  reelected  for  another  term 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1191 

of  four  years,  the  size  of  his  majority  in  these  elections  indicating  the  popu- 
larity in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  has  been  active  in  behalf 
of  education  and  has  served  several  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board. 
Mr.  Kissinger  was  married  Aug.  31,  1895,  to  Mabel  Saltzer,  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Isabella  (Adams)  Saltzer,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been  bom 
five  children:  William,  who  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  is  a  car- 
penter by  trade ;  GwendoHn,  who  died  when  nine  years  old ;  Joseph,  who  is  a 
student  in  the  public  schools;  Jacob,  and  Isabella.  Mr.  Rissinger  is  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  has  ser\^ed  as  deacon  for  some 
time ;  Mrs.  Rissinger  is  also  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

WILLIAM  D.  EVANS,  inside  foreman  at  the  West  Shenandoah  colliery, 
is  one  of  the  well  known  mining  men  of  his  section,  having  devoted  his  entire 
career  to  this  line  of  work.  Mr.  Evans  was  born  in  the  south  of  Wales,  Jan. 
29,  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  David  J.  and  Ann  (Griffiths)  Evans. 

David  J.  Evans  was  bom  in  south  Wales  and  in  May,  1865,  came  to  the 
United  States,  bringing  with  him  his  wife  and  two  children.  For  two  years 
the  family  resided  at  Johnstown,  Pa.,  whence  they  came  to  Pottsville,  but 
after  a  short  stay  moved  to  Thomaston,  and  later  to  Ashland.  At  the  latter 
place  they  remained  two  years,  and  then  went  to  Girardville,  where  Mr.  Evans 
became  inside  foreman  at  the  Girard  colliery,  a  position  which  he  held  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  Mrs.  Evans  was  also  bom  in  Wales.  She  became  the 
mother  of  the  following  children :  Sarah,  William  D.,  John  T.,  David,  Martha 
(who  died  young),  Martha  (2),  Thomas,  Daniel  and  Annie. 

William  D.  Evans  attended  the  public  schools  of  Thomaston,  and  when 
still  a  lad  began  to  pick  slate  at  the  mines.  After  he  had  worked  for  a  time 
at  the  Tunnel  colliery,  at  Ashland,  the  family  moved  to  Girardville,  and  there 
he  completed  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  I^ter  he  secured  a  position 
at  the  Girard  colliery,  going  inside  and  becoming  a  door  boy.  From  that 
humble  station  he  slowly  but  surely  worked  his  way  upward  to  be  assistant 
inside  foreman  at  the  Girard  colliery,  under  John  Hanson  and  district  super- 
intendent Elijah  Gregory.  Later  he  was  transferred  to  the  East  Bear  Ridge 
colliery,  at  Mahanoy  Plane,  where  he  was  inside  foreman,  succeeding  the  late 
Thomas  Giles.  He  remained  in  that  capacity  from  September,  1894,  to  Feb- 
ruary, 191 1,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Shenandoah  City  colliery  as 
inside  foreman,  and  in  July,  191 5,  was  transferred  to  the  West  Shenandoah 
colliery,  where  he  has  since  remained.  Mr.  Evans  is  a  thoroughly  experienced 
miner,  is  industrious,  energetic  and  faithful,  and  is  therefore  accounted  one 
of  his  company's  valued  men.  He  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in  the  mining  dis- 
trict, and  his  many  friends  know  him  as  a  man  to  be  trusted  in  any  trans- 
actions. 

Mr.  Evans  married  Annie  Davis,  who  was  born  in  south  Wales  April 
19,  1866,  and  came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  she  was  a  child.  Her 
father  was  David  Davis,  who  lived  at  Ashland,  Mahanoy  Plane  and  Gilbert- 
on,  and  followed  mining  throughout  his  active  career.  He  is  now  retired 
and  lives  among  his  children,  his  wife  being  deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Evans  there  have  been  bom  the  following  children:  Sarah  J.,  who  married 
David  Lewis ;  David,  deceased ;  Qements ;  Harry,  Mary  and  Daniel,  deceased ; 
Blanche,  who  married  David  Jones;  Roy;  Annie,  deceased;  and  Blodwen. 

Mr.  Evans  takes  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Baptist  Church,  attend- 
ing services  at  Girardville,  where  he  is  a  deacon  and  trustee,  and  where  he  has 


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1192  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

been  leader  of  the  church  choir  since  his  father's  death  up  to  the  present  time. 
He  has  also  taught  a  Bible  class.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  belong- 
ing to  Shenandoah  Lodge  and  Williams^rt  Consistory,  and  also  holds  mem- 
bership in  Lodge  No.  737,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Girardville,  and  the  American  Druid 
Society  of  Shenandoah ;  he  takes  a  very  active  part  in  their  Welsh  day  outings 
and  Eisteddfods. 

FRANK  ADAMS,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Porter 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  was  bom  in  that  township  Oct  18,  1861,  son  of 
V  Daniel  and  Eva  (Houtz)  Adams,  and  a  grandson  of  John  Adams. 

Daniel  Adams  was  bom  in  Schuylkill  county,'  Pa.,  and  was  a  farmer 
throughout  the  period  of  his  active  life,  being  the  owner  of  a  valuable  prop- 
erty in  Porter  township  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  married  Eva  Houtz, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Daniel,  who  is  de- 
ceased; William;  Kate;  Elizabeth;  John;  George;  Abraham;  Susannah; 
Ephraim;  Frank,  and  James. 

Frank  Adams  secured  ordinary  educational  advantages  in  the  public  schools 
of  Porter  township,  and  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  between  working  on 
his  father's  farm  and  emplo)mient  at  the  Brookside  colliery.  He  was  subse- 
quently employed  in  the  mines  for  twenty-seven  years,  but  eventually  returned 
to  the  vocation  of  his  fathers,  farming,  in  which  he  has  continued  to  be 
engaged  to  the  present  time.  He  o>yns  two  good  farms  in  Porter  township, 
both  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  with  modern  equipment  and  build- 
ings of  a  substantial  and  attractive  character.  He  has  a  high  g^ade  of  stock, 
and  the  appearance  of  thrift  and  good  judgment  of  his  property  shows  the 
owner  to  be  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability  as  a  farmer  and  business 
man. 

Mr.  Adams  was  married  Dec.  24,  1882,  to  Susan  FetterhofF,  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Hoops)  Fetterhoff,  and  to  this  tmion  there  have  been 
bom  the  following  children:  James  A.,  who  married  Florence  Harder; 
Frank  A.,  who  married  Bertha  Paul;  Emma  J.  and  Sarah  Ellen,  who  are 
deceased ;  Jennie  May ;  Isaac ;  John  D. ;  George,  Charles  and  Elmer,  who  are 
deceased;  Nora;  Dora;  Lester  N.,  and  Lillie  C.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Adams  has  always  been  a  generous 
supporter.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive  men  of  his  community,  and  his 
name  has  always  found  a  place  on  the  list  of  promoters  of  public-spirited 
and  beneficial  movements. 

On  the  maternal  side  Mr.  Adams  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  early  fam- 
ilies of  Schuylkill  county,  and  one  which  has  contributed  to  the  growth  and 
development  of  this  locality.  His  grandfather,  John  Houtz,  the  pioneer  of 
the  name  in  the  Schuylkill  valley,  was  a  native  of  the  western  part  of  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  and  as  a  very  early  settler  came  to  the  William  valley  in  Porter 
township,  where  he  took  up  a  great  tract  of  land.  Later  this  was  cut  up  into 
three  farms.  A  farmer  by  vocation,  he  was  successful  in  his  operations  here. 
Later  he  moved  with  his  two  brothers  and  their  families  to  Lycoming  county, 
where  he  also  bought  a  large  property  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  his  later  years  he  retumed  to  Porter  township  and  purchased  another 
farm,  and  here  continued  to  be  engaged  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil  during  the . 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years 
and  was  strong  and  hearty  almost  up  to  the  day  of  his  death.  Mr.  Houtz 
was  a  man  of  strength  of  character  and  purpose,  sturdy,  self-reliant  and  indus- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1193 

trious,  and  seemed  to  delight  in  overcoming  obstacles.  He  is,  buried  near 
Tower  City,  in  Porter  township.  His  wife,  who  before  her  marriage  was 
a  Miss  Fisher,  also  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  being  ninety-seven  years  old  at 
the  time  of  her  demise.  They  had  the  following  children :  Wendel ;  Jacob ; 
Jonathan ;  John ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  David  Hand ;  Eva,  who  married  Dan- 
iel Adams;  Louisa,  who  married  John  Brown;  and  Mrs.  Lucks,  who  died 
in  Illinois. 

Jonathan  Houtz,  son  of  John  Houtz,  the  pioneer,  was  bom  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  and  accompanied  his  father  as  a  youth  to  Porter  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  where  the  greater  part  of  his  subsequent  life  was  passed  in  farming. 
He  accumulated  a  good  property  of  eighty  acres,  of  which  he  disposed  in 
the  evening  of  life,  and  f roip  that  time  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years,  lived  in  retirement  at  Orwin.  He  lies  buried  there.  Like  his 
father,  he  was  a  man  of  substance  and  worth,  and  had  the  entire  esteem  and 
confidence  of  the  people  among  whom  his  home  was  made.  Mr.  Houtz  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Wolf,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
John,  who  is  deceased;  Sophia,  who  lives  at  Orwin;  Hieronymus,  living  in 
Porter  township;  Nathan  and  Charles,  residents  of  Qark's  valley;  Alice,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Behney;  Priscilla,  the  wife  of  Andrew  Hand;  Massilla, 
who  married  Samuel  Conrad;  and  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Charles  Eberts. 

REV.  FRANCIS  PAUL  HOLTGREVE,  of  Shenandoah  borough,  rector 
of  the  German  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  the  Holy  Family,  was  bom  in  West- 
phalia, Germany,  Aug.  12,  1869.  He  there  received  his  preliminary  education, 
later  atWding  the  government  college  of  that  province,  and  early  in  life  evi- 
denced a  desire  to  enter  the  priesthood  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  is  the  only 
one  of  his  family  to  come  to  America,  and  also  the  only  one  to  enter  the  priest- 
hood. He  is  a  son  of  Francis  and  Elizabeth  (Bacher)  Holtgreve,  natives  of 
Westphalia,  and  farming  people. 

Father  Holtgreve  left  Germany  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  and 
came  to  the  United  States.  Here  he  entered  the  Philadelphia  Theological 
Seminary  of  St.  Charles,  and  later  prosecuted  his  divinity  course  at  Over- 
brook  and  was  duly  ordained  to  the  priesthood.  His  first  appointment  was  as 
assistant  to  Monsignor  William  Heinen,  at  St.  Joseph's  Church,  East  Mauch 
Chunk,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and  was  next  assigned  as  assistant  to 
Father  Deham,  in  All  Saints  Church,  Bridesburg,  Philadelphia,  where  he  was 
stationed  four  years.  Father  Holtgreve's  next  assignment  was  to  St.  John's 
Church,  Pottsville,  as  assistant  to  Father  Longinus,  for  eight  months,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  period  he  became  assistant  to  Rev.  Father  George  Bomeman.  at 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Reading,  and  remained  three  and  a  half  years.  On  Jan. 
27,  1905,  Father  Holtgreve  came  to  Shenandoah  to  become  the  rector  of  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Family. 

During  the  period  of  Father  Holtgreve's  ministry  many  changes  have  been 
made  at  tfie  Church  of  the  Holy  Family.  In  1914  the  church  was  remodeled 
and  new  decorations,  altars,  etc.,  were  installed.  The  congregation  contains 
one  hundred  families,  about  five  hundred  souls.  In  1906,  the  year  following 
his  arrival  at  Shenandoah  borough.  Father  Holtgreve  built  a  new  church  and 
convent.  In  1914,  when  the  church  was  redecorated,  the  following  assisted 
and  contributed  in  the  work:  Christian  Schmidt,  who  gave  the  main  altar 
as  a  memorial  to  his  deceased  wife,  Catherine  Bender  Schmidt,  and  the  $2,300 
organ;  Charles  Ditchey,  who  gave  the  Blessed  Virgin  altar;  P.  J.  Murphy, 


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1194  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

who  gave  the  St.  Joseph's  altar;  Jacob  Noll,  who  gave  the  communion  altar; 
Mrs.  Jacob  Noll,  who  gave  two  groups  of  the  Holy  Family ;  Emil  Beyer,  who 
gave  the  Adoring  Angels  on  the  left  and  right  of  the  main  altar;  J.  J.  O'Heam, 
the  contractor  under  whose  direction  the  church  was  built,  who  gave  the  door 
frames  leading  to  the  altar ;  Charles  L.  Knapp,  who  gave  the  Sanctuary  lamp ; 
and  various  others.  The  walls  and  ceiling  were  painted  by  Berthold  Imhoff, 
of  Reading,  Pa.,  and  the  ceiling  represents  the  Adoration  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, containing  seventy-two  figures  and  being  a  magnificent  piece  of  art. 
Other  pictures  of  saints  adorn  the  ceiling,  $1,500  having  been  donated  by 
Christian  Schmidt  towards  the  payment  for  that  work.  The  windows  were 
donated  by  the  following :  Main  floor — ^The  Rosary  Society,  Jacob  Noll,  Mrs. 
Graber,  P.  J.  Murphy,  John  Blickley,  Joseph  Grosskettler,  Arsemius  Ploppert. 
Nicholas  Barza,  Christian  Schmidt,  Joseph  Bosch,  and  St.  Michael's  Society; 
gallery — Albert  Smith,  Male  Choir  members  and  Henry  Spor. 

The  Church  of  the  Holy  Family  is  the  German  Catholic  Church  in  the 
borough  of  Shenandoah,  and  its  spiritual  and  temporal  affairs  are  in  a  most 
excellent  condition.  The  parish  was  organized  about  the  year  1870  and  the 
church  building  was  soon  afterwards  erected,  on  Chestnut  street.  At  that  time 
there  were  to  be  found  in  the  borough  of  Shenandoah  about  thirty-five  families 
of  German  birth  or  antecedents,  and  these  formed  a  part  of  the  Uerman  parish 
at  Mahanoy  City  until  1874,  when  Fathers  Buening  and  Maus  supplied  the  two 
congregations  until  a  separate  charge  at  Shenandoah  was  given  to  Rev.  Father 
Maurice  Graetzer,  who  remained  until  February,  1878.  Rev.  Father  Dehun 
was  then  installed  as  pastor  and  began  a  long  and  useful  work  in  this  field, 
continuing  in  pastoral  charge  of  the  parish  until  his  removal  to  Philadelphia 
in  1888.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  Fretz,  under  whose  charge  a  new 
rectory  was  built.  In  1891  he  was  changed  to  South  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  Schuettelhoefer,  who,  in  turn,  was  succeeded  at  his 
death,  in  1905,  by  Rev.  Francis  P.  Holtgreve.  In  1879  ^^^  church  edifice  was 
remodeled  and  was  enlarged  to  accommodate  the  increasing  membership,  and 
at  this  time  the  congregation  of  one  hundred  families  includes  some  of  the 
leading  people  of  Shenandoah  borough. 

B.  FRANK  GEHRIG  came  to  Schuylkill  Haven  over  sixty  years  ago, 
Dec.  2,  1852,  and  has  been  so  thoroughly  associated  with  the  life  of  the 
borough,  as  business  man,  official  and  public-spirited  citizen,  that  his  record 
is  part  of  its  history.  At  present,  except  for  his  connection  with  the  municipal 
government  as  assessor  of  the  North  ward,  he  is  living  retired.  Bom  Oct. 
25,  1832,  at  Milton,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  he  belongs  to  a  family  of 
German  origin  which  has  long  been  established  in  Pennsylvania,  having 
settled  in  Berks  county  at  an  early  date. 

John  Gehrig,  his  grandfather,  lived  at  Leesport,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  kept 
hotel  at  that  point  while  the  turnpike  was  under  construction  in  that  section. 
He  died  there  in  1824.  His  children  were :  John,  George  E.,  Mrs.  Beard  and 
Mrs.  Sallie  Baker. 

George  E.  Gehrig,  father  of  B.  Frank  Gehrig,  was  bom  at  Leesport,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  17,  iSdi,  and  spent  his  early  life  in  Berks  county.  In  1829  he 
removed  to  Milton,  Pa.,  where  he  kept  the  "United  States  Hotel"  for  some  time 
and  later  engaged  in  the  milling  business,  which  he  continued  to  follow  for  a 
number  of  years.    His  death  occurred  in  1854.    His  wife,  Elizabeth  (Huey), 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1195 

died  in  1883.  They  had  these  children :  Jacob,  George,  B.  Frank,  Nice,  James, 
Sophia,  Joseph,  Isaac,  Albert  and  Helen. 

B.  Frank  Gehrig  attended  the  public  schools  at  Milton.  When  a  young  man 
he  learned  the  distilling  trade.  He  came  to  Schuylkill  Haven  in  1852  and 
clerked  for  three  and  a  half  years,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the  clothing  and 
notion  business,  continuing  same  with  success  for  seven  years.  For  a  year 
afterwards  he  followed  the  shipping  of  coal,  and  was  then  employed  in  the 
shops  at  Schuylkill  Haven  for  one  year.  Then,  in  company  with  David  Dreibel- 
bis,  he  built  a  factory  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  soap,  Mr.  Gehrig 
selling  out  to  his  partner  after  conducting  the  business  for  one  year.  He  next 
engaged  in  droving,  traveling  through  central  Pennsylvania  buying  and  selling 
stock,  and  was  so  occupied  for  several  years.  For  fifteen  years  following  he 
carried  on  farming  in  North  Manheim  township,  and  he  has  since  lived  retired 
except  for  his  duties  as  assessor  of  the  North  ward  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  which 
office  he  has  filled  for  the  last  sixteen  years.  For  eighteen  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  borough  council,  his  long  continuance  in  that  position  being  a 
most  substantial  evidence  of  the  estimate  placed  upon  his  services  by  his  fellow 
citizens  and  their  confidence  in  his  trustworthiness  and  ability  to  handle  the 
aflfairs  of  the  borough.    Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Gehrig  owns  the  old  John  Mackey  hotel  stand  at  Schuylkill  Haven, 
which  was  well  known  in  the  days  of  the  stagecoach.  It  is  still  a  fine  old  build- 
ing, and  the  Gehrigs  have  a  comfortable  home  there.  He  married  Isabella 
Barr,  a  daughter  of  John  Barr,  formerly  of  Kutztown,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  later  of 
Schuylkill  Haven,  and  she  died  June  2,  1913.  They  had  a  family  of  six  sons: 
-John  is  deceased ;  George  E.  is  living  at  Schuylkill  Haven ;  William  is  deceased ; 
Harry  is  at  home;  Robert  is  a  resident  of  Schuylkill  Haven;  Edward  is  at 
home. 

Mr.  Gehrig  is  among  the  old  residents  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  his  stories 
of  the  early  days  in  this  section  are  highly  interesting.  He  has  always  taken 
an  active  part  in  every  cause  for  local  advancement,  and  is  recognized  as  a 
valuable  citizen.    He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

PATRICK  THOMAS  HIGGINS,  an  old-time  resident  of  the  borough  of 
Shenandoah,  has  been  a  miner  from  boyhood,  having  been  employed  in  active 
work  about  the  mines  for  the  last  fifty-two  years.  He  is  a  man  of  high  char- 
acter and  honorable  reputation,  gained  by  his  industrious  habits  and  upright- 
ness in  his  dealings  with  all.  Mr.  Higgins  was  born  at  the  city  of  Droghrty, 
County  Louth,  Ireland,  March  17,  1850,  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Hardiman) 
Higgins. 

Thomas  Higgins,  the  father,  was  a  native  of  Strokestown,  in  County  Ros- 
common, Ireland,  and  lived  in  that  country  until  after  his  marriage.  Eventu- 
ally he  moved  with  his  family  to  England,  settling  in  Staffordshire,  where  he 
died,  at  Wolverhampton,  when  forty  years  old.  By  trade  he  was  a  stone- 
mason. He  and  his  wife  were  strict  Catholics  in  religious  faith.  Of  the  chil- 
dren bom  to  them  two  lived,  Patrick  and  Mary.  Mrs.  Higgins  remarried  in 
England,  in  1855,  becoming  the  wife  of  John  Monaghan,  by  whom  she  had 
one  child,  Margaret.  The  family  came  to  America  in  the  summer  .of  1862. 
Mrs.  Mary  (Hardiman)  Monaghan,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years  in 
Shenandoah,  Pa.  Her  eldest  daughter,  Mary,  n^irried  Michael  Reilly,  a  miner, 
and  they  lived  and  died  at  Lannigans  Patch,  which  is  in  the  vicinity  of  Shenan- 
doah, Schuylkill  county.    They  had  a  large  family,  viz.:     Margaret,  bom  at 


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1196  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

St.  Clair,  this  county,  married  Patrick  White,  an  engineer,  of  New  York  City, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Harry  and  Marguerite.  Thomas,  whose  home  is  at 
Gallitzin,  Pa.,  is  a  traveling  salesman  for  an  insurance  company ;  he  is  married. 
David,  also  an  insurance  agent,  residing  at  Hazleton,  Pa.,  married  Ellen  Oancey, 
and  they  have  five  daughters,  Mary,  Helen,  Anna,  Margaret  and  Catherine. 
Mary  A.  married  Dr.  Marsden,  of  Camden,  N.  J.;  they  have  no  children. 
Catherine  married  Otto  Rueh,  who  is  a  lithographer  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Frank.  Elizabeth  was  burned  to  death  in  childhood. 
Harry,  who  is  employed  as  a  bartender  in  New  York  Qty,  married  Anna  Gil- 
roy,  and  they  have  two  sons,  William  and  Harry.  Michael  (deceased)  was  a 
barber  by  trade;  he  married  and  had  one  son.  Agnes,  who  is  unmarried, 
resides  in  New  York  City,  following  dressmaking.  John,  a  lawyer,  in  New 
York  City,  is  also  immarried.  Patrick,  who  travels  for  the  Prudential  Life 
Insurance  Company,  is  unmarried.  Elizabeth  is  married  and  lives  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  her  husband  is  a  plain-clothes  officer ;  they  have  one  daughter. 
Two  children  died  in  infancy. 

Margaret  Monaghan,  the  only  child  of  the  second  marriage,  was  bom  in 
1856  in  Staffordshire,  England.  She  has  been  married  twice,  but  had  no  chil- 
dren by  her  first  husband,  James  Leonard,  who  died  in  Shenandoah.  On  July 
16,  1878,  she  married  Edward  J.  Coyle,  who  died  Oct.  5,  1900.  They  had  a 
family  of  nine  children,  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Edward  T., 
a  traveling  salesman,  of  Chicago,  unmarried;  Mary,  wife  of  John  Dalton,  ship- 
ping clerk  and  general  foreman  of  the  Columbia  Brewing  Company,  Shenan- 
doah ;  John,  an  employe  of  the  DuPont  Powder  Company  at  Pennsgrove,  Pa., 
unmarried ;  Bernard  P.,  a  miner,  unmarried ;  Alice,  wife  of  Joseph  J.  Schmicker, 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  Schmicker  Brothers'  hotel,  at  Reading,  Pa.  (they 
have  two  children,  Margaret  E.  and  Wilhelmina  M.)  ;  James  J.,  living  at 
Reading,  who  is  married  and  has  two  children,  Alice  and  Margaret ;  Joseph  D., 
a  photographer  of  Philadelphia,  unmarried ;  Philip  A.,  who  is  with  the  DuPont 
Powder  Company  at  Pennsgrove,  Pa. ;  and  Arthur  J.,  a  clerk  in  Philadelphia, 
unmarried. 

Patrick  Thomas  Higgins  came  to  the  United  States  in  the  summer  of  1862 
with  his  mother  and  stepfather  and  sister,  the  family  sailing  from  Liverpool 
on  the  steamship  "Columbia,"  which  landed  them  at  New  York  City.  Thence 
they  continued  to  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  soon  afterwards  located 
at  Lannigans  Patch,  now  known  as  Ellangowan,  one  mile  from  Shenandoah, 
this  county,  which  latter  town  was  then  a  very  small  place,  with  little  to  fore- 
cast its  present  condition  and  appearance.  It  was  not  long  before  Patrick  T. 
Higgins  began  work  there  as  a  slate  picker  at  Ellangowan,  later  being  em- 
ployed as  driver,  laborer  and  miner.  In  the  year  1867  the  family  removed  to 
Youngstown,  Ohio,  and  he  accompanied  them  to  that  place,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  employed  as  puddler's  helper  at  the  rolling  mills  and  blast  furnaces. 
Returning  alone  to  Lannigans  Patch,  he  resumed  mine  work,  driving  gang- 
ways, sinking  shafts,  etc.  In  1874  the  family  settled  at  Shenandoah,  but 
meantime,  in  1873,  he  had  gone  to  Shamokin,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  worked  for  a  few  years  at  the  Enterprise  colliery,  robbing  pillars.  After 
his  marriage,  which  took  place  at  Shamokin,  Oct.  16,  1876,  he  came  to  Shenan- 
doah, where  he  has  since  maintained  his  home.  For  twenty-four  years  he  was 
engaged  at  the  Shenandoah  City  colliery  under  Fred  Carl,  was  subsequently 
at  Indian  Ridge,  mining  and  repairing,  knd  at  the  Plank  Ridge,  St.  Nicholas, 
Suffolk,  Bear  Run,  Knickerbocker,  Kohinoor  and  West  Shenandoah  collieries, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  ^      1197 

at  the  latter  doing  timbering,  or  construction  work.  In  every  connection  he 
has  been  considered  a  dependable  man,  and  one  of  the  steadiest  character. 

On  Oct.  i6,  1876,  Mr.  Higgins  married  Mary  Ann  Dowd,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  in  St.  Edward's  Catholic  Church  at  Shamokin,  by  Rev.  Father 
Joseph  Koch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higgins  live  at  No.  231  East  Coal  street,  Shenan- 
doah. The  following  children  have  been  bom  to  them:  Thomas,  bom  May 
27,  1878,  died  unmarried  May  19,  1908;  he  was  a  freight  conductor  on  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  and  was  killed  drilling  cars  on  the  railroad.  John, 
bom  Sept.  19,  1879,  died  Friday  Aug.  13,  1880.  William,  bom  May  15,  1881, 
attended  school  in  Shenandoah,  has  worked  in  nearly  all  the  local  collieries  in 
the  various  capacities  from  slate  picker  up,  and  is  now  a  miner  at  No.  3 
colliery  of  the  Lehigh  Company;  he  is  a  member  of  the  T.  A.  B.  Society  of 
the  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  of  Division  No.  2,  A.  O.  H.,  Shenandoah 
Court,  No.  244,  Foresters  of  America,  and  of  Local  No.  1,509,  United  Mine 
Workers,  Shenandoah.  Mary,  bom  April  26,  1883,  died  Aug.  3,  1884.  Kather- 
ine,  born  Feb.  18,  1886,  died  in  March,  1889.  Margaretta,  bom  March  19, 
1890,  married  John  Gibbons,  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Mary  Patricia ;  Mr.  Gibbons  is  a  bricklayer  by  occupation.  Henry,  bom 
March  25,  1892,  died  April  3,  1897.  James,  bom  March  9,  1894,  died  May  30, 
1895.  All  of  this  family  were  baptized  by  the  popular  Father  O'Reilly  except 
Thomas,  who  was  baptized  by  Father  Koch  in  Shamokin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hig- 
gins were  members  of  the  old  Church  of  the  Annunciation  at  Shenandoah,  of 
which  he  was  a  charter  member,  and  he  helped  to  build  the  church.  He  and 
his  family  belong  to  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  and  for  thirty-two  years 
Mr.  Higgins  has  held  membership  in  the  T.  A.  B.  Society.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  local  lodge  of  the  United  Mine  Workers,  No.  1,509,  in  which  he  has  held 
various  offices,  and  for  twenty-nine  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  Phoenix 
Fire  Company  of  Shenandoah.    On  political  questions  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  (Dowd)  Higgins  was  bom  July  4,  1856,  at  five  o'clock  in 
the  moming,  in  Wadesville,  near  St.  Clair,  this  county,  daughter  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Gallagher)  Dowd,  who  were  both  from  County  SHgo,  Ireland. 
They  did  not  become  acquainted,  however,  until  after  they  came  to  America. 
John  Dowd  came  to  this  country  when  young  with  his  uncle,  Thomas  Dowd, 
whom  he  accompanied  to  Pottsville,  Pa.,  about  1845.  His  parents,  Patrick 
and  Nora  Dowd,  were  farming  people.  Patrick  Dowd,  father  of  John,  came 
to  America  a  widower,  settled  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  remarried,  and  had  two 
daughters  by  the  second  union.  He  owned  a  large  farm  there.  Mrs.  Catherine 
(Gallagher)  Dowd  is  still  living,  now  (1916)  in  her  seventy-sixth  year,  making 
her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Patrick  T.  Higgins,  at  Shenandoah.  She 
was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  her 
brothers  being:  Owen,  William,  Thomas,  James,  Patrick,  John  (who  was 
killed  in  the  mines  at  Pottsville)  and  Anthony  (who  was  killed  while  serving 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war). 

AMBROSE  BONER,  late  of  Gilberton,  this  county,  passed  away  when 
comparatively  a  young  man,  but  he  had  been  active  in  the  aflFairs  of  the  borough 
and  was  very  well  known  there,  his  services  as  postmaster  having  brought  him 
into  contact  with  a  large  proportion  of  his  fellow  citizens.  His  widow  suc- 
ceeded him  in  that  position,  which  she  is  still  filling,  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  all  the  patrons  of  the  Gilberton  office. 

Mr.  Boner  was  a  native  of  this  place,  and  belonged  to  an  old  Pennsylvania 


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1198  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

family,  founded  in  this  country  by  his  great-great-grandfather.  The  latter 
was  of  Irish  birth,  and  came  from  his  native  land  to  Anerica,  settling  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  though  we  do  not  know  for  certain  it  is  supposed  that  his  son, 
the  great-grandfather  of  Ambrose  Boner,  spent  all  his  life  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  State.  Charles  Boner,  the  grandfather,  passed  his  early  years  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  and  when  yet  a  young  man  removed  to  Schuylkill  county,  locating 
near  Lewistown,  in  which  vicinity,  in  the  course  of  years,  he  became  the  owner 
of  a  small  farm.  In  his  younger  life  he  had  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith, 
and  after  his  removal  to  Lewistown  worked  at  his  trade  in  Mahanoy  City, 
where  he  died  in  1891.  He  had  been  a  resident  of  Mahanoy  City  for  thirty 
years.  In  politics  he  experienced  the  shifting  characteristic  of  his  time,  being 
originally  a  Democrat,  then  a  Whig  and  finally  a  Republican.  His  religious 
connection  was  with  the  Reformed  Church.  He  married  Priscilla  Smith, 
daughter  of  Henry  Smith,  and  they  had  six  children:  Henry  S.,  for  some 
time  superintendent  of  the  Lutheran  Publishing  Company  of  Philadelphia; 
Lewis  S.,  formerly  a  bookkeeper  in  PottsviUe,  Pa.,  who  died  in  Jime,  1891 ; 
Sarah,  who  married  Oliver  Peters  (now  deceased),  of  Lehigh  county.  Pa.; 
Nathan  S.;  Charles  S.,  deceased  in  1890,  a  bookkeeper;  and  Albert  S.,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Nathan  S.  Boner  was  bom  Sept.  23,  1846,  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and 
had  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools  of  his  youth,  as  well  as  certain  select 
schools.  His  schooling  over,  he  found  employment  as  a  clerk  in  Mahanoy 
City,  and  was  so  engaged  until  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  army,  in  1866, 
serving  three  years,  during  most  of  which  he  was  stationed  in  Nevada.  Re- 
turning to  Schuylkill  coimty  at  the  end  of  that  period,  he  has  lived  here  since 
with  the  exception  of  four  years.  For  some  time  he  was  occupied  as  manager 
for  Alexander  Scott  at  Frackville,  Schuylkill  county.  Like  his  father  he  is  a 
Republican  in  political  sentiment  and  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 
Socially  he  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  (General  Grant  Lodge,  No.  575)  and 
P.  O.  S.  of  A.  (Washington  Camp,  No.  284). 

On  July  II,  1871,  Mr.  Boner  married  Margaret  L.  Bone,  daughter  of 
Ambrose  Bone,  who  was  of  Scotch  extraction,  and  lived  for  a  number  of  years 
in  Canada,  spending  his  later  years  at  Reading,  Pa.  Of  the  children  bom  to 
this  marriage  we  have  record  of  seven :  Priscilla,  Minnie  M.,  Ambrose,  Daisy 
A.,  Earl  L.,  Harry  and  George  F.  ^ 

Ambrose  Boner  was  reared  and  educated  at  Gilberton,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  In  his  youth  he  worked  with  his  father  in  the 
grocery  store,  and  during  his  young  manhood  learned  the  trade  of  barber, 
which  he  followed  for  a  number  of  years.  Eventually  he  went  into  business 
on  his  own  account,  opening  a  hotel  and  saloon  in  Gilberton,  where  in  1902  he 
assumed  the  duties  of  postmaster,  having  been  appointed  by  Roosevelt.  He 
continued  to  hold  the  position  to  the  end  of  his  life,  passing  away  Aug.  5,  1908. 
In  his  various  connections  he  became  widely  known  in  Shenandoah  and  vicinity, 
where  he  had  a  large  number  of  friends  and  well  wishers. 

On  Sept.  19,  1898,  Mr.  Boner  had  married  Alice  M.  Hullihan,  a  native  of 
Gilberton,  who  survives  him  with  the  only  child  of  the  union,  Harry  A.,  bom 
April  9,  1900.  He  is  now  attending  school  in  Shenandoah,  and  is  planning  to 
enter  the  medical  profession.  When  her  husband  died  Mrs.  Boner  took  the 
civil  service  examination,  which  she  passed,  and  was  accordingly  appointed 
postmistress.  She  has  had  charge  of  the  office  continuously  since,  and  has 
proved  herself  fully  equal  to  its  requirements,  which  are  unusually  exacting, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1199 

as  there  are  so  many  different  nationalities  represented  among  the  residents 
of  the  vicinity.  In  religion  Mrs.  Boner  is  a  devout  Catholic,  belonging  to  the 
Holy  Rosary  Church  at  Mahanoy  Plane,  and  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Sodality. 

John  and  Bridget  Hullihan,  Mrs.  Boner's  grandparents,  were  natives  of 
Ireland,  whence  they  came  to  this  country  after  their  marriage,  settling  at 
Gilberton,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  they  lived  and  died.  He  was  a  miner  by 
occupation.  Their  children  were :  Martin,  John,  Thomas,  Timothy,  Malachi, 
James,  Ellen  (wife  of  James  Rafferty,  a  miner  of  Gilberton)  and  Bridget  (who 
has  never  married  and  is  now  living  at  Passaic,  N.  J.). 

John  Hullihan,  father  of  Mrs.  Boner,  was  bom  in  Ireland  and  was  a  child 
when  his  parents  came  to  America.  He  lived  at  Gilberton,  where  he  followed 
mining  and  later  hotelkeeping.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife, 
whbse  maiden  name  was  Dolan,  had  the  following  children :  James,  who  mar- 
ried Catherine  Murray,  of  Gilberton,  and  had  children,  Anna,  Sarah,  John, 
Daniel,  Aloysius,  Catherine,  Jennie  and  James;  and  Sarah  (Mrs.  MacNamara, 
whose  husband  is  a  bridge  contractor  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.),  who  has  had  three 
children,  James,  Nellie  and  Alice,  the  latter  deceased  in  infancy.  For  his  sec- 
ond wife  Mr.  Hullihan  married  Anna  Matthews,  like  hinxself  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, who  came  to  America  in  childhood,  and  the  following  children  were 
bom  of  this  marriage :  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Michael  Cantwell,  of  Gilberton,  a 
miner,  and  they  have  nine  children,  John,  William,  Mary,  Edward,  Annie, 
James,  Catherine,  Nicholas  and  Alice  (all  this  family  are  members  of  the  Holy 
Rosary  Church  at  Mahanoy  Plane)  ;  John  died  when  about  twenty  years  old; 
Bridget  married  Joseph  O.  Boyle,  who  is  now  principal  of  the  West  ward  of 
Gilberton,  and  they  have  two  sons,  John  and  Francis ;  Edward  died  when  about 
twenty-seven  years  old,  unmarried ;  Alice  M.  is  the  widow  of  Ambrose  Boner ; 
Malachi,  an  electrician,  residing  in  Providence,  R.  L,  married  Jennie  Owens, 
and  has  two  children,  Dorothea  and  Marion;  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Patrick 
Trainer,  a  contract  miner  of  Gilberton,  and  has  five  children,  Anna,  Edward, 
Alice,  Rose  and  John ;  Thomas,  Martin  and  Catherine  died  young. 

CHARLES  LUCIAN  KNAPP,  of  Shenandoah,  who  has  for  several  years 
held  the  position  of  outside  foreman  at  the  Shenandoah  City  colliery,  was  bom 
in  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  March  23,  1881,  son  of  Joseph  P.  Knapp.  His 
grandfather,  Gregory  Knapp,  came  from  Germany  to  America  in  1849  ^"^ 
located  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  two  years,  in 
1 85 1  removing  to  Trevorton,  this  State.  He  followed  his  trade  of  carpenter, 
doing  work  about  the  mines.  He  died  at  Trevorton  in  October,  1873,  aged 
fifty-five  years.  His  wife,  Mary  B.  Peters,  bore  him  fourteen  children,  of 
whom  five  grew  to  maturity,  namely :  Joseph  P.,  John  T.,  Mary,  Gregory  and 
Frank. 

Joseph  P.  Knapp  was  bom  May  11,  1846,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  accom- 
panied his  father  to  America  in  1849,  and  obtained  his  schooling  at  Trevorton. 
In  his  boyhood  he  worked  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  old  Trevorton  colliery.  In 
1861  his  parents  removed  to  Ashland,  and  there  he  continued  the  same  work 
for  two  years,  after  which  he  took  up  stationary  engineering.  While  he  was 
there  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  his  loyalty  to  his  adopted  country  showed  in 
his  enlistment  from  Trevorton,  March  18,  1864,  in  Company  A,  7th  Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry,  for  three  years.  This  company  was  recruited  in  Schuylkill 
county,  and  was  sent  to  the  South,  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  playing  a 
brave  part  in  the  battle  at  Selma,  Ala.,  April  2,  1865.    After  serving  eighteen 


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1200  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

months  he  was  honorably  discharged,  the  war  having  closed.  At  that  time 
he  was  in  hospital  at  Macon,  Ga.,  having  been  taken  down  with  fever.  Mr. 
Knapp  returned  to  his  home  in  Trevorton,  and  for  two  years  was  employed 
as  an  engineer  at  the  powder  mill.  From  October,  1865,  to  April  2,  1866,  he 
was  engaged  at  powder  making,  but  on  the  latter  date  the  mill  was  blown  up 
and  he  was  badly  injured,  being  under  the  physician's  care  for  several  months. 
This  mill,  owned  by  Kline  &  Heim,  was  at  Fisher's  Mill,  below  Shamoldn. 
After  recovering  his  strength  Mr.  Knapp  worked  at  mining  for  some  nine 
months,  and  then  again  took  up  powder  making,  following  it  for  two  and  a 
half  years.  He  then  spent  six  months  in  Sunbury  in  the  employ  of  Ira  T. 
Clement,  taking  charge  of  his  planing  mill,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  returning 
to  Trevorton  to  engage  in  mining  in  tlje  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Coal  &  Iron  Company,  at  the  bottom  of  the  No.  i  slope.  For  some  time  he 
fired  the  boilers,  and  then  became  engineer.  In  August,  1874,  he  left  Trevor- 
ton and  went  to  Locust  Dale,  to  nm  the  bull  pumps  at  the  Keystone  colliery, 
a  position  he  held  for  three  and  a  half  years.  In  1878  he  was  appointed  out- 
side foreman  of  the  North  Ashland  colliery,  and  served  in  that  position  for 
four  and  a  half  years,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the  bottling  business  at  Ash- 
land for  a  very  short  time.  When  he  sdld  out  his  bottling  business  it  was  to 
become  boss  at  the  Knickerbocker  colliery,  near  Shenandoah,  Pa.,  of  which  he 
took  charge  in  February,  1883,  and  continued  in  that  position  until  Dec.  i,  1903, 
when  he  was  made  outside  superintendent  of  the  Mount  Carmel  and  Shamoldn 
districts,  seven  breakers,  being  the  first  oujside  superintendent  appointed  by 
the  P.  &  R.  C.  &  I.  Company.  He  is  still  serving  in  that  capacity.  His  home 
is  at  Shamokin. 

On  Nov.  24,  1874,  Mr.  Knapp  married  Susanna  Maria  Veith,  who  was  bom 
in  September,  1856,  in  Middleport,  Schuylkill  county,  daughter  of  John  and 
Anna  Maree  (Hartman)  Veith,  natives  of  Germany,  the  father  bom  in  Bavaria  ; 
he  was  formerly  a  mine  superintendent.  Of  the  large  family  bom  to  this 
union,  thirteen  children,  John  P.  died  young ;  Minnie  M.  is  unmarried  and  liv- 
ing at  home ;  Frank  died  young ;  Charles  L.  is  next  in  the  family ;  Catherine 
P.,  now  living  at  home,  is  the  widow  of  Sydney  P.  Phillips,  who  was  a  chemist; 
Carrie  C.  died  young;  Fred  J.,  who  lives  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  is  engaged  in 
poultry  raising;  Leo  W.  attended  parochial  school  in  Shamokin  and  Shenan- 
doah and  became  a  chemist  by  profession,  graduating  from  the  Philadelphia 
College  of  Pharmacy,  was  chemist  with  the  P.  &  R.  C.  &  I.  Company  at  Potts- 
ville  for  twenty-one  months,  afterwards  with  the  Eastern  Steel  Company  at 
Pottsville  for  six  months,  and  is  now  established  at  Shenandoah,  where  he 
makes  his  home  with  his  brother  Charles;  Alphonso  J.,  a  sawyer  by  trade, 
lives  at  home;  Marie  died  young ;  Gregory  A.  attends  high  school  m  Shamokin; 
Joseph  J.  died  young;  Mary  died  young.  The  father  is  a  member  of  St. 
Edward's  Catholic  Church  at  Shamokin,  and  has  reared  his  family  in  the  same 
faith.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Columbus  at  that  place,  and  to  Lin- 
coln Post,  No.  140,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Shamokin,  having  transferred  from  Post  No. 
146,  at  Shenandosih,  of  which  he  was  a  charter  member;  he  was  post  com- 
mander at  Shenandoah  for  several  terms.  For  years  Mr.  Knapp  acted  as  secre- 
tary of  the  Miners',  Mechanics'  and  Laborers'  Building  &  Loan  Association 

of  Shenandoah.  ,    ,„     ,    v        ,  .     ,  •  -  , 

Charies  L.  Knapp  was  educated  at  Yatesville  (Fowler)  and  m  the  parochial 

school  at  Shenandoah  connected  with  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Family,  also 

attending  public  school  in  the  borough  for  some  time.    During  vacation  periods 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1201 

he  worked  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Knickerbocker  colliery,  and  after  he  reached 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  ran  the  dinkey  engines.  On  April  i,  1896,  he 
started  as  a  messenger  at  the  Knickerbocker  colliery,  being  so  employed  for  a 
year  and  a  half,  when  he  was  put  on  as  assistant  shipper  and  supply  clerk,  con- 
tinuing thus  until  January,  1900.  Meantime,  being  ambitious  to  improve  him- 
self, he  had  taken  a  night  course  in  commercial  studies  in  Woods  business 
college  in  Shenandoah.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  ran  a  30  by  60  hoisting 
engine  at  the  mines,  and  kept  that  position  until  March,  1903,  wheri  he  left  the 
mines  and  entered  the  engine  erecting  department  of  the  Cramp  Shipbuilding 
Company,  at  Philadelphia,  being  there  until  July,  1903.  For  a  short  time  after- 
wards he  was  a  machinist  in  the  Brill  car  works,  and  then  returning  to  Shenan- 
doah entered  the  employ  of  the  P.  &  R.  C.  &  I.  Company  as  assistant  foreman 
at  the  Knickerbocker  colliery,  being  the  youne^est  foreman  ever  engaged  there. 
On  Dec.  i,  1903,  he  was  promoted  to  outside  foreman  there,  filling  that  position 
until  Aug.  I,  1907,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position,  as  outside 
foreman  at  the  Shenandoah  Qty  colliery. 

Mr.  Knapp  married  Mary  M.  Schmidt,  who  was  bom  Feb.  19,  1881,  daugh- 
ter of  Christian  and  Catherine  (Bender)  Schmidt,  of  whom  a  full  account 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Four  children  have  been  bom  to  this  mar- 
riage: Anna  M.,  Mary  M.,  Catherine  M.  and  Rita  M.,  the  two  first  named 
now  attending  parochial  school  in  Shenandoah.  The  Knapps  belong  to  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Family.  Mr.  Knapp  supports  the  Republican  party  in 
political  issues. 

Mrs.  Susanna  Maria  (Veith)  Knapp,  mother  of  Charles  L.  Knapp,  was 
bom  at  Middleport,  Pa.,  daughter  of  John  Veith,  who  came  to  this  country 
from  Germany  in  early  life.  Entering  the  mines  in  the  humble  position  of 
door  boy,  he  worked  his  way  up  through  the  various  stages  until  he  was  given 
executive  responsibilities,  acting  as  outside  foreman,  division  superintendent 
and  general  mine  superintendent,  in  the  employ  of  the  Reading  Company. 
During  his  last  years  he  had  his  headquarters  at  Pottsville.  He  was  prominent 
in  mining  circles,  and  the  John  Veith  shaft  was  named  for  him.  He  and  his 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Hartman,  both  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years, 
and  they  are  buried  in  the  Yorkville  cemetery.  They  were  members  of  St. 
John's  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Pottsville,  and  he  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Veith  had  a  large  family,  viz.:  Susanna  Maria,  Mrs.  Knapp, 
was  the  eldest;  Peter,  who  is  foreman  in  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Com- 
pany's blacksmith  shop  at  Pottsville,  married  Annie  Hartman ;  John,  a  retired 
machinist,  is  living  in  Pottsville ;  Mary  married  William  Cooney,  and  both  are 
deceased ;  Emma,  widow  of  William  Gibson,  is  a  trained  nurse,  in  Philadelphia; 
Clara  is  living  at  the  old  home  in  Pottsville;  Catherine  is  next  in  the  family; 
Dr.  Charles  A.  Veith,  deceased,  married  Agnes  Gorman,  who  lives  in  Philadel- 
phia; Callie  is  married  to  Thomas  Flannagan,  auditor  for  the  Reading  Com- 
pany at  Pottsville ;  Lena  is  deceased ;  Agnes,  widow  of  Charles  Fluehr,  lives 
in  Pottsville ;  Bertha  is  engaged  as  a  bookkeeper  in  Pottsville. 

J.  W.  HULING,  Schuylkill  Haven,  Schuylkill  county,  Keystone  Concrete 
Works,  manufacturer  of  concrete  building  material,  building  blocks  and  trim- 
mings.    Specialties,  concrete  burial  vaults  and  porch  work. 

JOHN  F.  HEBERLING,  of  Reinerton,  Porter  township,  proprietor  of  the 
"Commonwealth  Hotel,"  at  the  comer  of  Grand  avenue  and  Clarks  Valley 


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1202  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANLV 

road,  was  bora  in  Clarks  valley,  that  township,  Feb.  24,  i860,  son  of  Israel 
and  Catherine  (Card)  Heberling,  and  ^ndson  of  Henry  Heberling. 

Henry  Heberling  was  of  German  ongin  and  was  bom  in  Porter  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  lived  and  died.  His  affairs  prospered,  and  he 
became  the  owner  of  valuable  land  there.  During  the  period  of  his  active  life 
he  devoted  himself  to  farming  and  made  a  name  as  a  substantial  citizen,  who 
had  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  business  associates.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Miller,  who  after  a  widowhood  of  fifty  years  died  at  Orwin,  in 
Porter  township,  and  is  buried  at  Orwin.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  namely:  Jacob;  John;  Michael;  Paul;  Israel;  Mrs.  Jacob  Brown; 
Philip;  Rebecca,  who  died  unmarried;  Susan,  who  is  living  at  Orwin  at  the  age 
of  eighty  years;  and  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Reed  and  resides  at 
Sharadin,  Porter  township. 

Israel  Heberling,  the  father  of  John  F.  HeberUng,  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  his  youth,  and  in  1874  removed  with  his  family  from  Porter  town- 
ship to  what  is  now  St.  Edward,  Boone  Co.,  Nebr.,  where  he  followed  farming 
during  the  rest  of  his  active  life.  After  some  years  of  retirement  he  passed 
away,  in  January,  1905,  in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was 
buried  at  St.  Edward.  Mr.  Heberling  married  Catherine  Card,  a  daughter  of 
John  Card.  John  Card  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  a  Miss  Shadel 
and  his  second  a  Mrs.  Faust,  a  widow.  Mr.  Gard  was  a  millwright  and  car- 
penter by  trade,  and  on  first  leaving  Schuylkill  county  went  to  South  Bend, 
Ind.  Returning  to  Pennsylvania,  for  a  time  he  resided  in  Rush  township, 
Dauphin  county,  but  eventually  sold  his  farm,  which  is  now  owned  by  Charles 
Reightler.  Mr.  Gard  next  went  to  Boone  county,  Nebr.,  and  located  in  the 
vicinity  of  what  is  now  known  as  St.  Edward  post  office,  where  he  built  the 
first  gristmill.  In  company  with  his  son-in-law,  Israel  Heberling,  he  erected  the 
first  frame  house  at  St.  Edward,  being  the  pioneer  of  a  community  which  now 
numbers  two  thousand  souls.  Both  he  and  Mr.  Heberling  were  men  of  the 
stamp  to  blaze  the  way  for  civilization  and  are  still  well  remembered  at  St. 
Edward,  where  Mrs.  Heberling  still  resides.  She  was  bom  Oct.  3,  1839,  and 
is  therefore  past  seventy-six  years  of  age,  and  the  oldest  settler  of  that  place. 
The  children  of  Israel  and  Catherine  Heberling  were  as  follows:  John  F.; 
Sarah  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  George  Reynoldson ;  Lydia  A.,  who  died  shortly 
after  her  marriage ;  Emma  A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Abbott,  and  has  a 
daughter,  Blanche,  the  family  residing  at  St.  Edward,  Nebr.,  where  they  are 
taking  care  of  the  aged  mother ;  and  Mattie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Hayden  Creary, 
of  near  Seattle,  Wash.,  and  has  one  child. 

John  F.  Heberling  received  his  educational  training  in  the  public  schook  of 
his  home  community  of  Darks  Valley,  Porter  township,  and  in  accordance 
with  the  custom  of  the  boys  of  his  locality  early  started  to  contribute  ta  his 
own  support.  When  he  was  only  eleven  years  of  age  he  secured  a  position  as 
a  doortender  at  the  West  Brookside  colliery,  but  gave  this  up  to  accompany 
his  parents  to  the  West,  where  he  continued  to  be  a  resident  for  seven  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  period  he  returned  to  his  native  coimty,  again  securing 
employment  at  the  mines,  m  and  about  which  he  worked  for  twenty-eight 
years.  During  this  time,  through  industry,  honest  eflFort  and  strict  fidelity  to 
his  employers'  interests,  he  was  advanced  from  time  to  time,  rising  to  the 
position  of  assistant  inside  foreman  for  the  Susquehanna  Coal  Company,  and 
later  being  made  inside  foreman  for  the  same  concern.  Eventually  he  gave 
up  the  vocation  of  mining,  and  for  six  months  lived  in  quiet  retirement.    His 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1203 

energetic  spirit,  however,  would  not  allow  him  to  remain  idle  long,  and  May  17, 
1890,  he  entered  the  hotel  business  when  he  became  the  owner  of  the  old 
Fry  stand,  at  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county.  This  was  a  very  popular  hotel, 
and  under  Mr.  Heberling's  management  prospered  greatly.  At  the  end  of  five 
years,  seeing  a  better  opportunity,  he  disposed  of  the  Fry  place  and  purchased 
a  property  at  Reinerton,  Schuylkill  county,  where  he  has  since  resided  and 
conducted  the  "Commonwealth  Hotel."  He  has  a  first-class  house,  com- 
modious in  size  and  modem  in  equipment,  with  excellent  service  and  every- 
thing to  properly  take  care  of  a  large  and  representative  patronage.  Mr.  Heber- 
ling  is  an  ideal  host  and  his  house  is  well  known  to  the  traveling  public. 
While  a  resident  of  Williamstown,  Mr.  Heberling  took  an  active  part  in  civic 
affairs,  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace,  member  of  the  board  of  school  directors 
and  member  of  the  council. 

Mr.  Heberling  was  united  in  marriage,  at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents, 
March  27,  1890,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Adams,  a  Lutheran  minister,  to  Mary  S.  Kramer, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Emma  (Reed)  Kramer.  Two  children  have  been 
bom  to  this  union :  Helen  M.,  bom  Aug,  9,  1892,  who  resides  with  her  par- 
ents ;  and  Charles  H.,  bom  Feb.  12,  1894,  who  died  June  23,  1908,  aged  thirteen 
years,  four  months,  eleven  days.  Mr.  Heberling  is  well  and  favorably  known 
in  social  and  fraternal  circles,  being  past  master  of  Asher  Lodge,  No.  578, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Lykens,  Pa.,  and  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics,  the  Patriotic  Order 
Sons  of  America,  the  Knights  of  Labor,  and  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  at 
Lykens.  As  a  citizen  he  has  had  a  hand  in  every  movement  which  has  served 
to  advance  good  govemment  and  good  citizenship  in  his  community,  and  his 
progressiveness  and  public  spirit  have  been  important  factors  in  helping  the 
locality  to  grow  and  improve. 

BENJAMIN  LOMAS,  who  holds  the  responsible  position  of  outside 
foreman  at  the  Gilberton  colliery,  is  one  of  the  experienced  practical  mining 
men  of  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.  He  was  bom  at  Gilberton,  July  22,  1869,  son 
of  Joseph  and  Jane  (Fellows)  Lomas. 

Joseph  Lomas  was  bom  in  England  and  was  twenty-five  years  of  age  when 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States.  The  rest  of  his  career  was  passed  in 
mining  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and  here  his  death  occurred  in  November, 
1913.  There  were  eight  children  in  his  family:  Sylvia,  who  married  Frank 
r)awson;  Joseph;  Benjamin;  Matthew;  Sarah  Jane,  who  died  ydung;  Thomas; 
William ;  and  Lillian,  who  died  young. 

Benjamin  Lomas  attended  public  school  at  Gilberton,  and  like  many  of 
the  boys  of  this  section  began  when  still  a  lad  to  pick  slate.  Later  he  left 
the  breaker  and  went  inside,  where  he  ^ined  experience  in  driving  and  turn- 
ing a  fan.  He  worked  also  as  a  machmist  from  the  time  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old  until  he  was  thirty-five,  at  which  time  he  was  promoted  to  breaker 
boss.  In  1906  he  was  made  outside  foreman,  a  position  which  he  still  retains, 
having  charge  of  250  men  at  the  colliery.  Mr.  Lomas  is  thoroughly  familiar 
with  all  departments  of  mining,  and,  being  steady  and  reliable,  has  gained  the 
confidence  of*  his  employers  and  the  good  will  of  the  men.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  and  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  both  of  Shenandoah,  having  joined  both 
local  lodges  at  the  time  they  were  founded.  He  is  a  Methodist  in  religion. 
As  a  citizen  he  has  always  done  his  full  share  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  the 


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1204  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

community,  and  for  three  years  served  on  the  Gilberton  school  board  as  the 
representative  of  the  East  ward. 

Mr.  Lomas  married  Lilian  Smith,  who  died  leaving  one  son,  Philip,  who 
died  young.  Mr.  Lomas  took  as  his  second  wife  Sarah  Fox,  and  they  have 
five  children :  Olive,  William,  Thomas,  Hilda  and  Hobart. 

MARTIN  E.  FOYLE,  teacher,  Heckscherville,  Schuylkill  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

JOHN  GROSSKETTLER,  of  Shenandoah,  has  for  a  number  of  years 
been  associated  with  the  Home  Brewing  Company,  now  holding  the  responsible 
position  of  assistant  brewmaster.  He  is  a  man  of  thorough  reliability  and 
solid  character,  and  has  proved  very  valuable  in  his  present  connection,  to- 
wards which  he  has  worked  up  by  merit  alone.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
bom  June  15,  1879,  at  Endorf,  Westphalia,  and  was  two  years  old  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  America.    They  settled  in  Shenandoah. 

Joseph  Grosskettler,  grandfather  of  John  Grosskettler,  was  bom  at  Holtum, 
near  Werl,  Westphalia,  where  there  is  still  a  fort  which  was  built  at  the  time 
of  the  Roman  conquest.  He  was  a  country  gentleman,  owning  an  estate  of 
two  hundred  acres  which  had  been  in  the  family  fpr  many  venerations,  and 
there  he  spent  all  of  his  long  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  His 
wife  passed  away  when  seventy- four  years  old,  and  is  buried  near  Werl. 

Eberhardt  Grosskettler,  father  of  John  Grosskettler,  was  bom  at  Holtum, 
near  Werl,  Westphalia,  received  his  education  in  the  local  govemment  schools, 
and  served  a  thorough  apprenticeship  at  the  trades  of  locksmith  and  machinist, 
obtaining  certificates  which  entitled  him  to  work  as  a  journeyman,  in  which 
capacity  he  was  engaged  for  several  years.  He  saw  considerable  service  in 
the  German  army,  in  the  wars  waged  during  1864,  1866  and  1870,  in  1864 
acting  in  the  secret  service,  carrying  dispatches  through  the  picket  lines.  On 
one  occasion  during  that  war  he  traveled  for  forty-eight  hours  to  deliver  a 
message  to  one  of  the  colonels,  and  being  obliged  to  rest  on  the  ground  had  his 
hair  frozen  to  the  earth  as  he  slept,  which  caused  the  loss  of  nearly  all  his  hair. 
During  1866  he  served  as  a  corporal  in  the  cavalry.  In  1870  he  was  orderly 
to  a  doctor  on  the  medical  staflF. 

Mr.  Grosskettler  was  married  at  Endorf,  Westphalia,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  produce  business  at  that  place  until  he  brought  his  family  to 
America  in  1881.  Locating  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Mr.  Gross- 
kettler found  employment  as  a  blacksmith  at  the  Plank  Ridge  colliery,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years.  Then  he  traveled  down  to  Alabama,  and  west- 
ward to  Franklin  county.  Mo.,  in  search  of  a  suitable  place  for  a  permanent 
home,  eventually  retuming  to  Shenandoah,  where  he  bought  a  blacksmith  shop, 
at  the  comer  of  Coal  street  and  Pear  alley,  where  he  was  established  in  busi- 
ness for  several  years.  He  lived  retired  for  some  time  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  April  22,  1901,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  His  wife,  Anna  Maria 
(Pott),  was  bom  at  Endorf,  daughter  of  Anton  and  Theresa  (Beste)  Pott, 
the  former  a  farmer  and  blacksmith.  Mrs.  Anna  Maria  Grosskettler  died  Oct. 
7,  191 2,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eberhardt  Gross- 
kettler were  bom  children  as  follows :  Joseph ;  Eberhard,  fireman  at  the  Home 
brewery,  who  married  Catherine  Frantz,  and  has  one  child,  Theresa;  John; 
Anton,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years ;  Theresa,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Eugene  Fretz  and  has  one  child,  Marguerite  (Mr.  Fretz  is  State  agent  of  the 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1205 . 

Northwestern  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  North  and  South  Dakota, 
with  headquarters  at  Grand  Forks,  N.  Dak.)  ;  and  Mary  Josephine,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Christian  Frantz,  one  of  the  foremen  'at  the  Home  brewery,  and  has 
children,  Anna  M.,  Mary  Catherine,  Henry  G.  and  John  Eugene.  All  the 
family  belong  to  the  German  Catholic  Church  of  the  Holy  Family,  and  Mr. 
Grosskettler  was  a  member  of  St.  Michael's  Society.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat. 

John  Grosskettler  was  educated  at  Shenandoah,  in  the  parochial  school  of 
the  Chyrch  of  the  Holy  Family.  He  began  work  early,  becoming  a  slate 
picker  at  the  Shenandoah  City  colliery  when  but  nine  years  old.  At  that  time 
Marshall  Baugh  was  the  outside  foreman  there,  and  Joseph  Whitehouse  breaker 
foreman.  Mr.  Grosskettler  was  variously  employed  about  the  colliery  imtil  he 
reached  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  when  he  commenced  doing  inside  work,  tinder 
Frederick  Carl,  foreman.  He  also  assisted  in  putting  up  machinery,  and 
served  in  the  repair  gang.  During  the  latter  part  of  1902  and  the  beginning 
of  1903,  for  a  period  of  six  months,  he  worked  in  the  soft  coal  mines,  at  the 
Franklin  slope  in  Cambria  county,  Pa.,  for  the  Cambria  Iron  Company.  On 
his  return  thence  to  Shenandoah  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Home  Brewing 
Company,  first  as  a  teamster,  driving  the  coal  wagon,  and  later  delivering 
beer.  Having  familiarized  himself  with  the  business  he  was  given  other  re- 
sponsibilities until  promoted  to  the  position  of  assistant  brewmaster,  which  he 
is  filling  very  acceptably  at  the  present  time. 

On  Nov.  28,  1907,  Mr.  Gcosskettler  was  married,  in  the  Holy  Family 
Church,  by  Father  Francis  Holtgreve,  to  Catherine  Elizabeth  Schmidt,  a 
native  of  Shenandoah,  bom  April  28,  1883,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Cather- 
ine (Bender)  Schmidt.  They  have  had  four  children,  bom  as  follows:  Agnes 
Mary,  Feb.  i,  1909;  Gertrude  Mary,  Aug.  9,  191 1;  Mary  Josephine,  Aug.  25, 
1913;  and  John  William,  Nov.  28,  191 5.  Mrs.  Grosskettler  was  educated  in 
the  parochial  school  of  the  Holy  Family  Church  at  Shenandoah  and  the  public 
schools  of  the  borough,  and  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage.  She  and 
her  husband  are  devout  members  of  the  Holy  Family  Church,  and  she  also 
belongs  to  the  Rosary  Society.  Mr.  Grosskettler  is  an  active  Republican, 
always  taking  a  live  interest  in  local  and  national  affairs.  His  home  is  at  No. 
220  North  West  Street,  Shenandoah. 

WILLIAM  H.  ZIMMERMAN,  of  Shenandoah,  proprietor  of  the  finest 
meat  market  in  that  borough,  is  one  of  its  leading  business  men  and  a  substan- 
tial citizen  in  every  respect.  His  activity  in  various  local  enterprises  and 
prominent  connection  with  social  bodies  is  evidence  of  the  interest  he  feels  in 
the  town  of  his  adoption,  and  of  the  confidence  his  fellow  men  repose  in  him. 

The  Zimmermans  are  of  German  extraction,  and  the  family  was  founded 
in  Schuylkill  county  by  Henry  Zimmerman,  grandfather  of  William  H.  Zim- 
merman. John  Zimmerman,  the  great-grandfather,  lived  and  died  in  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  followed  farming.  His  children  were:  Jacob,  Kate, 
Margaret  and  Henry. 

Henry  Zimmerman  was  bom  in  Lebanon  county,  where  he  spent  his  early 
life.  When  a  young  man  he  came  to  Schuylkill  county,  first  locating  in  Pine 
Grove,  where  he  worked  by  the  day  and  in  time  became  a  carpenter.  Later  he 
removed  to  Tremont,  this  county,  and  still  later  to  what  was  then  known  as 
Fox  Valley,  where  the  town  of  Branch  Dale  is  now  situated.  He  lived  to  be 
eighty-four  years  old,  dying  at  the  home  of  his  eldest  son,  John,  at  Qouser's 


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1206  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Mills,  in  Branch  township,  Schuylkill  county.  His  wife,  Jxilia  (Stahr),  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Stahr,  of  Branch  township,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years, 
and  they  are  buried  in  the  Clouser's  Church  cemetery.  They  had  a  large 
family,  viz.:  John,  who  was  a  carpenter,  died  at  Clouser's  Mills;  William 
died  young ;  Elizabeth  married  Peter  Rhoads,  and  both  are  deceased ;  Joseph 
H.  is  the  father  of  William  H.  Zimmerman;  Jacob  died  at  Mount  Carmel, 
Northtunberland  Co.,  Pa.;  Susan  married  Aaron  Yoder,  and  both  died  in 
Coltunbia  coimty.  Pa.;  Henry  is  buried  in  the  State  of  Illinois;  Frank  is  a 
resident  of  Hyde  Park,  Scranton,  Pa. ;  William  H.  lives  in  Arkansas ;  Charles 
is  a  resident  of  Foimtain  Springs,  Schuylkill  county. 

Joseph  H.  Zimmerman,  now  living  in  retirement  at  Pottsville,  spent  sixty- 
three  years  of  his  life' in  mine  work.  Bom  April  i8,  1835,  at  Branch  Dale, 
Schuylkill  county,  he  began  picking  slate  when  but  seven  and  a  half  years  old, 
at  what  is  now  Branch  Dale,  then  called  Muddy  Branch.  After  two  years  at 
that  work  he  was  given  other  employment  about  the  mines,  acting  as  driving 
boy  inside,  loading  coal,  etc.,  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen,  when  he 
began  to  cut  coal,  at  Muddy  Branch.  He  was  activdy  engaged  at  the  mines 
imtil  seventy  years  old,  for  a  number  of  years  holding  respcmsible  positions 
at  various  collieries.  For  some  time  he  was  employed  as  a  boss  by  Col.  J.  C. 
White ;  was  assistant  inside  foreman ;  boss  at  the  York  Farm  colliery,  for  the 
Lehigh  Company ;  and  then  a  boss  for  the  Albright  Coal  Company,  at  Silverton, 
for  tfiree  years.  His  last  work  of  the  kind  was  at  Eagle  Hill,  for  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Coal  &  Iron  Company.  After  living  in  retirement  for  one 
year  Mr.  Zimmerman  became  gate  watchman  at  the  Schuylkill  county  alms- 
house, where  he  continued  for  fourteen  months.  Again  he  had  a  year's  leisure, 
and  then  for  three  years  was  night  watchman  at  the  courthouse.  His  home  is 
at  No.  623  Fairview  street,  Pottsville,  and  he  and  his  family  are  highly  respected 
in  that  city. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  in  1861  in 
Company  K,  i6th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  among  the  first 
ninety-days  men.  He  received  his  discharge  at  Harrisburg  July  24,  1861.  Mr. 
Zimmerman  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at  Tremont,  changing 
his  membership  to  Mahanoy  City.  He  has  been  a  Republican  since  1856,  and 
in  his  earlier  years  took  considerable  interest  in  local  public  affairs,  serving  ten 
years  as  school  director  of  Gilberton,  and  five  years  as  tax  collector  in  Reilly 
township.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
socially  he  belongs  to  Washington  Camp  No.  284,  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  of  Gilberton, 
and  to  Social  Lodge,  No.  56,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Minersville. 

On  May  26,  1856,  Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Janetta  McQay,  daughter  of 
Robert  McClay,  and  eight  children  were  bom  to  this  union,  viz. :  William  H. ; 
Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy;  Robert  J.,  of  St.  Clair,  this  county;  Jacob,  of 
Gilberton,  this  county ;  Jeanette,  who  married  John  Gorey ;  John,  of  Spring- 
field, 111. ;  James,  of  St.  Clair,  this  county ;  and  Mary,  twin  of  James,  who  died 
young.  The  mother  died  Sept.  20,  1871,  and  is  buried  in  Clouser's  graveyard. 
On  May  i,  1872,  Mr.  Zimmerman  married  (second)  Mrs.  Ellen  (Finley) 
Stewart,  whose  father,  Robert  Finley,  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  She  was  first 
married  Oct.  14,  1864,  to  John  Stewart,  who  died  Aug.  4,  1871,  and  by  that 
marriage  had  three  children:  Eliza  (Mrs.  Charles  Knoll),  Robert  and  Ellen. 
To  her  union  with  Mr.  Zimmerman  have  been  bom  the  following:  Joseph, 
a  resident  of  Shenandoah ;  Henry,  of  Schuylkill  Haven ;  Franklin,  of  Potts- 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1207 

ville;  Annie,  who  died  young;  Hugh,  who  died  young;  Charles,  who  died 
young;  and  Alexander,  who  is  living  in  Palo  Alto,  this  county. 

William  H.  Zimmerman  was  born  April  14,  1857,  ^^  Branch  Dale,  and 
there  received  such  education  as  the  public  schools  afforded.  In  his  boyhood 
he  went  to  work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Swatara  colliery,  and  he  continued  to 
follow  mine  work  imtil  twenty  years  old,  after  which  he  learned  the  butcher^s 
trade  at  Gilberton,  this  county,  with  Jacob  Buehler.  He  worked  at  it  for  nine 
years  before  establishing  himself  in  business,  in  1887,  in  Shenandoah,  where 
he  has  since  continued,  and  in  1889  he  purchased  his  present  place  of  business, 
at  No.  124  South  Main  street.  His  trade  has  been  growing  steadily,  thanks  to 
his  persevering  efforts  and  sincere  endeavor  to  please  his  patrons,  who  have 
appreciated  the  unusual  advantages  afforded  by  his  up-to-date  establishment. 
Mr.  Zimmerman's  efforts  have  not  been  confined  to  the  advancement  of  his 
own  affairs,  for  he  has  willingly  assisted  a  number  of  undertakings  intended 
for  the  general  welfare.  At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the  Shenandoah  school 
board,  in  which  trust  he  is  giving  very  satisfactory  service.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  Merchants'  National  Bank  of  Shenandoah  and  of  the  Citizens'  Savings 
Fund,  and  a  member  of  the  receiving  committee  of  the  latter.  Socially  he  holds 
membership  in  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  the  Royal  Arcanum 
and  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  takes  a  keen  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  all 
their  local  organizations.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  his  council  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum  for  the  last  sixteen  years.  As  a  Mason  he  is  connected  with  Shenan- 
doah Lodge,  No.  511,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Williamsport  Consistory,  having  attained 
the  thirty-second  degree. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  married  Clara  Lorah,  daughter  of  George  Lorah,  of 
Shenandoah,  who  was  a  miner.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  this  mar- 
riage: Emma,  who  died  when  twenty-two  years  old;  and  Millie,  wife  of 
Dr.  W.  C.  Scott,  a  dentist  of  Lansford,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

L.  C.  LYTLE,  outside  foreman  at  the  Lytle  colliery,  in  Cass  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  post  office  Minersville,  Pennsylvania. 

SHERMAN  H.  REED,  a  former  jury  commissioner  of  Schuylkill  county, 
and  one  of  the  most  popular  auctioneers  of  this  section  of  Pennsylvania,  is  now 
residing  at  Cressona,  this  county,  where  he  is  cultivating  a  farm.  He  holds 
auction  sales  whenever  called,  in  various  localities.  He  is  a  lifelong  resident 
of  Schuylkill  county,  having  been  born  Nov.  25,  1865,  in  Wayne  township, 
coming  of  a  family  that  has  been  established  here  JFor  several  generations. 

John  Reed,  the  first  of  the  family  to  locate  in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
resided  at  Reedsville,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  one  of  the  best  known  farmers 
of  his  section.  He  owned  the  tract  of  land  now  in  the  possession  of  Howard 
Mengle.  He  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife's  maiden  name  being  Kimmel, 
and  they  are  both  buried  at  Reedsville,  Pa.  To  his  last  marriage  were  born 
six  children:  George,  William,  Daniel  K.,  EHas,  Hannah  (married  Peter 
Reed),  and  Elizabeth  (wife  of  William  Fehr). 

I>aniel  K.  Reed,  son  of  John,  was  bom  at  Reedsville,  Pa.,  and  like  his 
father  followed  farming.  He  was  also  an  auctioneer,  his  services  being  in 
constant  demand.  After  his  marriage  he  removed  to  Wayne  township,  where 
he  died  upon  his  farm  of  eighty  acres  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years.  He  is 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Friedensburg.    He  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Lud- 


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1208  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

wig  Berger,  of  North  Manheim  township,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Lyman  G.,  living  at  Friedensburg ;  Mendon,  who  died  at 
that  place;  Elizabeth,  married  to  Lewis  Brown,  ex-county  commissioner  of 
Schuylkill  county,  residing  at  Cressona;  Arabella,  married  to  William  W. 
Berkheiser,  and  living  in  South  Manheim  township ;  Ida,  who  married  Lewis 
Brown,  of  Washington  township,  both  now  deceased ;  Gordon  D.,  residing  at 
Schuylkill  Haven ;  Sherman  H. ;  and  Annie,  married  to  George  Emerich. 

Sherman  H.  Reed  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Wayne  township  and 
reared  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  was  obliged  to  take  up  the  cares  of  the 
family  and  the  task  of  cultivating  the  farm  owing  to  the  death  of  his  father 
when  he  was  but  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  assisted  his  mother  until  her  death, 
in  1890,  when  the  property  was  sold  and  the  proceeds  divided  among  the  heirs 
the  following  year.  Mr.  Reed  located  on  the  Luckenbill  farm,  one  mile  from 
Friedensburg,  Schuylkill  county,  which  he  operated  for  five  years.  He  then 
moved,  Dec.  16,  1895,  to  a  farm  near  Cressona,  where  he  carried  on  agriculture 
and  butchering,  as  well  as  holding  auction  sales  wherever  called  by  patrons. 
This  farm  was  sold  to  W.  D.  Maurey  in  the  course  of  ten  years,  and  in  March, 
1906,  Mr.  Reed  went  to  Cressona.  In  the  fall  of  1907  he  purchased  the  W.  H. 
Markle  farm  of  fifty-four  acres,  in  the  borough  of  Cressona,  which  he  has  since 
so  greatly  improved  as  to  make  it  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  in  this  part 
of  the  county. 

On  Nov.  26,  1885,  Mr.  Reed  was  married  to  Ida  Fullman,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Esther  (Davis)  Fullman,  of  Pottsville,  and  to  this  imion  were 
born  six  children:  Daniel  K.,  now  an  inspector  in  the  Rutherford  shops  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa. ;  Hattie,  married  to  Oscar  Moyer,  living  in  the  Panther  valley, 
near  Cressona ;  Lottie,  married  to  Howard  Kulp  and  living  at  home ;  Esther, 
at  home ;  and  Ada  A.  and  Sherman,  Jr.,  attending  school.  Socially  Mr.  Reed 
has  been  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  of  Friedensburg  since  1907 ;  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Americans  for  the  past  twenty  years ;  and  he  is  a  charter 
member  of  Camp  No.  264,  Pv  O.  S.  of  A.,  at  Friedensburg,  which  was  organized 
thirty-three  years  ago.  He  is  one  of  the  best  known  auctioneers  in  Schuylkill 
county,  having  been  making  sales  for  thirty-two  years.  In  political  affiliation 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  was  elected  jury  commissioner  from  Wayne  township 
in  1900,  with  a  majority  in  this  Democratic  stronghold  of  1,500  votes.  In  1903 
he  was  reelected  with  a  large  majority,  being  the  only  Republican  chosen  that 
year  to  a  county  office.  In  1908  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  county 
commissioner,  but  withdrew  in  order  to  give  precedence  to  a  friend.  Mr. 
Reed  has  also  served  upon  the  election  board  of  Wayne  township,  and  in  1910 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Cressona,  which  office  he  filled 
with  great  credit.  In  religious  affiliation  he  is  a  Lutheran,  being  a  member  of 
the  church  at  Friedensburg,  and  he  takes  a  personal  interest  in  its  welfare, 
as  well  as  that  of  his  fellow  members  and  townsmen.  Through  his  many 
activities  Mr.  Reed  is  probably  one  of  the  best  known  as  well  as  most  popular 
men  in  Schuylkill  county. 

PETER  JAMES  MONAGHAN,  who  is  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance 
business  at  Shenandoah,  Pa.,  was  bom  Nov.  12,  1873,  ^^  *he  comer  of  Chestnut 
and  Lloyd  streets,  Shenandoah,  son  of  Michael  and  Bridget  (Monaghan) 
Monaghan. 

John  Monaghan,  the  grandfather  of  Peter  J.  Monaghan,  was  bom  in  County 
Mayo,  Ireland,  close  to  the  coast,  and  from  boyhood  followed  the  sea  for  his 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1209 

livelihood.  He  was  a  fisherman  and  through  thrift  and  industry  became  very 
prosperous,  owning  a  number  of  fishing  sloops,  but  he  was  overtaken  by  a 
ntunber  of  financial  reverses  and  lost  his  entire  property.  On  a  return  trip 
from  England,  where  he  had  delivered  a  boatload  of  fish,  a  squall  came  up, 
wrecked  his  vessel,  and  took  as  its  toll  a  number  of  the  hardy  fishermen,  in- 
cluding Mr.  Monaghan's  father  and  two  of  his  brothers.  He  was  married  in 
his  native  county,  and  after  the  death  of  his  wife  there,  with  his  two  children, 
Michael  and  Bridget,  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  at  Minersville,  Pa. 
There  he  secured  employment  as  a  miner,  an  occupation  at  which  he  worked 
also  at  Ashland,  just  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  Several  years  later 
he  removed  to  Shenandoah,  and  there  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years,  having  retired  some  time  before.  His  daughter,  Bridget,  became  the 
wife  of  Patrick  Eagen,  deceased,  who  was  a  miner  of  Girardville,  Pa.,  where 
Mrs.  Eagen  now  resides.  Her  children  are:  John,  a  fireman  of  Shamokin, 
Pa. ;  William,  who  is  a  fire  boss  near  Girardville ;  Michael,  yardmaster  for  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  at  Camden,  N.  J. ;  Margaret,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Cauffield,  a  motorman  for  the  Schuylkill  Traction  Company,  at 
Girardville,  and  has  four  children;  and  Barbara,  who  is  the  wife  of  a  railroad 
man  at  Camden,  N.  J.,  and  has  one  child.  John  Monaghan  was  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat. He  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  the  Annun- 
ciation at  Shenandoah,  and  was  buried  in  the  Annunciation  cemetery. 

Michael  Monaghan,  the  father  of  Peter  J.  Monaghan,  was  bom  in  County 
Mayo,  Ireland,  in  1837,  and  was  eleven  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his 
father  to  the  United  States.  His  first  occupation  was  as  a  slate  picker,  at 
Minersville,  for  which  employment  he  was  paid  $1.25  per  week.  As  his  board 
cost  him  $1.75  per  week,  he  was  obliged  to  work  extra  at  picking  coal  early  in 
the  morning  and  late  in  the  evenings,  so  that  it  may  be  seen  that  his  days  were 
full  ones  and  he  had  little  leisure  either  to  play  or  to  secure  educational  ad- 
vantages. When  grown  to  manhood,  with  steady  employment  at  a  man's 
wages  as  a  miner,  Mr.  Monaghan  married  at  Minersville,  about  the  year  i860. 
Later  he  removed  to  Ashland,  Pa.,  where  he  sank  a  slope,  and  also  engaged 
in  driving  gangways,  tunnels,  etc.  About  forty-five  years  ago  he  came  to 
Shenandoah  and  followed  mining,  subsequently  driving  a  tunnel  at  the  Kohi- 
noor  colliery,  sinking  a  slope  at  Miller's  colliery,  and  driving  a  tunnel  at 
Grant's  colliery.  At  the  latter  place  Mr.  Grant,  while  standing  with  a  business 
associate,  Mr.  Gibbs,  was  killed  by  the  fall  of  the  top  of  the  tunnel.  Mr. 
Monaghan  followed  mining  and  mine  work  imtil  1888,  when  he  became  boss 
for  the  old  water  company,  in  which  he  was  also  a  stockholder.  He  was  over- 
seer for  the  company  for  two  years,  and  was  also  engaged  for  a  time  in  the 
retail  liquor  business,  but  finally  retired,  and  lived  quietly  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Jan.  23,  1894.  He  married  Bridget  Monaghan,  who  was  bom 
in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and  was  eleven  weeks  old  when  brought  by  her 
parents  to  this  country.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Bryan  Monaghan,  a  retired 
miner,  who  died  at  Shenandoah.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monaghan  became  the  parents 
of  the  following  children :  Michael,  Bridget  and  John,  who  died  in  childhood 
at  Ashland ;  another  died  there  in  infancy ;  Annie,  Michael,  John,  Bernard  and 
Anthony,  who  died  in  childhood  at  Shenandoah ;  Peter  James ;  and  Anthony, 
who  married  Veronica  Kusick  and  lives  on  East  Lloyd  street,  Shenandoah. 
Michael  Monaghan  was  a  Democrat  and  served  as  supervisor  of  Shenandoah. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  W.  B.  A.,  miners*  association,  and  was  treasurer  of 
four  local  unions  at  the  time  of  his  demise.     He  belonged  to  St.  Patrick's 


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1210  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANL\ 

Society,  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Aimunciation,  Roman 
Catholic,  and  was  buried  in  the  Annunciation  cemetery,  as  was  also  Mrs.  Mona- 
ghan,  who  died  Dec.  20,  1907,  aged  sixty-three  years. 

Peter  James  Monaghan  was  educated  in  the  graded  and  high  schools  of 
Shenandoah,  following  which  he  took  a  classical  course  in  Georgetown  Uni- 
versity, at  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  was  a  student  for  one  and  a  half  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  period,  because  of  his  father's  illness,  he  was  obliged  to 
give  up  his  college  course,  but  later  he  took  a  term  in  the  Peirce  business  col- 
lege, from  which  he  was  duly  graduated.  After  his  father's  death  Mr.  Mcxia- 
g^n  went  into  the  saloon  business,  at  the  comer  of  Lloyd  and  Chestnut 
streets,  but  mine  excavation  work  ruined  his  building,  and  he  finally  sold  out 
and  moved  to  Chestnut  and  Centre  streets.  There  he  remained  until  1895,  in 
the  same  business,  and  then  sold  out  and  went  to  Chamberlain,  S.  D.,  where 
he  spent  two  and  a  half  years  on  the  range  between  Missouri  and  the  Black 
Hills.  Returning  to  Shenandoah,  in  1902  he  entered  the  fire  insurance  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  is  still  interested,  being  the  representative  of  twenty-one 
companies  at  this  time. 

Mr.  Monaghan  is  a  member  of  the  Midnight  Sons,  a  dramatic  organization, 
the  membership  of  which  includes  the  best  talent  in  the  borough  of  Shenandoah. 
This  company  has  given  some  really  fine  performances  at  the  O'Hara  theater, 
the  proceeds  from  which  have  always  been  devoted  to  the  Annunciation  Church 
charities,  Mr.  Monaghan  being  a  member  of  that  church.  He  belongs  to  the 
Sacred  Heart  Society  and  to  the  newly-organized  Holy  Name  Society,  which 
already  has  more  than  nine  hundred  members.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat 
His  fraternal  connections  include  membership  in  Shenandoah  Lodge,  No.  945, 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks;  Shenandoah  Aerie,  No.  103,  Fra- 
ternal Order  of  Eagles;  and  Division  No.  2,  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians. 
He  is  treasurer  of  his  kerie  in  the  Eagles.  In  fire  insurance  circles,  Mr. 
Monaghan  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  this  part  of  the  State.  He  is 
treasurer  of  the  Fire  Underwriters'  Association  of  the  Middle  Department; 
is  a  member  of  the  Phoenix  Fire  Company,  of  which  he  was  marshal  for  nine 
years;  was  chief  of  the  Shenandoah  fire  department  for  three  terms;  is  a 
member  of  the  State  Firemen's  Association  and  of  its  publicity  committee,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Six  County  Firemen's  Association,  holding  the  office  of 
chairman  of  the  auditing  committee.  He  has  always  been  one  of  Shenandoah's 
most  enthusiastic  boosters,  and  at  this  time  is  a  member  of  the  Devitt  Qub,  the 
object  of  which  is  the  promotion  of  home  industries  and  interests. 

Mr.  Monaghan  was  married  April  12,  1912,  to  Agnes  Cardin,  who  was 
bom  July  4,  1^2,  daughter  of  John  J.  and  Bridget  (Toole)  Cardin,  the  former 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  County  Mayo,  Ireland.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Monaghan  are  the  parents  of  two  children:  Anna,  bom  March  29,  1913; 
and  Joseph,  bom  Feb.  22,  1914.  Mrs.  Monaghan  was  bom  at  Shenandoah, 
and  here  attended  the  public  schools.  She  studied  music  under  Professor  Wilde 
and  mastered  one  of  the  most  difficuk  of  musical  instruments,  the  violin,  on 
which  she  is  a  finished  performer.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Sodality,  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  Society  and  of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation. 

Thomas  Cardin,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Monaghan,  was  bora  in 
County  Mayo,  Ireland.  He  was  a  man  of  large  physique,  and  ran  a  jaunting 
car.  He  was  a  faithful  Catholic,  and  was  buried  in  the  parish  of  Lackin, 
County  Mayo.  His  son,  Patrick  Cardin,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Monaghan, 
was  married  in  his  native  County  Mayo  and  was  a  farmer  in  Ireland.    He 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1211 

came  to  the  United  States  on  a  sailing  vessel,  and  settled  at  Muddy  Branch, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  worked  around  the  mines  as  an  outside  laborer. 
Later  he  removed  to  Shenandoah,  bought  a  property  on  West  Lloyd  street, 
and  there  passed  the  rest  of  his  life  in  retirement.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  his  religious  faith  was  that  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church!  He 
married  Margaret  McDonald,  also  bom  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  who  died  in 
her  seventieth  year,  and  both  are  buried  at  Pittston,  Luzerne  county.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Mary,  who  married  (first)  Bar- 
tholomew Haley  and  (second)  John  Martin,  and  now  lives  at  Pittston;  John 
J. ;  a  son  who  died  in  infancy ;  and  Patrick,  who  met  his  death  in  the  West 
Pittston  disaster,  in  1871. 

John  J.  Cardin  was  born  at  Muddy  Branch,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  July  15, 
1852,  and  there  received  a  public  school  education.  He  was  eleven  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  Shenandoah,  and  here  his  first  work  was  as  a  slate  picker. 
Later  he  became  a  miner  and  worked  at  the  following  collieries :  Indian  Ridge, 
Shenandoah  City  and  Kohinoor.  After  following  mining  for  many  years  Mr. 
Cardin  turned  his  attention  to  other  affairs  and  contributed  his  services  to  the 
city  in  various  positions  of  responsibility  and  trust.  He  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  council  for  two  years,  and  was  then  elected  city  clerk  for  five  consecutive 
terms.  In  the  meantime  he  had  received  election  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace,  filling  both  offices,  and  was  then  again  elected  councilman.  He  still 
holds  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  to  which  he  has  been  elected  three 
terms,  missing  a  fourth  term  by  but  two  votes.  He  is  a  Democrat,  as  are  all 
his  sons.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  Shenandoah  Aerie,  No.  103,  Fra- 
ternal Order  of  Eagles,  of  which  he  is  secretary.  He  is  also  secretary  of  the 
Shenandoah  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  ^^hich  he  was  the  organizer 
in  1903,  and  is  a  member  of  the  old  St.  Patrick's  Society.  His  religious  con- 
nection is  with  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  Roman  Catholic. 

Mr.  Cardin  was  married  at  Shenandoah  to  Bridget  Toole,  who  was  bom  in 
County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and  was  four  or  five  years  of  age  when  she  came  to 
the  United  States.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Patrick  Toole,  who  brought  his  family 
to  this  country  and  settled  at  Primrose,  near  Minersville,  Pa.  On  the  journey 
to  America  one  of  his  daughters  died,  and  was  buried  at  sea.  John  J.  and 
Bridget  Cardin  have  had  children  as  follows:  Mary,  who  married  Thomas 
Purcell,  a  machinist  in  the  Lehigh  Valley  railroad  shops  at  Delano,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  has  one  child,  John;  Katie,  who  married  Harry  Mclntyre,  a 
clerk  of  Philadelphia ;  Miss  Sadie,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching  school  at  Shenan- 
doah; Elizabeth,  who  died  in  infancy;  Nellie,  who  resides  with  her  parents; 
Bessie,  who  is  a  manicure  of  Atlantic  City,  N.  J.;  Agnes,  who  is  now  Mrs. 
Monaghan;  Margaret,  who  died  in  infancy;  Patrick,  who  was  a  barber  of 
Philadelphia,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years;  John,  who  is  employed 
at  the  Home  Brewery,  Shenandoah;  and  Charles,  an  employe  of  the  well 
known  sporting  goods  firm  of  A.  J.  Reach,  Philadelphia. 

JOHN  J.  CULLEN,  of  Port  Carbon,  Schuylkill  county,  telegrapher  for  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company. 

JAMES  FOLEY,  a  most  respected  citizen  of  Shenandoah,  is  now  living  in 
retirement  there,  having  given  up  active  work  several  years  aero,  after  more 
than  half  a  century  spent  in  the  coal  mines  of  the  vicinity.    For  thirty-four 


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1212  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

years  he  was  at  the  Indian  Ridge  colliery,  as  miner,  fire  boss  and  assistant 
foreman. 

Mr.  Foley  was  bom  on  his  father's  farm  near  Carlow,  Queen's  County, 
Ireland,  son  of  Edward  and  Margaret  (Franey)  Foley.  The  parents  were  also 
natives  of  Queen's  County,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  year  they  spent  with 
their  son  James  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  passed  all  their  lives  there.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  and  miner,  wbrking  in  the  coal  mines  during  the  winter 
months,  and  he  was  considered  an  expert,  being  employed  as  a  boss.  The 
shafts  there  were  similar  to  those  in  the  Pennsylvania  anthracite  fields,  but  the 
Hues  were  run  more  accurately,  by  the  compass.  Edward  Foley  and  his  wife 
lived  to  a  ripe  old  age.  They  parted  vefy  reluctantly  from  their  son  James  when 
he  came  to  America,  the  bond  of  affection  between  them  being  very  strong, 
and  in  1873  they  came  to  visit  him  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Q).,  Pa.  They 
remained  a  year,  but  could  not  stand  a  longer  absence  from  their  old  home,  to 
which  they  returned.  Mrs.  Foley  considered  the  town  a  wicked  place,  and  felt 
that  many  of  the  residents  did  not  deserve  to  be  called  Christians.  She  and 
her  husband  were  devout  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Of  the  children 
bom  to  them  the  following  lived  to  maturity :  Margaret  married  Daniel  Kilroy, 
a  machinist,  and  they  resided  at  Dublin,  Ireland,  where  they  died;  they  are 
survived  by  one  son,  who  is  a  missionary  priest  in  Dublin.  James  is  next  in 
the  family.  Mary  married  and  died  in  Ireland.  Patrick  came  to  Minersville, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  followed  mining;  he  married  Bridget  Welsh,  and  they 
had  children,  Ellen,  Eddie,  Maizie,  James,  Katy  and  Loretta.  Timothy, 
also  a  miner,  settled  at  Shenandoah;  he  married  Margaret  Bums,  and  they 
had  five  children,  Annie,  Edward,  Margaret,  Mary  and  Katy.  Bridget  mar- 
ried John  Ash,  and  they  live  on  the  old  homestead  in  Ireland ;  they  had  a  large 
family.     All  the  family  adhered  to  the  faith  of  their  parents. 

Andrew  Franey,  father  of  Mrs.  Edward  Foley,  was  a  fanner  and  store- 
keeper. His  people  were  prominent  in  their  neighborhood  and  well-to-do, 
and  he  was  given  a  good  education.  His  wife  was  one  of  the  Elliotts,  another 
fine  old  family  of  Queen's  County.     All  belonged  to  the  Catholic  Church. 

James  Foley  attended  school  in  his  early  boyhood,  but  he  was  only  eight 
years  old  when  he  began  to  work  as  a  miner's  helper,  carrying  tools  and 
material,  and  from  that  time  on  he  was  employed  either  at  the  mines  or  on 
the  farm.  In  time  he  became  a  regular  miner.  When  a  young  man  he 
married,  and  in  i860  he  and  his  wife  came  to  the  United  States,  making  the 
voyage  in  the  sailing  vessel  "Bridgewater,"  which  was  seven  weeks  and  four 
days  on  the  trip  from  Liverpool  to  New  York,  where  they  arrived  July  ist. 
A  few  days  later  they  came  to  Heckscherville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  after 
a  short  stay  there  moved  to  Minersville,  where  Mr.  Foley  soon  found  work  at 
the  mines,  being  employed  in  the  gangways  until  he  became  familiar  with  the 
drifts,  after  which  he  followed  mining.  He  continued  in  that  line  until  his 
retirement,  some  ten  years  ago,  and  there  is  probably  no  better  known  miner 
in  the  county. 

In  May,  i860,  Mr.  Foley  was  married,  in  the  Mayo  Church  about  seven 
miles  from  Carlow,  Queen's  County,  by  Father  Bums,  to  Margaret  Tobin,  who 
was  bom  on  her  father's  farm  at  Queenstown,  near  her  husband's  birthplace, 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Nora  (Barber)  Tobin.  Her  father  was  a  drover, 
and  also  owned  a  large  farm.  The  men  of  the  Tobin  family  were  large  and 
powerfully  built,  and  remarkable  for  intelligence;  the  women  were  equally 
notable  for  their  good  looks  and  refinement,  all  giving  evidence  of  superior 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1213 

excellence  of  character.  Fourteen  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foley: 
Annie  married  Frank  Dougherty,  who  died  May  i6,  1914,  she  and  her  son 
Francis  residing  in  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  Richard,  a  contractor  and  builder,  who 
died  Nov.  4,  1914,  married  Margaret  Heaton,  and  they  had  children,  Harry, 
Elizabeth,  Gertrude,  Gerald,  James,  Thomas,  Qaire,  Mary  and  Francis  (this 
f?imily  resides  in  Philadelphia)  ;  Edward,  a  clerk  in  the  recorder's  office  at 
Philadelphia,  married  Alice  Fitzpatrick,  and  their  children  are  Helen,  James, 
Eldward  and  Paul;  Mary  Ella  is  the  wife  of  Martin  M.  Burke,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Clarence,  now  attending  the  university  at  Fordham,  N.  Y. ;  Patrick  J., 
a  clerk  in  the  Madeira  Hill  coUiery,  is  unmarried ;  Bridget  M.  is  keeping  house 
for  her  father;  John  J.,  a  traveling  salesman,  makes  his  home  at  Fresno,  Cal. ; 
William  F.,  who  is  unmarried,  is  now  engaged  as  a  hotel  clerk  in  Pittsburgh 
(he  was  formerly  chief  clerk  at  the  ^'Antler''  hotel)  ;  Margaret  is  a  graduate 
of  the  normal  school  at  East  Stroudsburg  and  now  teaching  fourth  grade  in 
Shenandoah ;  Harry  J.  is  engaged  as  chemist  at  the  Pittsburgh  waterworks ; 
four  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  at  the  home  on  West 
Centre  street,  Oct.  27,  1914,  in  her  seventy-first  year,  and  is  buried  in  the 
cemetery  of  the  Annunciation  Church.  She  was  active  and  energetic  to  the 
last,  appearing  much  younger  than  she  was,  and  she  was  universally  respected 
for  her  many  fine  qualities  of  head  and  heart.  Like  all  of  her  family,  she  was 
a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation  at  Shenandoah  and  one  of  the 
zealous  workers  in  the  parish,  and  she  belonged  to  the  Sacred  Heart  Society. 

For  years  Mr.  Foley  has  been  one  of  the  most  useful  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  Annunciation.  When  the  old  church  site  was  selected  he  blasted 
out  the  stone  back  of  the  property  for  use  in  the  construction  of  the  church  and 
priest's  house.  He  was  a  close  friend  of  Father  O'Reilly,  who  had  great 
confidence  in  him,  selecting  him  to  manage  many  of  the  church  fairs  and 
similar  enterprises,  and  look  after  the  finances  of  such  undertakings.  Mr. 
Foley  is  the  last  surviving  charter  member  of  the  Total  Abstiilence  Benevolent 
Society  of  the  church,  organized  Nov.  i,  1870.  He  has  been  its  treasurer  for 
many  years,  and  was  recently  reelected  to  that  office  in  spite  of  his  protests, 
being  chosen  while  he  was  urging  his  fellow  members  against  the  choice.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

RICHARD  KRAPF  has  had  a  varied  experience  at  mining  and  mechanical 
work,  his  practical  knowledge  of  the  latter  being  of  great  value  in  his  duties 
about  the  colliery.  At  present  he  is  outside  foreman  at  the  Phoenix  Park 
colliery  in  Branch  township,  Schuylkill  county. 

Mr.  Krapf  was  bom  in  1881  at  Lavelle,  in  Butler  township,  Schuylkill 
county,  and  is  of  German  descent,  his  father,  William  Krapf,  having  been  a 
native  of  Germany.  The  latter  came  to  the  United  States  when  a  young  man 
and  settled  at  Ashland,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  did  mine  work  at  the  old 
Keystone  colliery.  Later  he  removed  to  Lavelle,  this  county,  where  he  died. 
His  wife,  Caroline  (Peine),  like  himself  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  America 
when  twelve  years  old.  Seven  children  were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krapf: 
Adam  and  Caroline,  twins,  who  died  young ;  Louisa ;  Anna ;  John ;  Catherine, 
and  Richard. 

Richard  Krapf  was  a  pupil  at  the  public  schools  of  Butler  township  until 
fifteen  years  old.  Then  he  went  to  work  as  a  slate  picker,  and  when  a  little 
older  became  hoisting  engineer  at  the  Pott's  colliery  for  one  year.  He  held  a 
similar  position  at  the  Locust  Spring  colliery  for  two  years,  after  which  he 


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1214  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

went  to  Reading,  where  he  was  employed  for  two  years  at  the  machinist's 
trade.  His  next  change  was  to  New  York  City,  wJiere  he  worked  as  a  steam- 
fitter  for  about  a  year,  following  which  he  was  a  passenger  trainman  on  the 
New  York  Central  lines  for  a  short  time.  Returning  to  Schuylkill  county  he 
located  at  Ashland,  where  he  resumed  work  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Company,  running  a  steam  shovel,  for  three  years,  since  when  he  has  been 
engaged  on  outside  work  at  different  collieries.  His  first  position  of  the  kind 
was  at  the  Goodspring  colliery,  where  he  was  stationed  sixteen  months  as 
assistant  foreman;  then  he  was  transferred  to  the  Pine  Knot  colliery,  in  the 
same  capacity,  for  the  same  length  of  time;  and  in  January,  1914,  he  came  to 
the  Phoenix  Park  colliery,  as  outside  foreman.  This  mine  has  a  large  force 
employed,  six  hundred  on  the  inside  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  on  the 
outside,  the  latter  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Krapf,  who  teas  proved  his 
efficiency  in  every  responsibility.  Personally  he  has  high  standing,  and  is 
well  known  in  the  local  fraternal  organizations,  belonging  to  Ashland  Lodge, 
No.  294,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Tremont  Chapter,  No.  221,  R.  A.  M. ;  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A., 
and  the  Modem  Woodmen  of  America. 

Mr.  Krapf  married  Gertrude  Kehler,  daughter  of  William  Kehler.  They 
have  one  child,  Beatrice  C,  who  is  attending  school. 

JOSEPH  C.  BOSCH  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Shenandoah,  where 
he  is  well  known  in  various  associations,  business  and  social.  His  father, 
Joseph  Bosch,  lived  at  Shenandoah  for  many  years  prior  to  his  death. 

Joseph  Bosch  was  bom  in  Germany,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
received  his  education  and  business  training,  learning  linen  and  carpet  weaving, 
which  he  followed  as  long  as  he  remained  in  his  native  land.  Coming  to 
America  when  about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  settled  later  at  Shenandoah, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  the  owner  of  a  lime  kiln  near  the  borou^,  buming 
lime  which  he  sold  in  the  town.  He  retired  from  that  business  before  his 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  aged  fifty-one  years.  Mr.  Bosch  was 
married  in  Germany  to  Catherine  Weaver,  the  daughter  of  farming  people. 
She  died  when  about  sixty-eight  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bosch  had  five 
children,  of  whom  two  survive,  Joseph  C.  and  John,  the  latter  now  on  the 
United  States  battleship  "New  York" ;  he  is  married  to  Barbara  Poff ,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Margaret.  The  father  was  a  Catholic,  belonging  to  the  Church 
of  the  Holy  Family,  and  was  a  member  of  St.  Michael's  Society  for  years. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat. 

Joseph  C  Bosch  was  bom  Jan.  12,  1872,  in  Shenandoah,  and  there  received 
his  education.  He 'Parted  work  as  a  slate  picker  at  the  Shenandoah  City 
colliery,  under  Frederick  Carl,  and  was  later  employed  in  the  mines  at  Indian 
Ridge,  as  driver  for  two  years.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company,  in  their  locomotive  shops  at  Delano,  this 
county,  as  blacksmith's  helper,  remaining  there  for  ten  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  went  to  Weatherly,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  as  steam  hammerman. 
After  working  there  for  fifteen  months  he  retumed  to  Shenandoah,  and  for 
six  or  eight  months  followed  different  occupations,  in  July,  1905,  becoming 
an  employe  of  the  Home  Brewing  Company,  as  shipping  clerk.  He  was  after- 
wards promoted  to  the  position  of  head  shipping  clerk,  his  prompt  attention 
to  all  his  duties  making  him  a  valuable  man  in  that  capacity. 

Mr.  Bosch  was  married  to  Ellie  Symbal,  daughter  of  Frank  Symbal,  a 
native  of  the  state  of  Suwalki,  Lithuania.     They  have  one  child,  Joseph  John, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1215 

bom  Sept.  23,  1910.  For  many  years  Mr.  Bosch  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Columbia  Hose  Company,  and  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  that  organization 
for  fifteen  years ;  for  ten  years  he  was  treasurer  of  the  Fire  Relief  Associa- 
tion. He  also  belongs  to  the  Washington  Beneficial  Society,  of  which  he  was 
a  trustee  for  two  years.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the  German  Catholic 
Church  oJF  the  Holy  Family  at  Shenandoah.  Mr.  Bosch  is  a  Republican  on 
political  questions.  ^ 

GEORGE  W.  MORGAN,  of  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  paymaster  for 
the  L)rtle  Coal  Company,  in  Cass  township,  this  county. 

JOHN  J.  MILLER,  of  Shenandoah,  has  taken  his  place  among  the  useful 
citizens  of  that  borough,  where  he  began  his  independent  business  career  several 
years  ago  as  a  manufacturer.  He  has  succeeded  in  establishing  excellent  trade 
connections,  and  as  his  factory  affords  employment  to  some  fifty  hands  it  is  an 
important  unit  in  the  local  industrial  situation.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  native  of 
Orwigsburg,  Schuylkill  county,  bom  Sept.  6,  1869,  son  of  the  late  John  Fred- 
erick Miller. 

John  Frederick  Miller  was  of  German  nativity,  bom  in  the  kingdom  of 
Wurtemberg.  There  he  spent  his  childhood  and  youth,  coming  to  this  country 
when  twenty-one  years  old.  He  landed  at  Castle  Garden,  New  York  City, 
came  as  far  as  Landingville,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  by  canalboat,  and  thence  walked 
to  Orwigsburg,  where  he  found  work  with  Reuben  Hoy  as  a  farm  hand.  Some 
time  later  he  purchased  145  acres  of  land  in  West  Bmnswick  township,  lying 
one  mile  north  of  Orwigsburg,  the  old  Laymaster  farm.  Part  of  it  was  still 
covered  with  bmsh  and  timl^r,  and  he  continued  the  work  of  clearing  and 
cultivation  until  1895,  in  which  year  he  removed  to  the  borough  of  Orwigsburg. 
The  property  remained  in  the  Miller  family  for  forty-five  years,  and  is  now 
owned  by  Fred  Beacher.  John  F.  Miller  acquired  extensive  and  valuable  real 
estate  holdings  at  Orwigsburg,  and 'exerted  himself  very  effectively  in  intro- 
d;ucing  modem  conditions  of  life  into  that  town.  The  first  sewers  laid  there 
were  of  his  constmction,  and  he  was  the  original  owner  of  the  system,  now  in 
the  possession  of  his  son,  Henry  L.  Miller.  When  the  borough  was.  ready 
to  provide  a  public  water  supply  the  necessary  land  was  purchased  from  him, 
and  he  assisted  the  project  in  every  possible  way.  He  was  the  first  to  start 
in  the  ice  business  at  Orwigsburg,  and  carried  it  on  successfully,  as  he  did 
everything  else  he  undertook.  Indeed,  his  fellow  citizens  had  such  confidence 
in  his  judgment  and  faith  in  his  disinterested  public  spirit,  that  few  men  of  his 
time  were  more  influential  in  guiding  local  affairs,  though  he  took  no  special 
part  in  the  administration  of  public  matters.  However,  he  was  a  zealous  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Lutheran  Church  at  Orwigsburg,  having  been  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  church,  and  he  assisted  in  building  the  present  St.  Paul's 
Church,  which  he  served  as  tmstee.  Mr.  Miller  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years,  dying  in  1909,  after  several  years  of  retirement.  He  is  buried  in 
the  Lutheran  cemetery  at  Orwigsburg. 

Mr.  Miller  married  Sophia  Dietrich,  also  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  when  twenty  years  old,  and  died  at  Orwigsburg 
at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  They  were  married  at  that  place,  and  the 
following  children  were  bom  to  their  union:  Elizabeth  died  young;  Mary 
died  young;  William  F.,  who  lives  at  McAdoo,  this  county,  is  engaged  in  the 
ice  business  and  has  a  farm  in  the  Quakake  valley ;  Henry  L.  now  lives  at  Port 


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1216  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Carbon,  this  county;  George  B.  is  living  at  Orwigsburg;  John  J.  is  next  in  the 
family;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  John  Reidler,  of  Orwigsburg;  Rosie  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  H.  Hein,  who  is  serving  as  poor  director  of  Schuylkill  county ; 
Frederick  lives  at  Pottsville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  also  reared  her  sister's  son, 
Jacob  Koenig,  who  was  bom  in  Germany  and  was  brought  to  America  when 
nine  months  old. 

John  J.  Miller  received  his  education  in  the  Orwigsburg  schools,  spending 
his  boyhood  upon  the  farm.  He  was  familiar  with  agricultural  work,  which 
he  continued  to  follow  until  twenty  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Girardville,  this 
county,  where  he  .was  employed  with  his  brother  William  F.  Miller  at  the 
butcher  business.  He  was  occupied  in  that  line  for  about  five  years,  at  the  end 
of  which  experience  he  came  to  Shenandoah,  where  he  has  since  had  his  home. 
Here  he  was  employed  for  about  ten  years  as  a  carpenter  foreman  at  the  mines, 
and  for  five  years  held  a  position  with  the  Kehley  Run  Ice  Company,  in  1910 
establishing  the  business  to  which  he  has  since  given  all  his  attention,  engag- 
ing in  the  manufacture  of  underwear.  His  large  brick  factory  is  at  Nos 
213-215  North  White  street,  four  stories  in  height,  well  lighted  and  arranged, 
and  all  the  machinery  installed  is  of  modem  design.  The  demand  for  the 
output  has  been  so  constant  that  it  is  operated  full  time,  and  fifty  people  arc 
given  steady  employment.  Mr.  Miller  has  shown  versatile  ability  in  the  found- 
ing of  this  business  and  its  development,  for  the  requirements  necessary  to 
insure  success  have  been  many,  in  the  line  of  executive  talents  as  well  as 
thorough  understanding  of  the  manufacturing  end.  He.  has  also  become 
connected  with  other  interests  in  the  borough,  having  since  March,  191 5,  been 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Shenandoah. 

Mr.  Miller  married  Joanna  Reigel,  who  died  leaving  one  son,  Ralph,  now 
his  father's  assistant  at  the  mill.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Miller  married 
Annie  Derr ;  they  have  had  no  children.  He  is  a  Lutheran  in  religious  con- 
nection, while  Mrs.  Miller  belongs  to  the  Evangelical  Church. 

HAROLD  L.  LANDENBERGER,  of  Tremont,  was  one  of  the  original 
staff  of  the  Tremont  National  Bank  at  the  time  of  its  establishment,  in  1902, 
and  has  risen  to  the  cashiership  on  his  own  merits.  The  influence  this  institu- 
tion exerts  in  local  circles  is  entirely  on  the  side  of  wholesome,  reliable  business, 
and  though  Mr.  Landenberger  is  conservative  enough  to  be  considered  thor- 
oughly dependable  he  is  known  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  men  in  his 
part  of  Schuylkill  county.  With  natural  foresight,  and  judgment  developing 
under  a  varied  experience,  he  is  working  steadily  up  to  an  important  place  in 
the  commercial  world. 

Mr.  Landenberger's  grandfather  was  an  early  settler  in  Pine  Grove  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county,  where  George  Landenberger,  father  of  Harold  L.,  was 
bom.  The  father  is  a  resident  of  Tremont,  and  for  the  last  twenty-five  years 
has  been  an  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway 
Company,  at  present  engaged  on  the  Tremont  &  Lebanon  division.  He  mar- 
ried Isabella  Huber,  also  a  native  of  Pine  Grove  township  and  member  of  an 
old  family  there,  her  father  having  settled  in  that  section  many  years  ago.  She 
died  in  1905. 

Harold  L.  Landenberger  was  bom  in  1889  in  Pine  Grove  township,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  there  spent  his  ^arly  years,  beginning  his  education  in  the  local 
public  schools.  Later  he  attended  school  in  Tremont.  He  began  work  at  the 
time  the  Tremont  National  Bank  was  opened,  in  1902,  in  a  modest  capacity,  and 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1217 

becoming  familiar  with  the  work  as  the  years  passed  was  advanced  steadily, 
working  his  way  up  from  clerk  to  cashier.  He  was  chosen  to  the  latter  position 
in  1912,  succeeding  Mr.  E.  J.  Power,  who  had  filled  the  same  from  the  time 
the  bank  was  started,  and  whom  he  assisted  for  several  years,  during  which 
time  he  gained  a  thorough  insight  into  the  responsible  duties  of  the  office. 
Personacily  he  has  gained  an  enviable  prestige  by  his  obliging  disposition, 
prompt  and  courteous  attention  to  all  business  which  passes  through  his  hands, 
and  commendable  attitude  on  every  question  affecting  good  business  and  useful 
citizenship. 

In  191 3  Mr.  Landenberjger  married  Lillie  E.  Moore,  formerly  of  Tremont, 
but  then  a  resident  of  Phiktdelphia,  where  her  parents  are  now  living.  Mr. 
Landenberger  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  socially  he  belongs  to 
the  Odd  Fellows  (Tremont  Lodge),  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  Patriotic 
Order  Sons  of  America  (Tremont  Camp,  No.  74). 

The  Tremont  National  Bank  was  founded  in  the  year  1902,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $25,000,  and  the  following  officers :  President,  William  C.  Hack 
(now  of  Shamokin,  Pa.) ;  vice  president,  T.  J.  Murphy,  of  Trenumt;  cashier, 
E.  J.  Power.  The  present  officers  are :  William  C.  Ha!ck,  of  Shamokin,  presi- 
dent; H.  O.  Seltzer,  of  Tremont,  vice  president;  Harold  L.  Landenberger,  of 
Tremont,  cashier.  The  deposits  have  reached  the  surprising  amount  of 
$215,000,  and  the  business  of  the  bank  in  every  other  direction  shows  a  pro- 
portionate increase.  The  bank  building  is  one  of  the  most  up-to-date  in  the 
county.  \ 

RALPH  A.  SCHWALM  is  <Mie  of  the  most  enterprising  yoimg  citizens  of 
Valley  View,  in  which  town  he  is  much  respected  for  the  progressive  and 
industrious  traits  of  which  he  has  given  evidence.  He  has  spent  all  his  life  in 
and  around  Valley  View,  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  families  of  that  section. 
His  great-great-grandparents,  John  and  Tillie  Schwalm,  came  from  Germany 
and  settled  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  among  the  pioneers  in  what  is  now  known 
as  Hubley  township  (then  Mahantongo),  in  the  Hegins  valley.  They  were 
farmers  by  occupation. 

Frederick  Schwalm,  great-grandfather  of  Ralph  A.  Schwalm,  was  bom  in 
what  is  now  Hubley  township,  and  there  spent  all  his  life,  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
He  married  three  times,  and  by  his  first  wife,  Catherine  (Stein),  also  a  native 
of  Schuylkill  county  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  all  now  deceased  but 
Daniel.  William  was  a  retired  farmer,  of  Valley  View,  this  county ;  Emanuel 
was  postmaster  at  Hegins;  Daniel  is  a  farmer  in  Hubley  township;  Peter  had 
a  twin  sister  Catherine,  who  lived  in  Indiana;  Louisa  lived  and  died  in  Illinois. 
For  his  second  wife  Frederick  Schwalm  married  Sarah  Sufing,  who  died  leav- 
ing no  children,  and  he  subsequently  married  Harriet  Dieter.  By  the  last 
tmion  there  were  three  children :  Otilla  and  Elizabeth,  both  now  deceased ;  and 
Jackson,  of  Hegins  township. 

Peter  Schwalm,  grandfather  of  Ralph  A.  Schwalm,  was  bom  Aug.  21, 1836, 
in  what  is  now  Hubley  (then  Lower  Mahantongo)  township,  this  county,  and 
there  passed  his  early  years,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  and  subscrip- 
tion schools  which  flourished  in  the  neighborhood  during  his  boyhood.  His 
father  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  first  free  school  establidied  in  the  town- 
ship. Peter  Schwalm  remained  at  home  until  twenty-five  years  old,  when  he 
took  charge  of  the  farm  of  his  brother  Samuel,  who  had  entered  the  army  for 

VoL  n— 39 


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1218  SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 

service  in  the  Qvil  war,  giving  three  years  and  one  month  of  his  time  to  the 
Union  cause.  He  was  thus  occupied  for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  bought  the 
Schrob  gristmill,  which  he  carried  on  for  several  years ;  selling  out,  he  removed 
to  Porter  township,  where  he  had  acquired  property  in  the  meantime,  having 
purchased  129  acres  in  the  Williams  valley.  Though  the  land  was  not  all  cleared 
and  the  buildings  were  old,  he  had  paid  $5,500  for  this  place,  and  he  set  at 
once  about  the  task  of  improving  it,  which  was  no  small  matter.  Some  parts 
were  so  wild  and  oveigrown  with  underbrush  that  the  foxes  would  come 
close  to  the  farmhouse  in  broad  daylight  and  carry  off  the  chickens,  and 
Mr.  Schwalm  ^trapped  thirty  foxes  during  his  first  few  years  there.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  on  that  farm  until  1895^  when  he  built  a  home  in  Muir  to  whidi 
he  removed,  living  in  retirement  there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  25, 
1908.  His  son  Geoige  then  took  charge  of  the  home  farm.  In  1887  Mr.  Schwalm 
had  purchased  another  tract,  containing  about  1 18  acres,  in  Hegins  township, 
which  before  his  death  passed  into  the  ownership  of  his  son  EUsworth.  The 
village  of  Muir  is  built  partly  upon  his  Porter  township  farm.  Mr.  Schwalm 
was  a  man  of  active  temperament,  enterprising  in  looking  out  for  the  welfare  of 
his  locality  as  well  as  his  own  interests,  and  he  served  his  township  in  the  public 
offices  of  sdiool  director,  tax  assessor  and  tax  collector.  Politically  he  was  a 
Republican,  and  his  religious  connection  was  with  the  Reformed  Church  at 
Orwin* 

On  April  23,  1 861,  Mr.  Schwalm  married  Maria  Schrob,  who  was  bom  Oct. 
2p,  1843,  ^^  Hegins  township,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Holdemann) 
^hrob,  who  had  a  family  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  attained  maturity: 
Jacob  died  when  sixty-five  years  old ;  Amos  lives  at  Valley  View,  this  county ; 
Catherine  lives  in  Kansas.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schrob  were  among  the  early  settlers 
in  their  section  of  Schuylkill  county,  and  both  died  there.  They  were  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mrs.  Schwalm  died  April  i,  191 1,  and  is  buried  with  her  husband  in  the 
Fairview  cemetery  near  Muir.  Seven  children  were  bom  to  them:  Elizabeth 
married  Alfred  Hand,  and  is  deceased ;  she  had  two  children,  Harry  H.  and 
Ira  W.,  the  former  dying  when  eleven  months  old ;  the  latter  married  Elizabeth 
Jobe  and  has  two  sons,  Elbert  and  Ivan.  Ellsworth  is  the  father  of  Ralph  A. 
Schwalm.  George  M.  married  Agnes  Haertter,  and  they  reside  in  Porter  town- 
ship. Albert  T.  is  a  teacher  of  long  experience  in  Porter  township.  William  O^ 
who  lives  near  Midland,  S.  Dak.,  married  Annie  Bixler,  and  has  children,  Ira  and 
Ray  (twins),  Merle,  Dorothy,  Arthur  and  Ben.  Mary  E.  married  Thomas 
Moser,  a  teacher  of  Porter  township,  and  has  children,  Irma,  Qair,  Lyle,  Glenn, 
Ruth,  Paul,  and  Jeanette.  John  P.,  who  has  long  becii  carrying  on  a  hardware 
business  at  Reinerton,  married  Catherine  Lebo,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Beatrice,  Harold  and  Mark. 

Ellsworth  Schwalm,  father  of  Ralph  A.  Schwalm,  was  bom  near  Sacra- 
mento, this  county.  He  received  a  public  school  education,  and  in  his  early  life 
worked  for  a  time  at  the  mines,  but  farming  was  more  to  his  taste,  so  he  bought 
a  farm  of  123  acres,  and  for  a  number  of  years  devoted  all  his  energies  to  its 
cultivation.  He  is  now  living  retired.  Mr.  Schwalm  is  a  Republican  in  his 
political  convictions,  and  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics  and  in  local  public 
afiFairs,  having  served  several  years  as  school  director  and  tax  collector.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  married  Jane 
Kessler,  and  to  their  union  have  been  bom  the  following  children :  Elmer,  who 
is  married  to  Gertmde  Stutzman  and  has  one  daughter,  Eva ;  Ralph  A. ;  Ruth, 


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SCHUYLKILL  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA  1219 

wife  of  Elmer  Miller;  Beulah;  Effie,  married  to  Edward  Schadler;  Lloyd;  and 
Claude,  who  did  in  infancy. 

Ralph  A.  Schwalm  was  bom  Aug.  i6,  1888,  near  Valley  View,  and  received 
most  of  his  educati(Mi  in  Hegins  township,  attending  the  elementary  and  hi^^h 
schools.  Then  he  took  a  course  at  the  Peirce  business  college  in  Philadelphia, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1908,  after  which  he  was  employed  tor  a 
time  as  bookkeeper  in  Delaware  county.  Pa.  Returning  home,  he  commenced 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  plumbing  and  steam  heating  business,  in  which  he  had 
thorough  training  before  he  became  interested  in  that  line  with  his  uncle, 
Mr.  J.  P.  Schwalm,  with  whom  he  was  associated  for  a  period  of  three  years. 
He  has  since  been  in  the  business  on  his  own  account  at  Valley  View,  and 
besides  doing  all  kinds  of  plumbing  he  is  prepared  to  do  gas  fitting  and  install 
steam,  vapor  and  hot  water  heating  plants,  as  well  as  residence  electric  light 
plants.  He  also  handles  a  line  of  stoves,  implements,  mining  tools  and  oil 
engines,  and  has  built  up  a  good  patronage  in  both  lines.  He  sells  Saxon  and 
Dixlge  automobiles  as  local  agent.  His  ambition  and  energy  have  carried  him 
forward  steadily,  and  his  townsmen  have  recognized  this  and  chosen  him  for 
the  responsible  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Valley  View  Water  Company, 
one  of  the  important  public  enterprises  of  the  town. 

On  Dec.  25,  1908,  Mr.  Schwalm  was  married  to  Annie  M.  Snyder,  daughter 
of  William  C.  and  Amanda  Snyder,  of  Valley  View,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Irene  and  an  infant. 


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